The main figure in Acts 23 is Paul. He is in place of life in ministry, life taking a very different turn than what He expected (Acts 23:1)

The righteousness of Christ causes us to have a good conscience. Paul was talking to a group of religious leaders about His experience with Jesus.

The biggest challenge with the religious leaders was Jesus introducing God as a Father, intimate relationship with Him being possible.
For this Paul was being persecuted.

The descension was so great that Paul was pulled away to protect His life. (Acts 23:10) Many vowed to kill Him. There was intense opposition, oppression and full on rejection of what Paul was called to do by God.

“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭23:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Things have been challenging these past two years with all our plans and visions being changed. Paul was so discouraged that the Lord came to encourage him, much like Joshua was encouraged in the the transition into the promise land as the leader after Moses’ passing.

The Lord wants to encourage us and to let us know that He is with us, to get us where we are mean to be going.

Paul chose to resolve within himself that God was with Him and to be courageous. Courage is a choice.

God wants us to put on courage for what He has called us to do in this next season. There is a reward for courage in this season. Don’t give up on the things He has called us to. God has already gone ahead of us and prepared a Rome (a destiny) for us. (Jeremiah 1:5)

When Paul was in prison, there was no supernatural intervention to get him out like before. Yet the voice of God came differently into His cell to encourage him. (Acts 23:11)

We may not know where we are going but He does. We want to be where the voice of God is. God speaks in various ways. God’s voice can be louder than anything we face. He is still speaking.

If we want to fulfill the call and destiny of God in our lives, we need to hear what God is saying for our lives. We can sometimes get stuck in the way He used to do things.

God sometimes allows us to be in a place of inconvenience to fully reveal our purpose.

Choosing courage is essential in this season.

1. Courage is resolved to have no plan B but only God.

Humility is the way forward and we need Jesus. The Kingdom doesn’t work the way the world works. Our faith has to be in God. Wait in courage.

2. Courage is when you resolved to understand the character of God.

It is understanding the character and nature of God in an experiential way. We need to experience His love to love others well. He is a good Father who is invested in all areas of our lives. What he says about our lives is the most important. God is inviting us to trust Him who is the same forever.

3. Courage will be tested.

Testing is the way God reveals what we believe. In the testing we cannot change the message of Christ. The testing takes us deeper and higher into our calling and a greater manifestation of His presence.

No matter how costly it is, we have to choose Him. There is no greater privilege than to talk about Jesus with others.