Helpers In Christ

Romans 16:3-5

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.

The Helpers Understanding Revealed In Service

We don’t know when it was that Priscilla and Aquila had believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ but we do know when they first appear within the scriptures. 

We’re not sure if it was through Paul’s preaching that the gospel was first shared with him but we are sure that he first met them in the city of Corinth.

turn in your bibles to the book of Acts chapter 18

Acts 18:1–3 

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

When Paul had first met them they had recently come from the city of Rome, there was an order by the emperor that all Jews would depart from Rome and here they are found in the city of Corinth. But in this gospel to the Romans, both Priscilla and Aquila are saluted in Rome.

It is clear therefore that there had come a time when they had been able to return to the city of Rome meanwhile however they had gone on quite a ministry journey and they did not conclude their journey in Rome but in the city of Ephesus.

Paul in this salutation refers to them as “Helpers in Christ Jesus”, and helpers they certainly were. The service they rendered to the Lord, we will see, was one of self sacrifice, preparation, diligence and celebrated in thanks giving of all the churches including the gratefulness of the apostle Paul.

Aquila was a Jew, we are told in Acts 18:2, he was born in the region of Pontus, this today is the North Eastern portion of Turkey, Galatia was on its western border. 

He had recently come from Italy, specifically from the city of Rome under commandment of the emperor who expelled all the jews from the City and he came to Corinth with his wife Priscilla.

Aquilla shared the same trade skill as the Apostle Paul, both of them were Tent makers and, while ministering the Gospel of the Lord in Corinth, they earned a living from this occupation together.

Now the passage in the book of Acts from the first meeting of this couple in the first few verses goes on to speak of Paul’s other commitments and his trouble in Corinth, and then they reappear in verse 18

Acts 18:18–19 

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 shornhis 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. 

Priscilla and Aquilla had journeyed with Paul from Cenchrea (where we met Phebe and her church last time) to Syria and then on to Ephesus where Paul parted from them.

Their desire was for him to stay with them (v20), but his was to continue on to Jerusalem and hoped to return to them if the Lord will (v21).

Now while Paul was taking his journey we see that both Priscilla and Aquilla remained ministering in Ephesus, they met a man fervent in the Gospel named Apollo who they took under their wing, (we will come to this event again in the next point). 

Now while Apollo journeyed on to Corinth (Acts 19:1), they remained in Ephesus and began a Church there in their house.

Turn to 1 Cor 16:19

Now Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians after his second missionary Journey, from the City of Ephesus, we see him speaking of tarrying there until Pentecost in 1 Cor 1:16:8.

1 Corinthians 16:19 

19 The churches of As

Come Boldly To The Throne of Grace

“Come Boldly unto the throne of grace” says the author, Christ our high priest, not ignorant to our infirmities, encourages us to come to him, and to come to him boldly.

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A Commendation of Praise

28-08-2022

Pr Edi Giudetti

Romans 16:1-2

1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

A COMMENDATION of one person 1-2

Salutation to 26 people verses 3-16

A warning and command is given them concerning those which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrines of the faith, 17-20

Salutation from 9 people (including Paul) verses 21-24

The final benediction and a dedication to “him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (v25).

(Nine women noted in this chapter: Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Thyphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother, Julia, and Nereus’ sister).

From the corpus of Christian Theology to personal affection and love.

A Commendation In Relation

1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.

As noted in the summary, there is a single commendation in the chapter and it is respecting a woman by the name of Phebe who is most likely the LETTER BEARER to the Church at Rome.

Paul most likely wrote this epistle to the Romans from the City of Corinth and many argue that this is demonstrated in all likelihood from this verse.

Paul, he recommends to the Romans Phebe, the phrase “Commend unto you” gives the clearest impression that the letter to the Romans was placed in her hands to deliver, for Paul here presents to the Romans “Phebe our sister”. 

It is very difficult to think that such a recommendation can be made without the knowing introduction of the individual being recommended. 

Paul here evidently presenting her and therefore commending her to the Church at Rome.

The passage goes on to say that she was a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea (Κεγχρεαι).

This is a small harbour town about 7km south of the city of Corinth, one of two ports the City had, Lechaio to the north side of the Isthmus and Cenchrea here in south looking toward Israel.  

Paul is recorded to have made a vow in this town in Acts 18 after spending a year and six months in Corinth and before he sailed into Syria.

