Strength for Today

Apollos is one of the finest men you will ever encounter in Scripture. He first shows up In Acts 18, in the city of Ephesus, and later in Corinth. Here is what we can learn about this talented and remarkable man from Acts 18:24-28 and 1 Cor. 3:4-9.
1. He was a Jew.
2. He was a native of Alexandria.
3. He was eloquent (cultured).
4. He was competent (well versed) in the Scriptures.
5. He was instructed in the the way of the Lord (someone had discipled him).
6. He was fervent in spirit (burning with spiritual zeal).
7. He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus (although he knew only the baptism of John).
8. He spoke boldly in the synagogue in Ephesus.
9. Yet, he was teachable. Now here we find something of interest. "...but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (v. 26). They were probably not nearly as cultured or refined, but they did not hesitate to take him aside (not confronting him publically) and share their knowledge with him. This is to their credit - and to Apollos who was "easily entreated."
10. When he arrived in Achaia (most of Greece), he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.
11. He powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.
12.He did not encourage, foster nor participate in the division in Corinth, but merely "watered" what Paul had "planted" -- he no doubt considered himself "one" with Paul, as Paul did with him. Both were "fellow workers" in God's field, just as we should be.

Apollos is one of the finest men you will ever encounter in Scripture. He first shows up In Acts 18, in the city of Ephesus, and later in Corinth. Here is what we can learn about this talented and remarkable man from Acts 18:24-28 and 1 Cor. 3:4-9.
1. He was a Jew.
2. He was a native of Alexandria.
3. He was eloquent (cultured).
4. He was competent (well versed) in the Scriptures.
5. He was instructed in the the way of the Lord (someone had discipled him).
6. He was fervent in spirit (burning with spiritual zeal).
7. He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus (although he knew only the baptism of John).
8. He spoke boldly in the synagogue in Ephesus.
9. Yet, he was teachable. Now here we find something of interest. "...but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (v. 26). They were probably not nearly as cultured or refined, but they did not hesitate to take him aside (not confronting him publically) and share their knowledge with him. This is to their credit - and to Apollos who was "easily entreated."
10. When he arrived in Achaia (most of Greece), he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.
11. He powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.
12.He did not encourage, foster nor participate in the division in Corinth, but merely "watered" what Paul had "planted" -- he no doubt considered himself "one" with Paul, as Paul did with him. Both were "fellow workers" in God's field, just as we should be.

That we can talk is evidence
Of an enormous consequence,
For since the art of speaking comes
Alone from other speaking ones,
Then God just has to be!

~ Dale V. Knowles (1915 - 2009)

"Even when the cloud lingered . . . for many days . . . they remained camped" (Numbers 9:19).

Here is a lesson to learn. The church must "camp out" until its time to "move out." We dare not move a finger while the clound lingers. This is the kind of "linger-longer" we need in the church. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).

Who am I?
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cruel and malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flouish at every level of society.

Who am I?
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I'm nobody's friend.

Who am I?
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and ruin marriages.
I destroy careers and cause heartache and sleepless nights.
I wreck churches and separate Christians.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief, making innocent people cry on their pillows.
Even my name hisses.

"The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts" (Proverbs 18:8)

Good Housekeeping once sponsored a "Happy Marriage" contest. The winners, selected from 12,000 entries, were Dillon and Patti Bayes (Dillon was a minister with the churches of Christ in Alabama). What makes a happy marriage?

We gave . . .
When we wanted to receive.

We served . . .
When we wanted to feast.

We listened . . .
When we wanted to talk.

We submitted . . .
When we wanted to reign.

We forgave . . .
When we wanted to remember.

We stayed . . .
When we wanted to leave.

Ever feel like sharp spears are coming your way? David certainly did. Literally. Look at today's text, 1 Sam. 18:10-11. King Saul was insanely jealous of David, the people's choice. "The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, 'I'll pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice."

My friend Given Blakely observes, "There are certainly some valuable lessons to be learned from this text. (1) Do not expect that your gifts will always bring the approval of those benefitted by them. (2) Agitated people can be very shrewd in their opposition to the saints of God. (3) It is possible for our enemies to recognize God is with us. (4) Sometimes we have to fulfill our ministry while dodging the javelins of those to whom we are ministering. (5) When we behave ourselves wisely, living by faith and trusting in the Lord, it will have an affect upon our enemies. (6) When God’s Spirit comes upon us, trouble does not leave."

Have a good day today. Even if others don't appreciate your gifts. Keep playing your harp . . . but be ready to dodge a few spears thrown your way as well.

You are not the first person to doubt and you won't be the last. It is an old ploy used by the devil ever since the Garden of Eden when he planted the seed of doubt in the mind of Eve. "Did God really say?" He was even so bold as to use it on Jesus, right after His baptism. "If you are the Son of God." So, how do we deal with doubt? Here are some biblical antidotes to doubt.

Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

John 20:27-29, "Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

Romans 4:18, 21-24, "[Abraham], contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations ... being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore 'it was accounted to him for righteousnes.' Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed unto him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead."

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is imposssible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

James 1:6-7. "But let him [who is lacking in wisdom] ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

1 John 3:15, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

You are not the first person to doubt and you won't be the last. It is an old ploy used by the devil ever since the Garden of Eden when he planted the seed of doubt in the mind of Eve. "Did God really say?" He was even so bold as to use it on Jesus, right after His baptism. "If you are the Son of God." So, how do we deal with doubt? Here are some biblical antidotes to doubt.

Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

John 20:27-29, "Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

Romans 4:18, 21-24, "[Abraham], contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations ... being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore 'it was accounted to him for righteousnes.' Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed unto him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead."

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is imposssible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

James 1:6-7. "But let him [who is lacking in wisdom] ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

1 John 3:15, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

Discouragement is common to most of us. It is easy to lose heart because of situations or circumstances that appear to be adverse. But the Bible offers hope for those who are discouraged! For example . . .

Psalm 34:6, "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He delivered him out of all his troubles." God hears and answers prayer, even when we are discouraged!

Romans 15:13, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." You have a great Helper in the Holy Spirit!

2 Cor. 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." This world is not our home, we're just passing through!

Phil. 4:11, 13, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content . . . I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." All things, even overcoming discouragment with the help of Christ!

Hebrews 6:10, "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints; and do minister." God has not forgotten you or your labors of love!