God is good, the road is hard, Jesus is always with you. For the last two weeks, we have spent most of our time and attention on the reality of just how hard that road of faith actually is.  We covered the believers getting thrown out of town, stoned, and even killed! As a church who is studying the book of Acts, it's easy to get lost on just how hard the road is for believers. In focusing on the hard road, it's also easy to miss just how amazing it is to have Jesus with you.  The presence of Christ can get lost on the heaviness of the challenges of faith.

The greatest strength that is seen all through history comes from those who understand the presence of God with them.  From David, Daniel, and the disciples, we see that strength comes from knowing that God is with us!  

I told everyone that from here on out, the road will be hard.  There will be many hardships and wars for the believers, but do not miss the amazing presence of God every step of the way. When Paul and the others regroup at the church after his stoning and being left for dead, what did they speak of?

"They reported all that God had done."

The world is a scary place for man, that's why the scriptures keep telling us not to be scared.  Around every corner there seems to be more and more challenges.  This is the same road that you and I walk today. God's word tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus more than our fears;  that the greatness of Christ overshadows any and all evil that we could imagine or experience.

Be faithful and trust God during hard times, yes, but also be strong in the presence of Christ the risen King! Hardships are promised, death is inevitable, and the end is coming closer each day, but God is with us, church! He calms every hardship; He has conquered death and has already stood victorious over the end.

"If God is with us then who can be against us."

Stay faithful church.  

 Read Daniel 6 about Daniel and the lion's den.  This will be referenced during the sermon.