Acts 18:1-4: Every Christian a Missionary
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
We should always keep in mind what the main purpose of the church is
God has created the church to reach the world with the gospel of Jesús Christ Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
God has called the church to make disciples which in turn will see other churches planted and more missionaries sent out to all the world to share the gospel
This is all very exciting to talk about and we love repeating those phrases
Many times we see the missionary as the only or main piece of the puzzle in missions
We see it as a responsibility for us to give while they go
But how would missions look in our churches if we all considered the great commission our very own responsibility?
How does missions look in our own lives?
Who does God use to accomplish this great task?
How could we live our lives to reach the world with the gospel
In this passage we see a couple
Their names are “Aquila” and “Priscilla”
They were a key part of Paul’s team and ministry
And, man, was Paul thankful for them
1. God Uses Ordinary People… v. 1-2
1. God Uses Ordinary People… v. 1-2
Paul had arrived in Corinth
This was a very large city with about 200,000 people
Paul had no place to live, nothing to eat and nowhere to stay
It’s very possible that Paul’s father taught him to make tents when he was a kid
The rabbis of Paul’s time had a saying “He who doesn’t teach his son to work teaches him to steal.”
So Paul runs into Aquila and Priscilla and immediately finds out they have a lot in common
What kind of people were they?
They were incredibly common, run of the mill kind of people
They came from Rome
They made tents for a living
And it’s very probably that they didn’t own a big company or have a whole lot of wealth
And that should be very encouraging to us, because that’s the kind of person God uses 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Aquila and Priscilla worked a manual labor job
The disciples were fishermen
King David was a shepherd
Matthew was a tax collector
Barnabas was a layman in the church
Philip was a deacon/servant in the church
God uses men, women, widows, seamstresses, tent makers, etc. for His honor and glory
We must remember that my job doesn’t determine my service
God’s power determines my service
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
God uses people in ordinary situations with ordinary abilities to accomplish his purposes
We don’t need to look at ourselves to see if we could be used or not
Jesus is the one who does a work in and through us 1 Corinthians 15:10
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2. …To Live Extraordinary Lives… v. 3
2. …To Live Extraordinary Lives… v. 3
We see that Paul finds this brother and sister in Christ and immediately attaches to them
I can imagine how encouraged Paul was to find other believers
These people gave Paul a job for him to be able to pay for his expenses
He lived and worked with these people while he was starting the church at Corinth
Paul didn’t have a home and his ministry was always very controversial
But he found a lifelong friendship in this couple
It all started with a simple friendship
But Aquila and Priscilla turn out to be ministry partners, co-laborers
They probably never imagined the great things that God would do through them
They never imagined they would go through in this crazy adventure
But Paul went to them, stayed with them and worked with them
This wasn’t just a friendship
They ended up working together
And finally it turned into a friendship and a partnership
They took the great commission seriously
They took the great commission seriously
They decided that if God called them to be witnesses and to make disciples then they would take that seriously
They were going to shape their lives around that command
They made decisions based on the good of the kingdom
They made decisions based on the good of the kingdom
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Their lives were completely built around the great commissions
They were an encouragement to Paul
They traveled with him to start other churches Acts 18:18-19; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:3-5
18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
They financially supported Paul 2 Corinthians 11:9
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
They risked their lives to help the missionary Romans 16:3-4
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
They taught other christians Acts 18:24-26
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.
They recognized the good in Apolos
They didn’t embarrass him publicly
The took him aside and taught him
They were very kind people
Apolos was greatly helped by this couple
Isn’t it interesting that 2000 years later we are talking about a couple that made tents?
They lived their lives for something greater
They were abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
God wants to accomplish great things with our lives in this world
William Carey said “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God”
3. …To Accomplish An Extraordinary Purpose v. 4
3. …To Accomplish An Extraordinary Purpose v. 4
Let’s remember that our purpose isn’t to expand an earthly kingdom
Our purpose isn’t to accomplish earthly goals
Paul was able to preach in the synagogue and start a church thanks to this couple’s efforts
We must live in the light of eternity
Jesus warned us about this many times over Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We are impacting other people’s lives
God is using us to see lives and hearts changed and transformed Jude 21-23
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
We live to preach the gospel to people that will die without hope if we don’t tell them about Jesus Romans 10:14-15
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
So we can’t make decisions solely based on comfort, success or prosperity
We need to make decisions based on the good of the kingdom
Will I live sacrificially to see more missionaries sent to the field?
Will I live sacrificially to see more churches plantes?
Will I live to see more young people and students reached with the gospel?
Are you willing to serve in whatever way your pastor or your church may need?
Are you taking care of your pastor so that he can guide the church well?
Are you taking care of missionaries so that they can do the ministry in places you can’t go?
How could you use your possessions for the kingdom of God?
How can you use your abilities and knowledge for God’s kingdom?
Where do you fit in?
Ask the Lord to use your gifts for your local church
Everyone agrees that Paul was a great missionary and a great christian
But how much would he have been able to accomplish without other people’s help and support?
Humanly speaking, there might have never been a church in Corinth if it wasn’t for Aquila and Priscilla
They are a great example of what God can do with people who have an open heart and an open home to serve Jesus