Port Hope Free Presbyterian Church

When he was converted, the Lord revealed to him that he must suffer many things for the name of his Lord and Saviour. Those prophetic word were fulfilled over and over again as Paul served his Master. Going through such suffering, Paul needed much strength and certainly he needed to be very courageous.

Wherever the apostle Paul went to preach the gospel, and churches were established, he exhorted the elders to feed the flock by preaching the word of God. Having a sound knowledge of the word, would prevent the congregation from being flooded by false teachers.

The Lord told the parable about the sower going out to sow. From that parable we are encouraged to go forth and sow the good seed of the gospel. Anyone can be a sower.

That people are blessed who have the opportunity to sit under the faithful preaching of the word of God. The apostle Paul was such a preacher, he was a faithful and he was a fearless servant of the Lord, may the Lord raise up more preachers like Paul.

Looking at the life of Paul, we see a man who lived for his Lord a man who was sold out to God. As a result he saw great things done for his Lord.

Elijah was a man of prayer, a man who saw great things done by God in answer to his prayers. Although, no one had seen the dead raised to life before the prophet prayed, he believed that God could and would raise the dead in answer to his prayer.

The Apostle Paul was a man who lived for his Lord and had a burning desire to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He travelled many miles to tell forth the good news. He was joined from time to time by others, who had a burden also for souls. Paul and the others who helped him, were sold out to God.

Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal as to who was the true God of Israel. He not only confronted them but he confounded them, when God answered his prayer and sent down fire from heaven. Today we need the Lord to send us the fire of revival, and confound all of the false gods of today.

The Philistines had put out the eyes of Samson, and wanted him to make them sport in the temple of their false god. He made them sport, but it was a sport that killed them.

It is always encouraging to meet with a people who have a hunger for the word of God. They want to be fed and have a desire to study the Scriptures for themselves.

There are many examples of amazing answers to prayer found in Scripture. One such example was the day that Joshua called upon the Lord to cause the sun to stand still in the heavens, God answered that prayer.

When engaged in the work of God, we face many difficulties that Satan puts in our way to hinder us. But there is a great need to ask the Lord to carry on with the work, and to go on and go through with God, and finish the work He has given us to do for Him.

We often pray for the Lord to work by His Holy Spirit and send revival to our land. But more often than not it is personal revival we need. Athe revival of our prayer life, revival of our study of God's word, a revival of our desire for a holy life.

We know that God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. It is amazing to see the Lord work providentially in full agreement with the prayers of God's people.

When Jonah was in the fish's belly, he described his experience as being in hell, or the grave. Jonah then cried our to the Lord from the belly of hell.

After suffering horrendous cruelty at the hands of the enemies of the gospel, Paul and Silas were cast into prison. Even though they would have been suffering terrible pain, yet they were able to pray and sing praises unto God. They were able to sing in the fires of affliction.

As Joshua was chosen by God, to lead the Children of Israel in to the promised land, he was told that he had not been that way before. As we enter 2022 we are embarking on a path that we have not been on before, and we need the Lord to show us the way.

The star that led the wise men to Christ, can teach us many lessons about leading souls to Christ.

We know that Satan hates God and His word and the preaching of it. When through the preaching of the word, souls are saved then Satan will often fly into a rage, and then God's servants suffer.