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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Acts 18:23-28
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
There are many words in many forms of publication, hard copy and electronic, that a person can read but there’s only one book that contains absolute truth and that’s the Holy Bible, also known as the Word of God or simply the scriptures.
While a lot of reading materials will try and garner your attention, all pale in comparison to the value one will find when they invest their full heart’s affection and mind’s attention to Bible. In fact, Old Testament scripture, later quoted by Jesus, tells us that man does not live on bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Bible is our spiritual nourishment, a fount of direction and wisdom that never fails to provide us the guidance we need to live as the Lord desires.
Go back to the early evangelists, those commissioned by Jesus to carry on His Gospel work, and you will find men well versed in the scriptures. The gift of the Holy Spirit then enlightened and enhanced biblical knowledge that was already in place so that the end result was a bountiful harvest of new Christ believers, ready to gain a healthy knowledge of God’s word themselves while seeking to bring others to salvation.
There’s no doubt that there is great value in bring Biblically grounded. In fact, there are absolutely no negatives associated with it. None.
As we turn our attention to the final verses of Acts, Chapter 18, we are introduced to a new figure, a Jew named Apollos, who comes on the scene with great evangelistic fervor. While Apollos takes center stage in Ephesus, we read where Paul embarks on his third missionary journey, traveling through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen all the disciples.
Back to Apollos where we find the scriptures providing some background information on him.
First, he was a native of Alexandria, the second most important city in the Roman empire after Rome.
Second, Apollos was a “learned man” who had a “thorough knowledge of the Scriptures” and the “way of the Lord”, knowledge he fully used to his advantage while carrying out the word the Lord called him to.
Third, Apollos was charismatic in his approach to ministry. We read where he “spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately”.
Fourth, Apollos, like Paul, used the synagogue as a place to teach and preach the Gospel.
With all this, it’s of little wonder that we would find Paul and Apollos being admired by the Corinthian Christians who debated over which man was the greater apostle. In response to this, you may recall these great words from Paul on the matter:
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each His task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-7
Biblically grounded Christians know that God receives the glory. They see themselves as instruments used by God to carry out His intended purposes.
Well, Apollos made quite an impression in Ephesus, particularly among those in the church. The scriptures tell us that “Priscilla and Aquila”, who had been impressed with Paul and provided him shelter prior, now invited Apollos “to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”
Biblically grounded Christians know there is always more to learn and seek to gain greater knowledge of the Lord’s will and way.
Like Paul, we find Apollos not staying put in Ephesus. The Holy Spirit was drawing him to the province of Achaia of which Corinth was the capital. We read where his Ephesian brothers and sisters actually encouraged Apollos to go and even sent correspondence to the Achaian believers, urging them to welcome Apollos.
And so, Apollos, the Biblically grounded disciple, set sail for Corinth and after his arrival, the scriptures tell us he was a “great help to those who by grace had believed”. He also engaged in public debate with “his Jewish opponents”, using the scriptures to prove with great vigor that “Jesus was the Messiah.”
Biblically grounded Christians find themselves able to boldly proclaim the Gospel because they are equipped with the truth of God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit.
And so this leads me to
a question to finish off today’s message:
Are you a Biblically grounded Christian?
If so, then follow in the footsteps of Peter, Paul, and Apollos who were simply following the lead of Jesus.
If not, then today is the day to commit yourselves to read the Bible daily, receiving the daily bread you need for good spiritual health and the knowledge to do what the Lord calls you to do whenever He calls you to do it, no matter where He might lead.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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