“DO NOT BE SILENT!”

Acts 18:9-11                        (ESV)

“9 And the LORD said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and “DO NOT BE SILENT”,

10 for I AM with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are MY people."

11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of GOD among them.”

The Apostle Paul was a man obedient to the Spirit of GOD unlike few others before or since.  In the passage of Scripture above, the Spirit of GOD instructed Paul to “...not be afraid, but go on speaking and “DO NOT BE SILENT”!  It is imperative for Believers to develop their Spiritual hearing as what some are instructed to do can be totally different for others in a different situation.  

In Exodus 14:14 says “The LORD will fight for you, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT”.  So why did Paul NOT get told YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT? The Israelites were being pursued by the Egyptians and GOD had already told Moses in Exodus 14:4 that HE would get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, so HE didn’t need the Israelites getting in HIS way.   Paul, on the other hand, was trying to “reason” with the Jews and the Greeks, but they “opposed and reviled him” and caused him to “go to the Gentiles”.  

ALMIGHTY GOD might have been working to accomplish different things in these situations.  With the Israelites, GOD was was exhibiting HIS Sovereignty over the most powerful kingdom the world had known, up to this point.  With Paul, GOD was preparing him to stay 18 months and preach to the church at Corinth.  Acts 17:24 says in part that “......many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.”  GOD’s Plan involved what HE told Paul that would happen, that “no one will attack you to harm you”.  

When ALMIGHTY GOD gives you a job to perform, HE isn’t limited by chance or circumstance!  HE will bring HIS Word to pass through you, even when it seems HE has no possibility of accomplishing it.  Remember David and Goliath?  Remember the Red Sea?  Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego in the fiery furnace?  When GOD tells you “DO NOT BE SILENT”, HE has a purpose for you to be speaking HIS Name, and that purpose will draw HIM Glory!!!