"When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately."
Acts 18:26
Acts 18:26
I will admit, this verse made me chuckle. The Message translated the last part of the verse in this way, "told him the rest of the story. Imagining Apollos with courage and with eloquence teaching the gospel being pulled aside made me relive some not so good moments in my life. I can remember a time or two in my youth and ignorance (Notice the difference: his courage and eloquence compared to my youth and ignorance.) that someone more mature than me pulled me aside to share the "rest of the story." Sometimes we just need someone to sit down with us and teach us "more accurately."
What wonderful examples of Christian mentors we see in Priscila and Aquilla! They heard the zeal and power in Apollos' message. They witnessed his charisma and the influence he had on his captive audience. Then with wisdom and true grace they waited until he was finished speaking before they "taught him more accurately." Apollos showed himself teachable. He sat down and spent some time with Christians more mature than himself and was willing to learn. Apollos set a wonderful example for us as well.
There is always someone we can teach and there is always something we can learn. If given the opportunity to be a Priscila, Aquila or Apollos, I hope I will follow their example: offer what I know with grace and wisdom, accept what I don't with humility.
11 Comments:
Good Morning Sisters,
Wendy, I am so thankful for the mentors in my life. They are such a huge blessing! In general, it has been hard for me to take correction. I have not really noticed it in terms of spiritual issues, but in other areas, especially in my marriage. I have always equated correction with rejection and that is something that God has really had to work on me about as I grow.
I marked several passages when I was reading last night. So many good things today! One that really stuck out was Acts 19:17b, "the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored." Christ's name is so dishonored in our days and to see His name honored constituted getting out the highlighter and marking it. The people witnessed the power that was in His name and then a "solemn fear descended on the city." Can you imagine how different our country, our world would be if solemn fear descended on us? People just have no idea whose name they are flipping around so casually!
I marked some of the other things about believers vs non-believers and how the message of the cross if foolishness to them. I always pay attention to those kinds of verses because they give me deeper insight into how I can pray for my husband. Last night we were reading Will's Kid's Bible that has passages written so that his age children can understand what it is saying. After we were done I said something to the effect of it being the whole Bible not a condensed version like some of his other books just written so he can understand. John said that is what he wants, get to the point, what do I have to do to get in. I told him that Will and I had told him, there was just one thing! I get so excited you guys. A lot of the time he says things in a joking, playing manner, but he used to not even say anything. I think the jokes are covering up what God is trying to do in his heart. I am meeting a friend to scrapbook today and we are going to pray for him. I had asked her specifically if we could today. I don't have time to get in to the whole story, but Will is going to be in a musical at church on the 12th and 13th and the storyline of this musical is in line with one of my heart's deepest desires that God knows I have- for John and I to renew our wedding vows both as Christians since we were not when we married (and we did not have a wedding with our families and friends there). When I heard some of the dialog I just cried and cried and asked Kim if she would pray with me. She has been praying that by the end of the year John will accept Christ. This play my precious son is in might just be one more thing God is going to use. I don't think it is a coincidence that He led the children's pastors to pick this musical.
Ok, well, I have talked and talked :) I marked more passages like 1 Corn 2:3-5 about Paul being timid and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit-that is me when I get up in front of anyone! Also 1 Corn 9-12, I would never have dreamed up in a million years I would be doing some of the things I am doing! These are things only from the Spirit of God.
Hope you all have a blessed day. I hope to get some Disney pictures scrapped today :)
Love,
Brandee, TN
Hello All~ Welcome back Karen, I so enjoyed you comparing your house in CA to the transformation of ourselves, in yesterday's reading!
Wendy, your post shows us how important it is to always remain teachable. Always we should be willing to learn. We never get to a point that we're there. As we continue to read the Bible, He just opens up more and more verses to us in different ways. He brings mentor's into our lives at different times, He always knows what we need.
Oh Brandee, God is drawing John and getting him ready for the day he accepts Christ as his personal savior! There are no coincidences! Praying for you today! Will's going to love that Disney book! :)
The divisions we are reading about continue today as well. Why is there such a tendency to be divided due to gossip, judgment, and self-serving short sidedness? If Christians could just "live together in harmony," (I Cor. 1:10) and spend their time building each other up and encouraging each other. When we're acting out of jealousy and quarreling with each we are letting our "sinful nature," (1 Cor. 3:2) lead us-just like the people in our world! Oh, that we would be so aware of our actions and words. That we would seek to abide in Christ, to be filled with His Spirit...walking with Him. Allowing His love to pour out of us. Our sinful nature is always in competition with our Spiritual nature. Always. We have to be so alert to the enemy who seeks to get us to sin by tearing others down. He aims to divide the churches today. That is his plan! He delights in that.
Oh, that each of us would seek to do all that we can with what He has give us. "Never stop praying." 1 Thess 5:17.
Thank you dear friends for blessing me with your comments!
Lori - AZ
Wendy, I don't really have time to comment right now, but I just had to say one quick thing and I'll return later. I'm smiling reading your blog post, because you have taken up the opportunity my friend. God placed an opportunity for you to be a "Priscila" and "Aquila" before you at the start of this year and you not only embraced it, but you have done it faithfully and with excellence. You have "explained the way of God even more accurately", and I am just one of many who has been blessed and received His Words through your sharing. You are following their example...and more importantly, you are following His example.
Hugs,
Joy
Thank you Wendy -
Yes we do need to be teachable, it was nice to be reminded. It's not always easy to accept correction but we need it to grow.
Brandee Amen Yes God is working and John will receive Him with Gladness. Standing in prayer with you.
I too underlined a lot of other scriptures - But it was nice to see the one you (Wendy) pulled out.
Thanks Wendy and all of you for your wisdom and sharing.
Blessings,
Lynn
Good morning Ladies!
I agree! we all need to be teachable. I must admit that like Brandee, I can equate correction with rejection. However, I have been blessed in my life to meet with people who have a gift of delivering that correction with grace and that makes it alot easier to accept. I know that God is working on me to bring me to that place where I can give and receive correction with true grace.
I want to stand in prayer with Brandee for John to accept Christ. I know that God is at work here and he hears the cry of your heart. The fact that John doesn't undermine the bible teaching you are doing with your son is proof that he already thinks these stories have some value, he sounds like he is an analyst and has to prove it in his mind before he can accept it as truth. God can do anything and He will.
I also want to say Amen to Joy's comment. Wendy you have explained the way of God accurately for us. Thank you for being our Priscilla and Aquila.
I also have a quick note about my husband and his work problems. He started his first day on the new job on Monday, and at noon, when he checked his phone for messages, there was one from his old boss, he wanted to offer him a job! Not the same as he had done before, but in a different part of the company. I can't beleive it to go from no job to 2, in a week. The pay is slightly better, but will they just lay him off again if things get slow? Please pray that Frank will be able to decide on the right thing to do and to be in God's will for His plan for us.
Thanks everybody for listening and for praying. Have a great day!
Patty
Joy
I am flattered to be compared to Priscila and Aquila. Your words deeply encourage my heart.
Facitilating this study has been a such blessing to me. I am so excited to see how God is going to use this in my life, in all of our lives. Scripture says He is faithful to complete the work He begins.
Ditto to Joyful! Thanks Wendy!
Today's reading was RICH! I underlined alot.
Give us teachable hearts Lord Jesus. AMEN
Morgen
Thank you for today's post.... I have reentered a learning phase. Things had grown common, plate so overloaded that I could no longer help as God directed me....it is a pruning stage for me,and I am thankful to read words of encouragement in your posts!
God Bless!
shay
"If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God." 1 Cor. 3: 18-19.
Like many, my job places me in both non-Christian and Christian circles. I am relatively private in my faith among non-believers, but I try to show Jesus' love through His Spirit fruits. I know non-believers see there is something different, even if they can't pinpoint it. More often than not, being more of a private person in general, I try to show Jesus through my actions vs. words. I believe God draws His own to Him by His grace alone, only He can open up their eyes to the Spirit truth. I feel there are too many non-believer's that shun Christianity b/c of the hateful actions and words they have seen coming from so many "Christians" in the media and Church. I try to be a light and show that not all Christians are like that. Here's my struggle: I've been people pleaser from birth, and there are times I get caught in the trap of trying to live up to the world's standard of living, what do people think of me, how they "measure me up", etc... I know that God knows my heart and this is ultimately something the world can't understand, but it's still hard. This is the war between the spirit and the flesh, right? I know that God's view is the only thing that matters, He knows my heart that longs to seek Him alone and measure up to His standards, the world just doesn't "get it" and what I believe in my heart is absolutely foolish talk to them. Today's reading spoke this truth: "This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength" 1 Cor. 1:25
I know that if I'm going to believe in anything, I'd rather have the foolishness of God than trust in man's wisdom.. such a trap and prison too! Please pray that I will continue to be reminded of these truths and lifted up by His strength and power alone.
Krista
I underlined so much again today in our reading, but one verse stood out over the rest because of it's significance and the cherished memories that accompany it.
"As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19:5
Another powerful sermon was drawing to a close. An invitation was extended. An invitation not necessarily for a first step, but a next step.
I bowed my head, praying for all who would respond. Praying for those who were feeling the Spirit’s tug, yet resisting. As people near me started to stand and make their way to the altar, tears flowed unhindered. All around me, divine encounters were taking place and hearts were surrendering. Most were answering the call to follow Christ right then in the waters of baptism. As my brothers and sisters in the Lord went away to ready themselves for the next part of the service, I silently wondered what was going through my son’s mind. He had asked Jesus into his heart at a tender age, but had not as yet made a decision to be baptized. He wasn’t sitting with us that morning as he was part of the worship team. Did he want to answer the call, but feel he couldn’t leave his responsibility at the keyboard? At 15 years of age he certainly understood the symbolism and significance of baptism.
Over the next few minutes it was thrilling to listen to so many testimonies and share in so many impromptu steps of obedience. When the service concluded my husband and I said goodbye to our son who had to stay and play for the second service. Once in the car we began to pray again for God’s Spirit to move in the following service. We prayed for our Pastor to preach with passion and for hearts to be prepared and ready to receive the message. We prayed for those who would respond, that God would give them courage.
Almost two hours later our doorbell rang. Immediately upon opening the door my eyes were drawn to the smiles on the faces before me. My older sister had given my son a ride home and their countenances declared joy unspeakable and full of glory. A wet head also gave witness to the water’s welcome and our son's surrender.
Tears and hugs. More tears and hugs. Prayers of praise and thankfulness.
That evening, back at church, several people approached my husband and I after the service, wondering our reaction to not being there to see our son baptized. In all honesty I can say that the delight in knowing he had taken this step of obedience on his own, far surpassed any longing to have been eye-witnesses. We were so thankful that the fact we weren’t present didn’t restrain our son from responding to the Holy Spirit’s hand on his life and God’s call. As soon as he heard, he was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Brandee and Patty, praying for John and Frank.
Krista, you struggle not alone my friend. I too am often caught in the "people pleaser" trap. Praying the Lord will guide you and guard your mind. Praying these verses over you: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Love to you all,
Joy
I appreciate you all....my sisters in Christ.
Nancy
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