Acts 18:18 

The reference to him being in Corinth is in verse 11 after Jesus appeared to him in a vision saying he had “much people in this city”;

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. 

So, it is likely that after being in Corinth for some 18 months and travelling to Cenchrea before sailing to Syria, the evangelism of Paul had reached Phebe, who became a sister AND a servant of the church that formed in that town.

1I commend unto you Phebe our sister,

One thing is clear and that is that Phebe was not a blood relative of Paul’s though there is certainly here a Commendation In Relation. 

Phebe carries the remnant of a Pagan name related to the Moon God, but just as we no longer regard the pagan origins of many names, including the English days of the week, she retains hers as a typical gentile name.

 1I commend unto you Phebe our sister,

Phebe is one of at least nine women referred to in this chapter, but she is the only one not being saluted, she is being “Commended” and that as a “sister”, and not just a sister of Paul’s, but a sister of all those being saluted “our sister”.

I love seeing Paul regard so early in the Christian story, people such as Phebe as a “Sister”.

Paul had lost all familial relation with the people of his nation Israel. Though he loved them and desired them and went first to them to share the gospel of Christ, their rejection of the word of God had seen him both separated, persecuted

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Trusting In The Disposition of God: Pt 1 Our Efforts

Pt 2 The Fruit of Our Efforts

Romans 15:20–29 

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 

22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 

We have in this passage a wonderful example of those Christians who fully trust in the Lord for the disposal of all they have, both in their efforts and in the fruits of their labors.

Paul here speaking to his efforts, all of which is disposed of by the Lord as he sees fit.

But also those of Macedonia and Achaia relate to the fruits of their labors, ministering materially to those who have ministered to them spiritually.

These all understand that all they have is of God, both in labor and in the fruit of their labor. Nothing they have is not of God, all is given as a gift and all is there for the blessing of all.

Those desires they had, as Paul had, to undertake the work of the Lord was for God to dispose of such works as he sees fit;

So too it was in relation to the willingness to give to the Lord in accordance with how he has prospered them, trusting him to dispose of those contributions as he sees fit.

Both Paul and those Churches, as representative of all faithful Christians in history, Trust In The Disposition of God; In both their efforts and their incomes, the Lord was entrusted to dispose of both as he sees fit.

“If the Lord wills” and “As the Lord wills” is the catch-cry of Christians related to God’s disposal of both effort and income, to do with them as he sees good.

This week we are looking at a portion of the text before us that indicates God’s disposing of Paul’s desires and effort, and how we are also to commit our ways unto the Lord, yet simply trust in his disposal of them. Sometimes those desires and efforts turn out as we wish them to, and other times they do not; yet are we to trust the God for his outcome in his time.

NEXT WEEK we are going to address the matter of money, that one single obstacle that seems to be the idolatrous bane of far too many Christians in these days, completely opposed to those faithfully trusting the Lord both in our passage and in days where such affluence was rare. 

In both sermons, as a mini-series within a series, we will see how our faithlessness in Gods commands as a DUTY for us all, manefests in us joy, peace, comfort and blessing; but contrariwise how presumption and a lack of faithfulness in such duties manifest fears and trials and a relative feeling of abandonment of God when we are unwilling to trust him.

Both of these sermons with doctrines gleaned from the passage before us, should be both a reproof and correction, that you might overcome some of the greatest obstacles in your walk with the Lord.

To what extent do you trust God? 

The answer to this question, manifested in both Attitude and Action, define if you trul

To Whom He Was Not Spoken Of, They Shall See

Pr Edi Giudetti

31-07-2022

Romans 15:17–21 

17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 

We have near two thousand years of the Gospel of Christ before us, and at times we may have a tendency to forget that the Gospel itself did not pertain to us originally. 

We are as the Bible refers to, a wild branch grafted into the vine, we are not the natural branches, we were not the ones for whom Christ had originally come. (See Rom 11:17-24)

John 1:11 

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

We were those to whom Christ was not spoken of, we are those who Paul refers to in this text. Recall he is speaking to the Roman gentile churches, it was to them that he came and preached the Gospel of Christ.

But as he makes clear to us in the passage above, he did not even do this in his own strength, this was of the power of God.

Now, give some consideration to that just for a moment. The Gospel was not for you at the first, but for Israel. Christ is their messiah, he came for the Children, and not for the dogs that eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table (Mt 15:27), he (Jesus) is the Children’s bread!

