FOLLOW GOD\’S AGENDA
Acts 18:1-11
GOD SENDS HELP
V:1-3. \” After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them
3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.\”
- The Gospel was not received very well in Athens, so Paul went to Corinth.
- Don\’t get discouraged when the Word is not received by others.
- It is no failure on our part when the preached Word is rejected.
- Our job is to teach the Word.
- Only God can prepare the hearts of man to receive His Word.
- Sometimes God allows the Word to fall on death ears, so we are motivated
to move on to another assignment.
- God determines the places and prepares the hearts of people to receive His Word.
- In Corinth, Paul met a man and wife team ready to serve God with him.
- I believe it was by Gods divine intervention that this man and wife team
was forced from Rome to meet up with Paul.
- God knows who we need and when we need them.
- It was customary that every Jewish boy was taught a trade to support himself.
- Both Paul and Aquila were tent makers.
- It is good to work in an occupation with other believers.
- You get to know a person best when you work with them.
- It is good to learn together and grow together with other believers.
- Under Paul\’s teaching, Aquila and his wife learned the deeper truths of
the Word of God.
- Whenever we get the opportunity to study the Word of God with others,
we should take advantage of the divine fellowship time.
REGULAR BIBILE STUDY
V:4-5. \” Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. \”
- It was Paul\’s custom to start the preaching of the Gospel in the synagogue where
Jews and Greeks (Jewish Proselytes) were present.
- Notice when Timothy and Silas came to Corinth, Paul devoted his time to the Jews
only.
- The Holy Spirit gave Paul the mission of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles
Acts 13:46-47.
- I can only guess that Paul thought it ok to leave the mission of the Gentiles to
Silas and Timothy.
- We have to be careful that we don\’t change God\’s plan for our service to our own
agenda.
- Success in the ministry is based on following God\’s plan for our lives.
- God does not restrict us in the ministry, but we cannot not neglect His directives.
ALLOW GOD TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK
V:6. \” But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, \”Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.\”
- The Word suggest, that Paul met complete resistance to God Word because he left the
mission God called him to do.
- By neglecting the Gentiles who would be influenced by the Gospel, he was left with
only the Jews who were influenced by the Law.
- It may have been possible that the Gentiles who believed could have influenced
some Jews to believe.
- The first will be last and the last will be first.
- The Jews were the first to receive God\’s commands.
- The Jews were the first to be called God\’s people.
- The Jews were the first to be offered God\’s promise of redemption.
- The Jews were first to rejected God\’s wisdom in favor of man\’s wisdom.
- Because of the Jewish rejection, the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles.
- The Gentiles were the first to receive the promise of the kingdom of heaven
- The Gentiles were the first to willingly accept Christ as their personal savior.
- This incident forced Paul back to the mission he was called to by the Holy Spirit.
- Corinth was a city given to idolatry. At one time, one of its temples had a thousands
prostitutes. It was a port and business center that drew people from different parts of
the world.
- Corinth was fertile ground for the preaching of the Gospel.
- The Bible does not tell us, but I believe it was God that stirred up Paul to refocus
his attention to the Gentiles.
MAN CAN TEACH, BUT GOD PROVIDES THE INCREASE
V:7-8. \” Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a
worshiper of God.
8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.\”
- When we let God lead, success is assured.
- When Paul returned to God\’s mission, he immediately found a receptive audience
for the Gospel.
- Again God showed us that when He closes one door, He opens another.
- Next door to the synagogue was a worshiper ready to receive the Gospel.
- Sometimes all it takes is for one to believe in Jesus for others to follow.
- Notice, from same group who rejected the Gospel came a ruler of the synagogue
who accepted the Gospel.
- Crispus conversion influence many other Corinthians to believe.
- Your testimony and your encouragement can lead others to Christ.
- Crispus stepped out from his peers and accepted Christ.
- There is a time when you have to step out from the crowd to follow Christ.
GOD ENCOURAGES HIS SERVENTS
V:9-10. \” One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: \”Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.\”
- What God has for you is for you.
- When you are on God\’s side, there is nothing that can\’t be accomplished according to
His will.
- No matter how strong you are in the Lord, sometimes you need encouragement
from Him.
- It is clear from the Lord\’s promise, that Paul life was in danger from the Jewish
leaders of the synagogue and maybe other idol religions.
- Maybe Paul had become discouraged or fearful of the opposition to the Gospel.
- God has not given us the spirit of fear , but power, love and sound mind.
- Paul was under God\’s direction.
- Paul was under God\’s protection.
- Paul was under God\’s comfort.
- God told Paul , I have many people in this city.
- We don\’t always know who God has ready to protect us.
- What we can be sure of, is God\’s grace is sufficient.
YOUR MISSION IS COMPLETE WHEN GOD SAYS IT IS COMPLETE
V:1. \” So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.\”
- When you know that God has your back, you can work for the Lord with
confidence.
- It is God who prepares the hearts of men to receive the Gospel.
- Some of God\’s people have been called out of the world.
- Some of God\’s people are yet to be called out.
- Paul didn\’t know who God called His people, but they were all around him.
- When we are following the will of God, success is assured.
- Silence in the face of opposition is not an option for a Christian.
- Our job is to proclaim the Word and leave the success of the mission to God.
- Paul taught the Word of God and a Church at Corinth was established.
- You never know what complete impact you are having when you discuss the
Gospel with others.
PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston Texas
NIV
