Acts 18: 23-28 Paul begins his 3rd and final Mission Trip, firstly, visiting all the Churches he started on his 1stMission trip
Acts 18: 23 ‘…strengthening all the disciples.’
As Paul goes off the scene for a while, we learn a very important lesson from a man called Apollos, who goes toEphesus to preach Jesus
We know a lot about Apollos Acts 18: 24-26
Jew from the City ofAlexandria/A learned man/A thorough knowledge of the scriptures/Instructed in the way of the Lord/Spoke with great enthusiasm/Taught about Jesus accurately/Spoke boldly
The most important thing we know about Apollos is: He accepted instruction
Acts 18: 26 ‘Priscilla and Aquila…explained (instructed him) to him the way of God more accurately.’
I think that all of us have a problem accepting instruction – we don’t like it, we all rebel against it – “Nobody is going to tell me what to do”
This rebellion began with Adam and Eve
Genesis 2: 15-17 God gave Adam and Eve permission to inhabit the Earth and prosper.
He also instructed them not to eat from a certain tree
Genesis 3: 1-6 But, they rebelled against God’s instruction, and as punishment, God sent them away from His presence and brought Sin and Death upon all Mankind Genesis 3: 16-24
We are still suffering for Adam and Eve’s rebellion today! Romans 5: 12
If we are going to grow as Christians and be successful in serving God we need to accept instruction!
The Bible is our first source of instruction, but, if you don’t like instruction, you won’t like the Bible
Is this the real reason that some Christians don’t like reading it!?
2 Timothy 3:16 ‘All Scripture is inspired by God…giving instruction for right living…’
Like Apollos, we also need to accept instruction from our Leaders
1 Thessalonians 4:8 ‘…anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being, but God.”
As Apollos found out, there are great benefits to be had in accepting instruction
1/ You will receive encouragement from others in your vision to serve God
Acts 18: 27 ‘When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him…’
2/ You will be given ‘open doors’ to new opportunities in serving God
Acts 18: 27 ‘…wrote to the disciples there to welcome him…’
3/ You will be more effective in serving God
Acts 18: 27 ‘When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed’.
4/ You will have more confidence as you serve God
Acts 18: 28 ‘For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah’.
The willingness of Apollos to accept instruction was the ‘key’ to his success
1 Corinthians 3: 4 & 6 He is ranked alongside the Great Apostle Paul, as a Church ‘Builder’
1 Corinthians 16: 12 He is in such demand in different Churches that he can only go to them as he has opportunity
Prayer: “Lord, make me willing to accept instruction, that I might become all that You want me to be, in Your Service, and for Your Glory- Amen”!
revdotdavid 