HOLDING THE ROPE
ACTS 9: 19-25
KEY VERSE: ACTS 9:25
FOCAL POINT: NO PART OF MINISTRY IS UNIMPORTANT
INTRODUCTION:
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY DIFFERENT MEN AND WOMEN HELP HIM IN HIS MINISTRY: THERE WAS AQUILLA, BARNABAS, FAIUS, LUKE ONESIMUS, PRISCILLA, SILAS, TIMOTHY, TYCHICUS, LYDIA, JUNIA, PHEBE AND MANY OTHERS.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT:
THE JEWISH LEADERS IN THE SYNAGOGUE WERE DISTURBED AND AMAZED AT PAUL’S TRANSFORMATION AND MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY REFERENCING THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST. THE LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS, SOUGHT TO KILL HIM.
ACTS 9:25
THE DISCIPLES TOOK A GREAT RISK IN HELPING THE APOSTLE ESCAPE. LARGE SCALE PERSECUTION AND POSSIBLE DEATH WAS INEVITABLE IF CAUGHT.
APPLICATION:
NO PART OF MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH IS INSIGNIFICANT OR UNIMPORTANT. THE WORD TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENT GIFTS AND MINISTRIES WITHIN THE CHURCH. READ EPHESIANS 4: 7-16. ROMANS 12: 6 ALLUDE TO DIFFERENT GIFTS. 1 CORINTHIANS 12: 4 SPEAKS TO A DIVERSITY OF GIFTS.
YOU HAVE A GIFT OR GIFTS. YOUR GIFT (S) CAN EDIFY THE CHURCH. THIS IS BODY MINISTRY. HE WILL EQUIP YOU AND EMPOWER YOU TO DO THE TASK.
IN PAUL’S CASE, THOSE WHO LOWERED PAUL DOWN THE WALL OPENED THE DOOR FOR FUTURE WITNESSING TO THE JEWS AND GENTILES.
