A Greater Desire and Effectiveness

Into this wicked degenerate society Paul came preaching the gospel and many were converted! Even the most immoral of men are not beyond the redemptive power of the gospel! This assurance, demonstrated in Corinth and validated through 20 centuries of Christian experience, keeps the fires of evangelism and missions burning in our hearts today!

Dehoney, W. (1972). Acts. In H. F. Paschall & H. H. Hobbs (Eds.), The teacher’s Bible commentary (pp. 701–702). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Apollos had great desire but a limited understanding. - v. 24-25

Apollos: Jew, born in Alexandria

He had both the eloquence of the Greek and the religious culture of the Jew. - v. 24

He was most likely a scholar in the schools of Alexandria who had been converted by the Gospel. - v. 24

He was mighty (strong, powerful, able) in the Scriptures. - v. 24

He had been instructed (synagogues) in the way of the Lord. - v. 25

His spirit boiled (used 2x in Scripture) within him. (enthusiasm) - v. 25, romans 12:11

King James Version Chapter 12

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

He taught the Word of the Lord with discernment. - v. 25

But… he only knew the baptism of John, the baptism of repentance (chapter 19). - v. 25

Explanation: His effectiveness in ministry was limited because of his limited understanding of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit and the fact that Jesus was the Christ.

He had given himself completely to learning the Scriptures but a part of his understanding was still lacking.

The source of power had not been tapped into yet.

Application: Our understanding, fervency, and effectiveness is limited apart from a deeper understanding of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Being well studied, learning the Scriptures, having a boiling desire within us to serve… all of these are good, but they are NOT ENOUGH!

We must continually be affirmed in the fact that Jesus is in fact the Christ and the Holy Spirit that rested upon Him in service is the same Spirit that now indwells us.

“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless.”—Charles Spurgeon

Illustration: Glove and Hand (indwelling Holy Spirit)

Apollos had the humility to receive instruction. - v. 26

Explanation: He was willing to learn from those that would be considered inferior to him.

Apollos spoke freely of the things which he knew in the synagogue but Aquila and Priscilla took note that his understanding of the Scriptures were not complete. - v. 26

“expounded more perfectly” They took him into their home, did not call him out in public, and explained the Word of God more accurately, that his understanding might be fuller

Apollos was humbly willing to be instructed. This is Gospel growth.

He must have been willing to admit that they better understood the fulfillment of Scripture in that Jesus was the Christ.

Application: I must realize that my understanding of the completed work of Christ and the continual work of His Spirit within me is in continual development. (sanctification)

Apollos combined the eloquence of the Greek with the religious instinct of the Jew. A student from the great university at Alexandria, a convert to the gospel, deeply conversant with the Old Testament, gifted with marvelous eloquence, he was a strong ally of the Christian forces of his age. But he needed to know of the death, resurrection, and ascended power of Christ, and to experience the gift of the Spirit. Into all these he was led by Aquila and Priscilla. How wonderful is that holy wisdom which the Spirit of God gives to simple and humble believers, so that they can become teachers of men who are intellectually their superiors! - F.B. Meyer

Illustration: Daddy, jump shot, offense and defense, I enjoyed playing the game more; Cribbage, enjoyed it after I understood better, would have never

Apollos was given a greater passion and understanding by the power of the Holy Spirit. - v. 27-28

Explanation:

Apollos is now on his way to Corinth. - v. 27

Corinth was a thriving area of commerc

Paul had been used to plant the foundation and Apollos was now sent to build upon that (water).

He goes with a letter of recommendation from the brethren at Ephesus to the brethren that would receive him at Antioch.

He greatly encourages believers there. Those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit genuinely love the brethren.

He is used of God to mightily (strongly, vigorously) convince (exposed their wrongdoing) the Jews publicly in Corinth. - v. 28

Remember the adulterous, idolatrous behavior that was taking place in the name of religion.

This is why, in 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses their carnality that was stunting their growth.

