Greatest Fruit; Greatest Opposition

Where you have the greatest fruit you will also have the greatest opposition.

This statement has been shown to be true around the world throughout the ages. It was true in the past. It will also be true until our Lord returns.

You can certainly see this in Paul’s ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:1-16).

Corinth proved to be fertile ground for the gospel and a place of intense opposition to the gospel. Isn’t it amazing how often these two truths go together?

Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, “teaching them the word of God” (Acts 18:11). Paul had some of his most effective ministry in Corinth. This was a thriving city of 200,000 people, even larger than Athens.

Corinth was one of those places where you would not expect a harvest but where a great harvest occurred.

Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy, took the word to the Jews in the Synagogue. He testified that Jesus was the Messiah.This powerful testimony led the Jews to intense and abusive opposition which resulted in Paul’s going to the Gentiles.

But Paul’s labor was not in vain. “Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worship of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the  Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:7-8).

God prepared Paul for what was to come. The Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment where they accused him before the authorities of persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law. While this doesn’t seem like a serious charge to us, it put Paul in a very dangerous situation.

Shortly before this persecution, the Lord prepared Paul for what he would experience.  “The Lord came 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’ ” (Acts 18:9-10).  God prepared Paul in advance for what he would experience.

It is true that where you have the greatest fruit you will also have the greatest opposition.

It is also true that our God is the Rock upon which we can cast all our cares. When we do God’s work in God’s way according to God’s time, then we will experience God’s protection and blessing.

Under God’s favor Paul stayed in the city for a year and a half teaching them the word of God.

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