Hey Element Church! This is day # 18 in One Prayer. Today’s prayer is “Lord, make us evangelistic!” Please lift up the churches on the Calendar as well. You can read Acts 18 online HERE if you’d like. Here are my thoughts:
Acts 18:1-6 — Sad state of affairs. Paul was continuing his intentional ministry in Corinth going to the Synagogue and “trying to convince the Jews” that Jesus was the Messiah. He spent ALL his time preaching once Timothy and Silas rejoined his journey. Here is what is sad. THEY DIDN’T GET IT! God moved him on. He would now preach to the Gentiles of the area. I truly believe there have been pastors that God moves on because the church wouldn’t receive his word. I believe churches, missionaries, lay people who were ministering, etc. have been moved on because their target wouldn’t accept the word. Sometimes God moves us on. But notice, He ALWAYS moves us on to a new listener. Our job is never done. NEVER! Like Perry said Sunday. If you’re still alive God still has a purpose for you. We can’t make our audience accept the message, we can only offer what God tells us to do. And in this case, Paul stayed in the city for another year and a half preaching to his new audience.
Acts 18:7-17 — God blessed Paul’s new direction. Fruit came from the ministry. God does not call us to be successful, He calls us to be faithful, and when we are faithful we have success. If God chooses to provide fruit, as in this case, that is HIS call, no ours! God even used the governor of Achaia to protect and bless Paul. As far as I know Gallio was not a believer.
Acts 18:19 — Paul tries in Ephesus to go to the Synagogue and reason with the Jews. Here they are more accepting of His word.
Acts 18:26 — Ahhh, the proper confrontation. Priscilla and Aquila had a legitimate problem with Apollos teaching. He was bold, eloquent, and enthusiastic and knew and taught of Jesus. HOWEVER, he was off in a little of his teaching. He only knew of John’s baptism. So Priscilla and Aquila wrote a blog about Apollos and their dislike of his ministry right? Or they wrote in to the Ephesus Herald letter to the editor to talk about Apollos’ ministry. Maybe they went to the people listening to Apollos and said “You know that he doesn’t…” “Are you sure you want to be going to his…” NO NO NO! No picket signs. No yelling and screaming. No talking around town about him. They personally took him aside, and explained to him the way of God even more accurately.
Acts 18:27-28 — WOW! And it worked! Whouda thunk? Maybe we should take note of this.
Taking note,
Jeff
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