Acts 18:9-11 “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and half, teaching them the word of God.”

            It was helpful for the apostle to have people like Aquila and Priscilla, new friends he met when he moved to Corinth: Titius Justus and Crispus, new coverts when he began preaching in Corinth; and his old missionary colleagues Silas and Timothy once they arrived. But nothing was more encouraging than Jesus’ own promises to him: A promise of his presence and protection (I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you), and a promise of success for his work (I have many people in this city). With assurances like that, what was there left to fear?

            These promises were for that time and place. Later Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardship are facing me” (Acts 20:23). He soldiered on and kept on speaking about God’s grace either way.

            We don’t have special revelations for our work where we live, half-way round the world, two thousand years later. But Jesus hasn’t left us without promises. Remember the how the Great Commission ends? After, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” he promises: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That has never been limited or retracted, and it applies to us no less than eleven men who first heard Jesus say it.

            We still have the promise that goes along with the “Ministry of the Keys.” After giving his disciples the power to offer or withhold forgiveness, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” Jesus promised: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18, 20).

            In other words, Jesus hangs out with the people who are talking about his grace. He goes with those who take the message of sins forgiven and peace with God to others. He is present with those who have gathered to hear about sin and grace among themselves. We have every confidence to keep on speaking, because our Lord is with us and stands behind us whether we are worshiping him or evangelizing our neighbors.