Be of Good Cheer, Paul

When we last left Paul he was in danger of being pulled to pieces by the contending factions of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, in the Council. So the commander told his soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night, Luke says, the Lord Jesus Himself stood by him and said to him – Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.
It is this statement that I want to open up for your edification, at this time. I want to speak to you about God's providence in our lives. I want you to see just how near the Lord was to Paul during these various episodes of persecution and rough treatment that he went through. I want you to see how the Lord Jesus would encourage the apostle Paul in His ministry, so that he would go on to fulfill it. Amazingly, He said to him – Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.
How could Paul be of good cheer in these circumstances that he was in, and why would our Lord say this to him? And how can you and I be of good cheer in the difficult or dangerous circumstances that we may sometimes find ourselves in? There are 3 reasons that I would like to give to you, so that you will be of good cheer in the various difficult situations of your life.