Sermon Cloud

Boot Camp, Basic Training and Battle

Open your Bibles please to Acts 18. I want to tell you a story.

First, it’s a story of battle. Verses 1-23. After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 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."

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."

Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." So he had them ejected from the court. Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever. Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

So the first thing we see is battle. Warfare, really. To give you a parallel thought, I believe Paul received the same treatment that a bold Christian missionary would get today in a militant Muslim country.

At first, amusement that someone could be so offtrack. Then some semblance of tolerance, out of courtesy. But them, abuse and opposition, outright hostility, that someone would be so assertive in promoting a belief that everyone in town assumed to be false.

First, Paul was thrown out of the temple. So he left …and went next store! I love that. It reminds me of John Wesley. When he was forbidden to preach in the Church of England parishes, he simple said – fine, I will preach outdoors. And he did, to thousands upon thousands.

So we see Paul -- determined and flexible. He was also effective. He knew what he was doing. A man named Crispus – a synagogue ruler believed. And his entire household. By the way, that instantly made him the former synagogue ruler. Many others heard, believed and were baptized. And, probably, immediately excommunicated.

As often happened, the opposition became even more intense. So Paul received further instructions. From God Himself. Verses 9-11. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

God said, keep it up, Paul. “Go on speaking. I am with you. No one is going to harm you. There are other believers here.” That’s exactly what God says to us. Exactly what He will say to you, when you decide to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ with boldness.

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

Even with this encouragement and reassurance from God, things got even worse. The Jews all got together and brought a lawsuit against Paul. Fortunately for Paul, the judge wouldn’t even hear the case. The Jews were so mad that they beat up the new synagogue ruler – a man named Sosthenese – right in front of the court. Imagine, just installed – then hospitalized! Apparently, even that was all right with the judge.

Finally, we see that Paul was devoted…to God and to his friends. First, he made a vow to God. We don’t know that nature of the vow, but in making it, Paul expressed his total commitment to God by changing his attitude and actions. It will an visable expression of his complete devotion.

Also, we see in verse 20 that Paul promised to return if the Lord would allow. Furthermore, he visited all throughout the region, training other disciples.

There was a war on. Paul was fighting it.

I just want to stop now and make this current. There is a war on right here in Merrimack and Bedford. And most of us are not fighting in it.

It’s like the war on terror. Other devoted Americans are fighting it for us so that we don’t have to do the fighting ourselves. We know this.

The soldiers know it. I’ll never forget the sign I saw on the internet. It was in a soldiers’ barracks in Baghdad.

“The Marines are here to fight the War on Terror. America is at the mall.”

Is that what it’s like for you, here in Bedford? There is a war on, with casualties, strategies, tactics, victories, defeats. The enemy has thousands of spiritual prisoners.

Where are you? What is your commitment? Are you on the firing line? Or do you spend all your time at the mall…or someplace else…doing something else?

Well, if you want the war here to be won, you better get involved. God doesn’t only need servants. He needs warriors. He needs you. To know what is going on is sufficient notice. If you are aware of the war, consider yourself drafted.

OK, then what? Just drop your garden tools and run to the sound of the guns?

Well, in fact, no. You really shouldn’t just go out the door and start fighting. First, you better know what you’re doing. Think about it like this. What is your ultimate weapon? The Bible! How many of us know it? Know where to find verses. Know the answers to common questions. How many of us can use Scripture in the ways the God intended. He listed them in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Teaching. Not too terribly hard. Training, a little tougher given today’s emphasis on political correctness. Rebuking and correcting? How many of us are comfortable, confident and capable in that arena?

For a lot of people, they are just like a soldier who’s been assigned to fight in a tank. He knows nothing about it, at least at first. It’s an incredibly powerful weapon. But he doesn’t know how to start it or steer it. How to use the guns or even find the enemy. With training – and a lot of it – that guy is going to do more harm than good.

Why do you think that soldiers are taught to completely disassemble and reassemble their rifles…in the dark? So they are ready and able to fight, at all times, under all circumstances.

Are you ready and able to fight the spiritual war? At all times? Under all circumstances? Paul was.

And he stands in sharp contrast to the next person we meet. Apollos, the Greek. A skillful, committed and effective preacher. Who was always ready. Always willing. But not quite able.

So two people, Priscilla and Aquila, decided to help him. They were able to help because Paul had stayed at their house when he first came to Corinth. Imagine the wonderful conversations and training that they experienced. How would we have liked to have that privilege. Adult Christian Education…by the Apostle Paul!

The story is heart-warming, really. It’s a wonderful example of why it is so important for all us to properly disciple each other. How it should be done.

And the spirit in which it should be done. It is the story of a wonderful man and fine Christian worker. His name was Apollos.

Verse 24. Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.

OK, here was a good, committed, educated Christian man. With every good intention. Preaching effectively. Obviously, he was talented.

But he was also limited. He was about to discover the first rule of discipleship. You can’t take anyone any further down the path than you yourself have gone.

And Apollos had only been taught the baptism of John.

