Acts 18:27-28
English Standard
Version (ESV)
27 And when he wished to
cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the
disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who
through grace had believed, 28 for
he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the
Christ was Jesus.
As Christians, how
should we act towards one another? As
Christians, how should we respond to opposition? If Apollos is our example let’s see what the
answers would be.
1.
First of all, he
listened to those with more wisdom than he.
Even though he knew a lot he knew that there were some things that he
could not learn in books and he listened
to Aquila and Priscilla. (That was
yesterday’s blog.)
2.
When he had the desire
to go and spread the Gospel in another place, he was supported by fellow believers. His friends didn’t desert him but rather they
sent him off with a blessing and a letter to other believers to accept him.
3.
When Apollos got to his
new home he worked for the Lord. He didn’t
drain others with his needs and desires but rather he helped other fellow
believers.
4.
He helped those
believers by refuting the Jews doing so in public debates that they could
witness and learn from.
I would imagine the
Christians who were born Jews had many struggles because the leaders that they
had once held in high regard were now opposing their new beliefs. This would make it difficult to grow as a
believer in Christ wouldn’t it? Apollos came in and challenged those leaders
openly in public debates as a way to display to the believers that these
leaders were wrong. It gave strength to
the Christians who had no way of knowing how to refute these leaders. They knew what they believed was true but did
not have the knowledge base to refute the Jewish leaders but Apollos did.
I am not much for
debates. I don’t like to argue and prove
my point through a debate and I don’t like listening to the other side of the
debate when Christianity is debated. It
frustrates me when I hear people talk and be so determined in their unbelief
that they don’t even listen to the truth.
Yet, it is not the unbeliever in this case that was built up, it was the
Christian who could see the truth through the debate that was being strengthened. I had never really looked at a debate in that
manner before.
I remember a time when I
was on the phone for a long period of time debating with a Mormon deacon
regarding their beliefs. I had the Bible
in front of me and the Lord kept giving me scripture after scripture refuting
what the man was saying. I did not
convince that man that his beliefs were wrong but what I hope I did was
strengthen the beliefs of my teen daughter who was listening carefully to the
conversation. This man had initially called my daughter as she had challenged a
member of his congregation with some challenging questions that the other girl
could not respond to. When the man
called, my daughter quickly brought me the phone and the conversation
began.
I believe we need to
know what we believe and why we believe it.
A life with Christ begins with faith but it grows through knowledge of
the Word. Seeking the Lord through the
study of His word draws us in closer relationship with Him and it also prepares
us for battle of those opposing forces that come our way.
Seek Him, study His
Word, become knowledgeable in His word and by doing so, strengthen not only your
faith but the faith of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Seeking Him with all my
heart,
Sheila
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