The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Two

"After The Riot"


Acts 20:1-6 (NLT) When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
   Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.

After the riot was over. Paul encouraged the believers there in Ephesus. Now this riot lasted for hours and hours. It wasn't just a protest. It was an angry mob. I'm sure it shook everyone up. Paul knew that their faith had been shaken so he encouraged them with words that the Lord gave him.

The Greek word for "encourager" as we have learned before, is "parakaleo" and it means "to comfort, encourage, aid." It is a forceful word. In that I mean it wasn't just a pat on the back and a "bless your heart". It was a sincere, heartfelt moment of encouragement from Paul to keep on loving and serving Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (NLT)  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

We have an amazing God who, when we are experiencing trouble, never leaves us and matches our pain with His comfort. We learn from Him how to comfort others. What's cool about God's comfort is that it's not the "bless your heart" kind of comfort. It's an "I'm with you and never willing leave you" kind of comfort. He doesn't leave. He doesn't feel uncomfortable and awkward around you. He knows exactly what you need and uses those who love Him to comfort you.

Psalm 119:49-50 (NLT) Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope.Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.


Psalm 119:75-77 (NLT) I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.

God is our only true Hope. No one else can love us as much as He does. It may not seem like He cares because He allows things to happen in our lives. But, I believe that someone who gave up His One and Only Son to rescue us from this fallen world, does really love us with an everlasting love. People suffer because this world is a fallen world. God allows us to make choices and with those choices the world suffers at times. Even the elements groan with sin in the world. The Good News is that Jesus will come again and make things right. There will be a new heaven and a new earth where all bad things are gone and sorrow and pain will not exist. We will live in the encouragement of Jesus.

Who have you been an encouragement to? Who has been an encouragement to you? Did you know that encouragement is a spiritual gift from God?

Philippians 2:1-3 (NLT) Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
   Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

The questions, found in this portion of scripture in Philippians, are questions we need to think about and answer. Take time to answer them:
1. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
2. Any comfort from his love?
3. Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
4. Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

If you really believe that the answer is "yes" to the questions then you should truly know that we should be rejoicing in this knowledge. Don't let the negatives riot in your brain. Allow God to rule and reign. Take your thoughts captive to His love.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (Message) The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Use your "powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." I love that!! We have the power, through God, to take action against this world and its negative and hurting ways.

If you answered "no" to any of these questions then you need to re-think things. Is Jesus really Lord of your life? Have you really accepted Him as ruler and director of your life here on earth. Friend? He loves you so much and He wants you to know His peace.

God's peace isn't void of emotion. I have a friend in the hospital right now and his family is worried. I'm sure there have been tears and fear, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that they are trusting Jesus. They have turned to God for comfort and healing. They rely on the comfort and prayers of believers who are praying right now.

All of us experience "riots" in our lives. We must rely on the comfort found in Jesus. Even after the riot is over we should keep our eyes on Jesus and comfort and encourage one another. That's what the church is for.