Awake Us Now

After 18 months in Corinth Paul, Aquila and Priscilla sail from Corinth to Ephesus and Paul goes on to Antioch.

Luke picks up the story in Ephesus. Acts 18:24-26. We are introduced to Apollos, who had been instructed about the Lord and taught accurately about Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue and graciously invited him to their home and taught him even more.

Acts 18:27-28 Apollos then wanted to go to Achaia and they encouraged him and wrote to disciples in that town to welcome him. When Apollos arrived in he was a great help and encouragement to the believers there and he vigorously refuted Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

We see God's incredible provision through Apollos in spreading the Good News.

Paul comes to look upon Apollos as a co-worker.

In 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 Paul writes "You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings."

We are to be attacked to God and His Word not to teachers.

Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians 3:5-6 saying, "What, after all is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."

Paul cuts through the human emotions and gets to the heart of the issue: the heart is God Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in HIM. It's listening to the Holy Spirit and working in concert with the Spirit's guidance and direction. God produces the fruit and growth.

It is all about God.

• Incredible holiness
• Amazing goodness
• Amazing grace
• Great love for each of us that He gave His son
• Great promise of a Savior fulfilled
• Amazing truth that Jesus, the Savior, is coming back!

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God calls His people not to blend in to society, but to stand out, to reflect the mercy and goodness of God, so that He may be exalted through all the nations!

The Book of Daniel is the story of the collision of two kingdoms, a spiritual war that is still being fought in the heavens and on the earth. In the end, the Kingdom of God wins!

What do the Scriptures teach us about anxiety and worry? Today we will See God's Provision in difficult and fearful times.

Acts 18:1 Paul has traveled to Corinth and is worried about what God has in mind in bringing him to this ungodly city.

FACING FEAR

Strategic Friendships

Then: Acts 18:2-3 Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla.

Now: God will bring just the right people into our lives as well to assure us.

Conviction and Direction

Then: Acts 18:4. Paul preaches in the synagogue about Jesus. He has fresh strength from God - He has conviction and direction. God is giving Paul the strength and encouragement he needs to move forward even in the uncertainty.

Now: God still today gives us the personal strength to do what He is wanting us to do even in challenging situations.

Backup Support

Then: Acts 18:5 Silas and Timothy join Paul. He now has trusted colleagues with him and he is able to continue to do the work the Lord has given him.

Now: God gives us backup support in our lives as well. We can trust the Lord to supply everything needed in difficult times so we can accomplish God's plan for our lives.

Renewed Boldness

Then: Acts 18:6 We see that the people in the synagogue are rejecting Paul and becoming abusive so he says he will leave and go to the gentiles. This shows us God's provision in renewed boldness that he placed in Paul. We see that Paul is no longer living in fear.

Now: we too receive God's provision of renewed boldness - giving us the ability to step out for Christ without fear.

Reinforcements

Then: Acts 18:7-8 Paul leaves the synagogue and goes next door to the house of Titius Justus, a wealthy gentile worshiper of God who has Paul usie his home as place for Paul to preach about Jesus. Then we read that Crispus, the leader of the synagogue next door that Paul left, and his entire family come to faith in Christ and are baptized. God's Word has power! The promised Deliver has come into the world in Christ. God's provision is reinforcements for Paul, the reinforcements of more believers.

Now: Today God gives us the reinforcements we need to continue to do His will and plan for our lives.

God's Clear Word

Then: Acts 18:9-10 The Lord speaks to Paul in a vision telling him to not be afraid, to keep speaking and not be silent. God goes on to tell Paul that He is with him, no one will attack or harm him. (Paul has been brutally beaten in several cities, but The Lord speaks out that it will not be that way here.)

Now: The Lord still speaks today. Have you ever had just the perfect Bible verse of encouragement come to mind or have a friend share just the right word of God with you when you need it most, or that your bible reading for the day was just perfectly timed. These and others are examples of how God gives us His clear word of direction, love and encouragement. We need to be in His Word, because that is how He speaks to us. He ministers to us in times of fear and anxiety.

Vindication

Then: Acts 18:11-16 Paul remains in Corinth one and a half years teaching the word of God. Then the Jews in Corinth attack him, bringing him to governor Gallio accusing him of persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law. Gallio responds that if this was about a misdemeanor or crime, then it would make sense for them to bring Paul to him but as the charges involve questions about their own Jewish laws, Gallio tells the jews in the crowd that it is their matter to settle themselves. The Lord rescues Paul from having to defend himself and instead he is vindicated!

Now: We to experience God's provision through vindication.

Surprise!

Then: Acts 18:17 We read that at this point part of the crowd turns on Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him. Now remember the original synagogue leader Crispis has become a believer and left the synagogue and is part of the group gathering next door to the synagogue at the home of Titius. So this is the synagogue leader who replaced Crispis. What we see is God working in surprising ways!! What happened to Sosthenes after this beating? And do you think Paul in his compassion of having experienced beatings in other cities, ministers to the battered man? Well here's the rest of the story - In 1 Corinthians 1:1-2a Paul writes that he is with his brother in Christ named Sosthenes! Sosthenes is a follower of Christ now, too!

Now: Today we see God working in surprising ways in our lives and around the world. God provides in remarkable and surprising ways and we need to have eyes that are open to see that truth.

This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 18-19.

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There is a spiritual war raging around us. The Christian lfe is one of spiritual warfare. We can put on the armor of God to resist the enemy - the devil and all his forces - secure in the knowledge that Jesus has already won the final victory. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground (resist the Enemy), and after you have done everything, to stand. (continue to resisit him)" Ephesians 6:12-13 The enemy is not people the enemy is The Enemy, the devil. We are to NOT to resist those people who are against us, we are to pray for them and desire to reach them with the good news of Jesus, but we ARE to resist the devil. The struggle is real. The devil is evil but he is DEFEATED! And we are to resit him in God's power alone.

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It is one thing to hear what Jesus says - it is another thing to live it. Real faith results in true, Christ-like living. Building one's life on any other foundation is like building a house on sand - the first real storm will sweep it away.

It is a good thing to call Jesus "Lord," but He warns us that faith is not just a matter of mouthing the right words, but of having the right heart.

Jesus warns us to be on the alert against false prophets - those eager to tell us pleasing things, while distorting the Gospel to avoid mention of sin and repentance. He bluntly calls them "ravening wolves" who wear "sheep's clothing" to disguise their predatory nature.

The world tells us we should not be "narrow minded," but Jesus says there is a time when "narrow" is not just good, but it is fundamentally good and absolutely essential!

The "Golden Rule," of doing to others as we would have them do to us, is not the way we measure up to God's standards. It is rather the way we show God's love to the world; a world increasingly troubled by fears and tumult.