That wasn’t bad information. Just incomplete. The Baptism of John was one of repentance. People were challenged to confess their sins, repent of them, and then be baptized as a testimony to their commitment.

Not bad. Not bad at all. It was especially effective when John The Baptist was preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus.

But now, it was not enough. Apollos was only taking people part of the way. It IS important to repent of your sins. It is a vital first step of conversion. But it is only the first step. John’s baptism was one of repentance. He did it with water. Jesus’ baptism is a baptism of conversion. Dead to sin. Alive in Christ. And he does it with the Holy Spirit.

It wasn’t that Apollos was false. Just incomplete. It was like someone who would bring someone in from the cold to a nice campfire. Allowing the person to warm his hands a little. Then sending back out into the cold night rather than allow him to join with others who were warm.

Without conversion, sins continue. With conversion, guilt remains. Without conversion, failure goes on.

Something needed to happen. Discipleship had to occur.

Verse 26. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

So the first thing that happened was the Priscilla and Aquila got to know Apollos. Don’t over look that. They became familiar with him. They knew what he was about. Once they knew that, then they knew how best to help.

Second, they created a good environment for learning. They invited him to their house. We know it was a godly place because Paul had stayed that.

Third, they taught him. They taught him the complete information about the way of God. The ministry of Jesus. The meaning of His death on the cross. The full extent of salvation provided by his sacrifice. The evidence of new life for us that we can enjoy because of His resurrection.

Fourth, they encouraged him. And they trusted him. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. They trusted their teaching enough to send him. And they trusted his learning enough to send him. That’s so important. It’s as important to trust new believers as it is to teach them.

In short, they gave him all the weapons he needed to be an effective soldier for Christ. And that is exactly what happened.

Verse 27-28. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

And that, my friends, is discipleship. That is how to do it. And that is why it is so important for all of us to do. Because it multiplies of our impact of our ministry to the world. And it multiplies the impact of the gospel to the world.

How important is that?

You may be shocked to learn that, when I was born, I didn’t just thank the doctor for a good job, get cleaned up and dressed, then call a taxi to drive me home. That’s right. I’m serious.

I was a basket case, literally. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know who my mom and dad were. Who my sister way. Where I lived. How to do anything…or even what to do. I couldn’t even feed myself.

I had to be taught everything. How to eat. When. How to communicate. How to move around. How to think. How to learn. How to live. How to be healthy. How to grow.

How tragic when those things aren’t taught. When children are ignored. We are seeing this more and more when young mothers get involved with drugs. They ignore their babies. And the children suffer for it.

Our daughter Keri and her husband are involved with foster children. The kids from incredibly abusive situations. Most having to do with terrible neglect. Neglect that leaves physically difficulties and emotional scars. These comes right off the front page of the Cincinatti newspapers right into her house.

Neglect is abuse. We know all that about physical birth. We feel tremendous compassion for these babies. Who aren’t properly parented after they are born. Why don’t we feel that same for people when they are born again?

Properly teaching new Christians. Properly adopting them into God’s family. Properly raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. These things are musts.

Especially teaching. Think of all the things that I didn’t know when I was a newborn baby. Think about all the things I had to learn about. My family name, privileges, wealth, love, care, protection.

Think about all the things that the newly born again person doesn’t know. He or she is a son or daughter of God, has eternal life, a divine inheritance. He doesn’t know about God’s love, care and protection. All these are ours because of the tremendous love that our Father has for us. If we only knew. If only someone would teach us.

The longer you go in your Christian life without this knowledge, the more scars you suffer, the more mistakes you make, the more stunted your growth.

But if someone loves you. If someone teaches you. At any time. The stronger, the healthier, the happier you will be.

One more thing about the analogy I made between my daughter and son-on-law and their foster children. It’s never too late to learn. It’s never too late to teach.

It’s never to late to be discipled. It’s never to late to disciple someone else. There is no question. There also is no question that there is no better time to start than now. Right now.

When Priscilla and Aquila invested in Apollos, they made a wise choice. There was a fine return. We read about it in the rest of the chapter. And elsewhere in Scripture.

Acts 19:1. 1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. That’s how much Paul grew to trust Apollos. He left an entire city in his care.

1 Corinthians 1:12. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

While Paul was being corrective here, pointing to the supremacy of Christ, think of this. Apollos was now being perceived as equal to Paul and Peter! Laterin the chapter, verse 22 is the same.

And finally, 1 Corinthians 16:12. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Apollos was not Paul’s busy brother. Committed to his work. Scheduled up to the max in ministry. Treated as an equal by Paul. Working tirelessly for Jesus Christ.

Let me leave you with some questions.

Who met regularly with young Dwight Moody, an inarticulate shoe salesman, to teach him about Jesus?

Who met with Charles Finney, a sharp rising young lawyer, to teach him how to argue a case for Jesus Christ?

Who met with –- and prayed for – young Billy Graham as this young man struggled to discover God’s will for his life.

You don’t know, do you. Neither do I. Does it matter.

Is it more important who does the discipling? Or more important that discipling be done?