There is no adultery, sorcery, or sin that God is not powerful to save you from.

He reminds believers that “we have the mind of Christ” and that “your body is the temple, ye are not your own.”

Paul and Apollos were influential in Corinth evidenced in 1 Corinthians when the church seems to split 3 ways (Paul, Apollos, Peter, ) but Paul reminded them that they were of the same faith. That Christ was not divided and that His body should not be either.

King James Version Chapter 3

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, oApollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building

With greater understanding, he preaches the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Apollos met opposing arguments and brought them down to the ground. - Phillip’s

Point to Remember: The preaching of Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks our understanding.

Remember, Apollos was eloquent, well spoken and well learned

There is no adultery, sorcery, or sin that God is not powerful to save you from.

No study of the Scripture, no recitation of the truth, no eloquence, no righteous deed can earn you a place with God.

but now he has a greater understanding of Jesus, the Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.

Other believers received and recommended him for the work he was sent to do. He was used to encourage believers and strongly convince the Jews. This was a work that was greater than what he could have accomplished with his own eloquence and limited knowledge.

but now he has a greater understanding of Jesus, the Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.

This was a work that was greater than what he could have accomplished with his own eloquence and limited knowledge.

Application: His ministry is more effective than he could have imagined because of his deeper understanding of who Christ is and how the Spirit works in the life of a believer.

I like Apollos, need to see Gospel growth in my own life. God received the glory for the work done in and through Apollos.

Am I still in an infant state in my understanding of the Gospel? Am I neglecting Gospel growth?

He is now mightily convincing the Jews with greater power than he had before.

Illustration:

Application:

Humble yourself, understand that Christ has made a way for us to have a fulfilling relationship with God the Father and that He has sent the Holy Spirit to empower you to live the Christian life.

The danger is in refusing/being ignorant of the truth that is presented in Scripture of Jesus Christ.

Apollos could have found his identity in his ministry (as a disciple of John the Baptist).

Christians: I should have a God given desire to encourage believers and strongly convince those who are not that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus is the Christ. He is shown to be the key to understanding and salvation. His salvation is for all peoples and He is to receive all glory.

The gospel of Jesus Christ brings a believer from high society into an idolatrous, pagan culture and makes them one in Christ.

He is shown to be the key to understanding and salvation. His salvation is for all peoples and He is to receive all glory.

- the test of spirituality is what do you say about Jesus.

”If you know the Scriptures but don’t know Christ you are seeking to convince of a work that needs to be done. If you know the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures you are convincing of a work that has already been done.”

The Spirit is the author of the Scriptures. Knowing who Christ is is crucial because it is only then that you will be able to convince others mightily of the fact that Jesus is indeed the Christ, Messiah, Saviour of the world.

Christians should be comforted that as they go, they are never alone. They should be encouraged that Christ is multiplying in His body through that (and individuals in) local body.

God desires you to reach the unreachable and love the unlovable.

Yielded members of GBC would be convincing in the power of the Holy Spirit, ALL people that Jesus is Christ for God's glory. A work unified in the Spirit of Christ in which He would bring forth the fruit of salvation, multiplying His body with souls for which He died for.

The yielded life is radically different than the unyielded. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and brings forth fruit that remains.

Why is this so seldom practiced today?

The limited view of the work of the Holy Spirit. The thought that at salvation, I understood as much about the work of the Spirit as I ever would. Here was a man in Apollos, that was mighty in the Scriptures but needed greater understanding.

Think of how the Spirit had worked in his life, his childhood, training, teaching, preparing of Aquila and Priscilla, understanding that was given, filling for his new work.

The lack of humility, an unteachable spirit, keeps believers from this today. We think that a method or a means is the goal and the only way. This is the way I plant or this is the way I water. (Gospel tracts, asking someone if they know of Jesus, etc.)

The Holy Spirit brings you and I a deeper understanding of His work which then intensifies our desire to witness.

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