We know the story, we know that they were blinded, Israel were made blind for they Crucified their King.

But God had seen to it, that those to whom he was not spoken of they shall see, that’s you and me. 

And not only so, but God had blessed the effort, in fact he went before Paul and in many ways he gave them (The gentiles) eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to know and a will to obey the Gospel.

And so this is what we have before us this morning, we have a sermon titled “To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see” it’s a sermon about you and me, it’s a sermon about a privilege that, had the jews not turned as it were there faces from him, the day of Gods wrath upon the heathen world may well have been next, as is evident in the Old Testament. 

The Church is not seen in the Old Testament, Messiah comes and the world comes to a close with the millennium being ushered in. 

But there are some hints and we will see those shortly

We will also learn other things here, those that pertain to the power of God unto salvation and what that means to us for the Gospel.

The Power of God That They May Obey (v17-18)

17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

Paul understood that the preaching of the Cross was to come with the power of God unto salvation. He was called of God to do the work of God for the ministry of God to the salvation of the gentiles.

Nothing Paul did was in his own power, his glory is to “glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God”, in fact he did not even see a point to speaking of anything that was not done through Christ in him (v18).

We all have a tendency to boast of vain things, things that has nothing to do with the power of God. Nothing to do with the Lord’s doing…our doing that’s what we like to boast of. Not Paul, however.

He sees that anything good in him is of no value….even worse than no value;

Philippians 3:4–8 

4 Though I might also have confidence in the fles

It Is Hard For Thee to Kick Against The Pricks

Acts 9:1–9 

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lordsaid unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Here before us is the dramatic account of the conversion of Paul the Apostle. 

No less than thirteen of the letters found in the Bible are penned in his name, he became the greatest evangelist in history, the greatest planter of Churches in history and he became also one of the single most tried Christians of history. His sufferings for his faith are presented in the Bible, and his end was at the hand of an Emperor of Rome. 

Paul died proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. His preaching of the eternal hope for all of mankind cost him his life, because the truth pricks the hearts of man and always has a response.

He was known while alive as one who “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). And the Jews despised him. On no less than five occasions they conspired to put him to death, even stoning him and dragging what they thought was his dead body out of the city.

Paul himself testifying to the truth of it;

2 Corinthians 11:22–28 

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

But our passage this morning begins with a very different man. A man breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord

Paul’s violence against Christians was known by reputation. 

Ananias was specifically called on by the Lord there in verse 11 and 12 to heal him with the response, 

“… Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.”

Acts 9:13–14

The Damascus Road:

 How many have used this expression in history to speak of a complete turning about of heart and mind?

How many have had their own version of a “Damascus road about face” which matters?

And notice that never is that expression used over small things, no one had claimed a Damascus road experience having changed from Chocolate Ice-cream to Vanilla….no, it is always on matters very important.

Not many use t

Baptism What When Why Who?

 

What is Baptism?

What is this rather strange undertaking Christians do once in their life?

MY Short Definition;

Baptism is the public identification of the believer with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. It is a testimonial representation of that which has already occurred within the believer when they have believed by faith that Jesus had paid the full penalty of their sins. 

They had first died to themselves, the old nature is buried, and they have risen in newness of life.

Romans 6:1–7 

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as werebaptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:1-7

The first true baptism occurred when you died to yourself and gave your life to Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:19–21 

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

None of the good works could have saved you, did you notice that last line?

for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

When you believed at that very moment by your faith of what Jesus had done for you, the Bible teaches that you were baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. This is why Paul wrote 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

 

John the Baptist also spoke of this occurring when Jesus would come.

Matthew 3:11–12 

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

Those who believe the Gospel will be Baptized with the Holy Ghost, those who will not believe it shall be baptized with fire.

One has died to himself, and rose to newness of life, the Other Shall die, be buried and in HELL lift up his eyes.

There will be a resurrection of life and there will be a resurrection of damnation (Jn 5:29)Those who take part of that first resurrection are deemed Blessed and Holy, and will live eternally with God in heaven. (Rev 20:6)Those not a part of the first resurrection will suffer a second death in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. And there they shall remain evermore. (Rev 21:8) 

For God will indeed purge his floor and gather his wheat, but he will burn the chaff of this world who will deny that perfect gift of atonement for their sins.

Those who foolishly hate God have chosen to suffer their end with those fallen from heaven, and so the fire will indeed be “unquenchable”.

But those wh

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