It is so good to learn of God and then to proclaim His truths to the world. It is truly a blessing to testify of the Lord. He has given me so much boldness to talk to people and I am so happy. Even the way I meet people is with great courage now. I know the Lord God is well pleased in this. Being in God’s service is to honor Him and in that way, God knows the heart and true desires of people. Therefore, we evangelize, not for money or to lift up ourselves, but for the glory of God who saves. This we do with arms wide open, willing to do whatever we can for Jesus. For this reason we open the Bible and the scriptures with every intent to grow in the faith and to help others grow also. We never do such things to only do well for ourselves but to also help others, who are in need of salvation. The same can be said of a man named Apollos. After he was baptized by John, he made it a purpose to be 1“instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.” This is the type of impact that baptism and the Holy Spirit does to a person. After the love of God kicks in, all we want to do is learn more and more and to teach others. This is exactly what Apollos did. 1“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue” at Antioch.
Apollos was surely a man of God and had great intentions to search out the lost and share God’s truth with them. In saying this, he was also a humble man, who was also willing to take the advice of other Christians in the faith. I mention this because Aquila and Priscilla had overheard him teaching the Jews in the synagogue and was able to mentor him. After he had spoken, they took him aside afterwards and he listened. They noticed that his heart was sincere but he was still missing some important truths of God that would make his exhortation to people better. So they 1“expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” This was when he met those of the church and they confided in him. Even when he left to 1“Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come.” They wrote this because they knew his heart was sincere, as he held tight to Jesus and his faith in Him, by grace. Because Apollos was teachable, 1“he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” I pray that you will learn from this great man of God. If you also want to do great things for the Lord, then learn to also be teachable, while holding tight to God and His Word. In doing this, we will not be led astray but by God.
Let us pray:
Lord God Almighty, we lift you up and praise Your holy Name. You are worthy. Thank You God for showing us the way and leading us away from darkness and into Your light. Your words have become a lamp unto our feet and we are so blessed. Truly there is salvation in Your name and we are grateful to serve You and to testify the truths of Your words to everyone that will listen. Nothing has impacted us in a bigger way than the teachings of Your holy scriptures and we want everyone to know the truth. But in all things, please refine us each and every day that we read Your words and pray. In all humility, we come before you to learn more and more each day. We do this in order to always be in line with Your teachings and never fall out of line by our own thoughts and desires. And if needed Lord, please send others in the faith to help refine our own thinking and what we know now as truth. I know that when I rely on myself for knowledge and truth is when I get into trouble, but when You are in my life, all things make sense. I am also blessed when You come in the form of another person, as a messenger, that my beliefs may be strengthened. I know that Your ways are good and am grateful for the ways that You declare such truths to my life. My eyes and ears are open. Be ever near me, that I may grow in the faith and be more mature in my teachings, when it comes to You. I love You Lord. You are my great God and I am grateful to serve You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Acts 18:22-28 (KJV)
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.