Day 39

Memorize: Interview with Aquila, Priscilla

Acts 18

Key Verses: 3, 5, 10, 17, 25, 28

Paul’s ministry makes a shift in Corinth. He moves from a self-supporting individual to one with ministry partners. First he joins with a husband and wife team making tents. Then Silas and Timothy arrive and he can now Paul can spend all his time on his primary mission. And when this happens there is a period of a tremendous harvest and spiritual growth.

When church plants are taking place around the world, this is the model. There is support often provided by working fulltime at another career. Then as progress is made, others join in supporting, at first part time and then fulltime. And when all energy is focused on the mission, much more can be accomplished. But all this takes people willing to give of themselves and their finances. These four helpers of Paul had to be willing to work a little harder in order to provide for themselves and for Paul. They probably tightened their own belts a little in order to be able to help Paul spread the Gospel. They made sacrifices.

One thing we can learn from history is that there are always breakdowns in the justice system. Here is another example. Right in front of the judge a person is beat up and nothing is done to stop it. He did nothing! He had Roman soldiers at his disposal and he did nothing. All he had to do was give the order and the violence would have been stopped. He did nothing. Justice is supposed to be blind to people’s rank and position, not blind to violations of the law. Justice is supposed to happen for everyone, but sometimes, even today, power and position are used to pervert justice.

And finally, we need more than a knowledge of the Scriptures in order to be a Jesus-follower. We need the Holy Spirit working and active in our lives. We don’t see a record of the Holy Spirit’s filling, but this is the pattern we have seen so far in Acts. When people come to faith, to a full understanding of Jesus, then the Holy Spirit comes on them in a physical way, a way that others around can see that the Holy Spirit has come. Dry intellectual understanding cannot save you. There must be a yielding to the Holy Spirit’s presence and working in your life. How would those around you know that you are a Jesus-follower? What evidence can they see of His presence in your life?

REVIEW: