I have always thought of Paul as this singular, and solitary person. The circumstances surrounding his conversion and the 3 years he spent in training were so unique that no one else could hold a candle to his experiences.
Yet Paul was never alone. Ever. It was Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Silas. Paul and Timothy. At the beginning of Acts 18 Paul meets Priscilla and Aquilla in Corinth and they become important travelers with Paul during his missions trips. The book of Acts was written in such detail by Luke and focused much on Paul because Luke was with Paul on these journeys.
Even in prison, Paul was not alone. Read the end of his Prison Epistles and he lists a number of people that are there with him. Friends who had come to visit. Paul was never alone.
By the time Paul reaches Corinth in Acts 18 he has had enough. At his previous stops he had been harassed, persecuted, stoned, chased out of town, talked down at and made to feel very unwelcome. It continued in Corinth and Paul said "Enough! I will take my message to the Gentiles, then."
Paul probably had a fitful night's sleep that brought about the Lord coming to him in a vision and encouraging him. Two things God says that give us hope and instruction are this:
"I am with you" and "I have many people in this city."
As we walk with Christ in the 21st Century we must come to the understanding that we are not alone. Our relationship with God should be deeply personal and private but it also should be corporate and public. All the men and women of faith, though deeply intense with God, shared the journey with others.
- When God created Adam he realized that it was not good for him to be alone. He then created Eve. (Genesis 2:18)
- When Moses took leadership of the people of the Hebrew nation, his brother Aaron and Miriam shared the load.
- David had Jonathan.
- Elijah had his own pity party when he cried out "I am the only one left." And God said "Don't be ridiculous, I have another 7000 in Israel." (1 Kings 19:18). It wasn't long after that Elisha came on board.
- Even Christ needed the disciples. He called them his friends.
Though the old chorus is correct when we sing "He is all I need, He is all I need, Jesus is all I need", God provides other people in the city, as well. It is imperative as a follower of Christ that you find a place in a body of believers. We are gifts to one another to help us grow in Christ.
The Biblical pattern is set. In Acts 2: 42 the believers "devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
It is important that you do not go it alone. God has provided not just Himself but has provided many in the city. If you are opposed to organized religion, you still need to find people you can fellowship with and sharpen your walk with God. I recommend church because it is a proven connection area for people with like faith. You can find iron at a church. You can find friends at church.
Look for a church that preaches God's Word faithfully and true. You will be encouraged and you will grow.
Paul was ready to leave Corinth but once God had told him "I am with you" and "I have many people in the city" he stayed 18 months establishing the church there. I think it was important to Paul to have Priscilla and Aquilla but also to know there were many others. He was not alone.
You do not need to go it alone. Don't go it alone. Christ is all we need, but in proof of his generosity, he has for us many people that will help us in our desire to be next to Christ.
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