ARE YOU ALONG FOR THE RIDE OR ENGAGED FOR THE REASON.
Acts 18:18-28 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
INTRODUCTION: I WAS RECENTLY AT A SEMINAR WHERE THE SPEAKER IDENTIFIED PEOPLE INTO THREE CATEGORIES; SHEEP, WOLVES OR SHEEP DOGS. SHEEP WERE IDENTIFIED AS THOSE WHO ARE PASSIVE IN A SITUATION. WOLVES WERE THOSE WHO WERE THE AGGRESSORS IN THE SITUATION. SHEEP DOGS WERE THOSE IDENTIFIED AS THE PROTECTORS IN THE SITUATION. THIS SPEAKER WAS TAKING THE SITUATION THAT WAS HIS TOPIC AND APPLYING LABELS TO PEOPLE WITH REGARD TO HOW THEY WILL RESPOND.
FOR THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST, WE ALSO HAVE A “CATEGORY” SYSTEM. IN FACT IT IS A TWO CATEGORY SYSTEM. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST WHO ARE “ALONG FOR THE RIDE”. THESE ARE THOSE WHO AVOID ANY DIRECT ACTIVITY AND SERVICE, AND IN MAY CASES ONLY ENGAGE WHEN SPECIFICALLY ASKED. THEN THERE ARE THOSE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST WHO ARE “ENGAGED FOR THE REASON”.
PROPOSITION: WE NEED TO BE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WHO “ENGAGED FOR THE REASON”, NOT “ALONG FOR THE RIDE”!
I. NO BELIEVER IS WITHOUT A REASON
a. UNDERSTANDING THE REASON FOR THE CLOSED DOOR
i. OUR PASSAGE REVEALS THE CONTINUING MISSION TRIP OF PAUL.
1. WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IS THAT PAUL’S TRAVELS NOW TAKE HIM INTO ASIA!
2. PAUL WAS PROHIBITED FROM MOVING INTO ASIA WHEN HE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO GO THERE. ACTS 16:7 RECORDS PAUL’S ATTEMPT TO ENTER ASIA WITH THE GOSPEL.
a. THE SPIRIT OF JESUS
b. THE MAN OF MACEDONIA
ii. NOW PAUL IS GOING TO AND IN ASIA
1. GOD CLOSES A DOOR TO MOVE US IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION
2. GOD OPENS A DOOR TO ALLOW US TO AGAIN MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
b. WHY DOES GOD CLOSE DOORS?
i. GOD IS SOVEREIGN
1. GOD HAS A PLAN
2. GOD HAS A GOAL
a. EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD
ii. GOD IS COMPASSIONATE
1. GOD KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES
2. GOD KNOWS WHAT OUR LIMITS ARE
3. GOD KNOWS WHERE WE NEED TO GROW AND TRUST HIM
iii. GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS LOVE FOR US.
1. GOD MANIPULATES DOORS BECAUSE HE IS DOING WHAT IS GOOD
2. GOD MANIPULATES DOORS BECAUSE HE IS DOING WHAT IS BEST
3. GOD MANIPULATES DOORS BECAUSE HE IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT
c. WE OFTEN RESPOND POORLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF GOD AND HIS SOVEREIGN ACTIVITY
ILLUSTRATION: A. W. TOZER WRITES IN HIS BOOK, “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY”
AN OCEAN LINER LEAVES NEW YORK BOUND FOR LIVERPOOL. ITS DESTINATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY PROPER AUTHORITIES. NOTHING CAN CHANGE IT. THIS IS AT LEAST A FAINT PICTURE OF SOVEREIGNTY.
ON BOARD THE LINER ARE SEVERAL SCORES OF PASSENGERS. THESE ARE NOT IN CHAINS, NEITHER ARE THEIR ACTIVITIES DETERMINED FOR THEM BY DECREE. THEY ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO MOVE ABOUT AS THEY WILL. THEY EAT, SLEEP, PLAY, AND LOUNGE ABOUT ON THE DECK, READ, TALK, ALTOGETHER AS THEY PLEASE; BUT ALL THE WHILE THE GREAT LINER IS CARRYING THEM STEADILY ONWARD TOWARDS A PREDETERMINED PORT.
BOTH FREEDOM AND SOVEREIGNTY ARE PRESENT HERE AND DO NOT CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. SO IT IS, I BELIEVE, WITH MAN’S FREEDOM AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. THE MIGHTY LINER OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN DESIGN KEEPS ITS STEADY COURSE OVER THE SEA OF HISTORY. GOD MOVES UNDISTURBED AND UNHINDERED TOWARDS THE FULFILLMENT OF THOSE ETERNAL PURPOSES WHICH HE HAS PURPOSED IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN. WE DO NOT KNOW ALL THAT IS INCLUDED IN THOSE PURPOSES, BUT ENOUGH HAS BEEN DISCLOSED TO FURNISH US WITH A BROAD OUTLINE OF THOSE THINGS TO COME AND TO GIVE US GOOD HOPE AND FIRM ASSURANCE OF FUTURE WELL-BEING.
1. WE NEED TO AVOID BLAMING GOD
2. WE NEED TO EMBRACE TRUSTING GOD
ONE OF THE REASON WE ARE ONLY ALONG FOR THE RIDE AND NOT ENGAGED FOR THE REASON IS THAT WE DO NOT FULLY TRUST GOD TO GUIDE AND DIRECT OUR ACTIONS.
Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
II. EVERY BELIEVER HAS A REASON
a. THE BASIS FOR OUR REASON
i. THE GREAT COMMISSION – THE COMMAND
ii. IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL DO WHAT I ASK – THE COMPASSION
iii. THE FIELDS ARE WHITE UNTO HARVEST, .. SEND LABORERS INTO THE HARVEST—THE VISION
iv. EVERYONE WHO WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE – THE ALTERNATIVE
v. ONCE TO DIE AND THEN THE JUDGMENT – THE TIMING
b. THE REASON IS THE SAME – THE BASIS IS INDIVIDUAL
c. THE DANGER BEHIND THE REASON – APOLLOS
i. APOLLOS WAS A LEARNED MAN – FROM ALEXANDRIA
1. ONE OF THE GREATEST AREAS FOR EDUCATION IN ITS DAY
ii. APOLLOS WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE SCRIPTURES AND KNEW THE OLD TESTAMENT
iii. APOLLOS TAUGHT ABOUT CHRIST ACCURATELY
1. KNOWLEDGE WAS LIMITED
2. KNEW ONLY ABOUT THE BAPTIST OF JOHN – REPENTANCE
3. WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT HIS SALVATION?
a. HE WAS NOT SAVED
KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION ARE NOT SUFFICIENT
WE NEED TO MONITOR OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION TO AVOID BECOMING STAGNANT AND COLD.
APOLLOS NEED TO COME INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HE WOULD
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME REASON FOR SERVING AND WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED FOR THAT REASON, BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE WILL QUIETLY MOVE FROM REASON TO RIDE
III. EVERY BELIEVER IS EQUIPPED FOR HIS REASON
a. PAUL WAS EQUIPPED
i. PAUL SAW THE SPIRITUAL NEED OF PEOPLE
1. SOME THE NEED WAS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST
a. PAUL WAS IN THE SYNAGOGUE DAILY
2. SOME THE NEED WAS TO BE ENCOURAGED IN THEIR WALK WITH CHRIST
a. PAUL SPENT TIME IN THE TOWNS WHERE HE HAD LED PEOPLE TO CHRIST TO BUILD UP THEIR FAITH
b. PAUL HAD COMPASSION WHEN HE SHARED HIS DESIRE TO RETURN
c. PAUL HAD A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO HIS HOME CHURCH
b. APOLLOS WAS EQUIPPED
i. HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK INTELLIGENTLY ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
1. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PUT YOUR MIND IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU DISCUSS ISSUES OF FAITH!
ii. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE KNEW
1. SEEN IN HIS BOLDNESS
iii. HE WAS CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT HE KNEW
1. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER IS MOVING BEYOND WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW TO BE TRUE FROM THE WORD OF GOD TO WHAT WE THINK SHOULD BE TRUE.
a. HATH GOD NOT SAID?
b. Proverbs 18:17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.
iv. HE WAS INCOMPLETE UNTIL HE CAME TO KNOW JESUS, …
v. AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER WITH PRISCILLA AND AQUILA HE WAS EVEN MORE ABLE TO PROCLAIM CHRIST – VERSE 28
c. PRISCILLA AND AQUILA WERE EQUIPPED
i. INTERESTING THAT THE NAME OF THE WIFE WAS FIRST – POSSIBLY INDICATING THAT AT THIS POINT SHE WAS THE STRONGER OF THE TWO IN THEIR FAITH.
ii. THEY TRAVELED WITH PAUL
1. HAD COME INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH PAUL – POSSIBLY THROUGH THEIR WORKING RELATIONSHIP
2. THEY HAD BEEN DISCIPLED BY PAUL
iii. THEY WERE EQUIPPED IN THE AREA OF MINISTRY AND ASSISTANCE
1. THEY TRAVELED WITH PAUL
2. THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR HIS SAFETY
Romans 16:3-4 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
a. ROMANS WAS WRITTEN FROM CORINTH, SO SOME TIME WHILE THEY WERE THEIR THIS HAPPENED
3. THEY ESTABLISHED THEIR HOME AS A MEETING PLACE FOR THE CHURCH
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
4. THEY WERE PEOPLE OF HOSPITALITY
a. INVITED APOLLOS INTO THEIR HOME
b. SHARED WITH HIM WHAT HE DID NOT KNOW
c. APOLLOS TO HIS CREDIT EXHIBITED A QUALITY WE ALL SHOULD HAVE – HE WAS ALWAYS IN A LEARNING MODE. REMEMBER HE WAS AN INTELLECTUAL!
SO LET ME GIVE YOU SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND THOUGHTS CONCERNING THIS PASSAGE.
· WE ALL HAVE THE SAME REASON – THE GOSPEL
· WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE REASON – BY THE WAY, NEVER DOUBT THE POWER OF HOSPITALITY AS A MEANS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH SOMEONE!
· WHEN USED IN CONCERT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS
· JUST AS WE SHARED LAST WEEK; “GOD HAS PUT US WHERE WE ARE”, SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT “GOD HAS PUT US WHERE WE ARE WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO SERVE HIM.”
· WHEN WE SEE THAT A RESOURCE IS LACKING, DON’T ALLOW YOURSELF TO SHIFT TO A RIDER, DO WHAT JESUS SAID TO DO!
Matthew 9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
