Absolute Surrender: Be a Faithful Member of My Body

	Today's reading: ~~Lev. 15-17~~; Acts 18
	Friends and Servants in the Lord- Acts 18:3
	Acts 18:3 (ESV)3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. Personalize it method (Rick Warren's 40 Days in the Word): Lord, please reveal your purpose in the text before me today and give me insight to it's application to my life today. amen. See here in Acts 18 Jeff, there is a great picture of the fellowship of the believers and how together they are working by the power of my Spirit and they are loving each other and helping each other. Paul certainly is the main figure here but note that others are each serving and reaching their communities as well. See that Apollos was teaching and preaching even though he did not know it all. See that the nice educated couple was coaching and hospitable and they were not in full time ministry but were tent makers. So here is a nice picture of the community of my church. Jeff- notice that Aquila and Priscilla were tent makers and yet they were very knowledgeable in my Word and I used them to teach one of my vessels that was working for my kingdom powerfully in Ephasus… Acts 18:26 (ESV)26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Because Apollos had limited knowledge of my Son's death and resurrection and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he spoke correctly of Jesus, but not completely or properly about the current state of the kingdom since Pentecost when my Spirit came down and my church was established. Similarly Jeff, you might share from what you know of the Word but could be lacking in something you have not read or studied yet. You also might have some insight to offer (privately) to someone else who shares something inaccurate in public. Know that both men and women are used here to guide and teach each other in my Word. Note that they did not discredit Apollos but discussed the matter with him in private. Further, notice that Paul spent significant time with them and no doubt was greatly encouraged and enjoyed lengthy discussion with them on the matter of my Word... From the Matthew Henry Commentary- This is an example to those who are going to service to seek for those services in which they may have the best help for their souls. Choose to work with those that are likely to be helpers in Christ Jesus. It is good to be in company and to have conversation with those that will further us in the knowledge of Christ, and to put ourselves under the influence of such as are resolved that they will serve the Lord. Henry, M. (1996). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ac 18:1–6). Peabody: Hendrickson. From the Bible Exposition Commentary- We do know that this dedicated couple served most faithfully and even risked their lives for Paul (Rom. 16:3–4). They assisted him in Ephesus (Acts 18:18–28) where they even hosted a church in their home (1 Cor. 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla were an important part of Paul’s “team” and he thanked God for them. They are a good example of how “lay ministers” can help to further the work of the Lord. Every pastor and missionary thanks God for people like Aquila and Priscilla, people with hands, hearts, and homes dedicated to the work of the Lord. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 18:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. Jeff, learn from this couple and serve faithfully in support of my body, specifically my local church at BCCC. Be in regular prayer for Pastor Kent and the staff that together, you might all win hearts for my kingdom as you act in obedience to my Word and the lead of my Spirit. Working full time and having a family does not mean you shall not serve my kingdom first, may you never be deceived in this again! You must seek first my kingdom regardless of how large and how much you think you need to feed your own kingdom. Yes- think, pray, confess, repent.
	Stay the course -Acts 18:6
	Acts 18:6 (ESV)6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Notice Paul's example Jeff, he did not give up the mission because many were not believing or because they reviled him…he ultimately respected their contempt and gave them their space but he continued on with the same purpose nearby reaching primarily to the gentiles… Acts 18:7–8 (ESV)7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. See that I lead Paul in how to proceed through his frustration and I gave him great hope… Acts 18:9–11 (ESV)9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Do you hear the message of my sovereignty here Jeff? Do you hear the whisper of me calling my people from before they were born and how I give them ears to hear my call? From the Bible Exposition Commentary- The statement “I have many people in this city” implies the doctrine of divine election, for “the Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19, nkjv). God’s church is made up of people who were “chosen … in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4; and see Acts 13:48). Please note that divine sovereignty in election is not a deterrent to human responsibility in evangelism. Quite the opposite is true! Divine election is one of the greatest encouragements to the preaching of the Gospel. Because Paul knew that God already had people set apart for salvation, he stayed where he was and preached the Gospel with faith and courage. Paul’s responsibility was to obey the commission; God’s responsibility was to save sinners. If salvation depends on sinful man, then all of our efforts are futile; but if “salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9), then we can expect Him to bless His Word and save souls. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 18:9). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. From the ESV Study Bible- Acts 18:10–11 gives helpful insight into Paul’s understanding of God’s providence and predestination in relation to human responsibility for preaching the gospel. Though God had told Paul, “I have many in this city who are my people,” indicating that many in Corinth would come to faith in Christ, this did not lead Paul to conclude that he had no further part to play. Rather, Paul stayed a year and six months, longer than he stayed at any city except Ephesus, preaching the gospel in order that through his preaching those whom God had chosen would come to faith (cf. note on 27:30). Predestination implied successful evangelism. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2124). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. See that Paul did not rest on this truth of God's calling of his elect, but he faithfully delivered the message to all that would hear. Do you suppose Jeff that you know whom I have called? From the Bible Exposition Commentary- Paul did not spend his time speculating about divine sovereignty and human responsibility, the way some ivory-tower Christians do today. He got busy and tried to win souls to Christ! You and I do not know who God’s elect are, so we take the Gospel to every creature and let God do the rest. And we certainly do not discuss election with the lost! D.L. Moody once told some unconverted people, “You have no more to do with the doctrine of election than you have with the government of China!” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 18:9). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. Know that this doctrine should not be a focal point Jeff and that there is limited evangelistic purpose here. First off, ensure your own standing with me rather than pontificate about the rest of the world... From the Bible Exposition Commentary- Before leaving this theme, we should note that it is our personal responsibility to make sure that we are among God’s elect. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10, nkjv). To the inquisitive theorist who asked about the number of the elect, Jesus replied, “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate!” (Luke 13:23–24) In other words, “What you need is salvation for yourself, not speculation about others! Be sure you are saved yourself; then we can talk about these wonderful truths.” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 18:9). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
	Be disciplined in Me- Acts 18:18
	Acts 18:18 (ESV)¹⁸After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. So see that Paul partook of voluntary spiritual disciplines... The Bible Exposition Commentary- Here Paul had his head shorn, “for he had a vow.” This probably refers to the Nazarite vow described in Numbers 6. Since the Nazarite vow was purely voluntary, Paul was not abandoning grace for law when he undertook it. The vow was not a matter of salvation but of personal devotion to the Lord. He allowed his hair to grow for a specific length of time and then cut it when the vow was completed. He also abstained from using the fruit of the vine in any form. We are not told why Paul took this vow. Perhaps it was a part of his special dedication to God during the difficult days of the early ministry in Corinth. Or perhaps the vow was an expression of gratitude to God for all that He had done for him and his associates. According to Jewish law, the Nazarite vow had to be completed in Jerusalem with the offering of the proper sacrifices. The hair was shorn at the completion of the vow, not at the beginning; and it was not necessary for one to be in Jerusalem to make the vow. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 18:18). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. So also Jeff see that you consider fasting as a worthwhile discipline to draw you nearer to me and to give opportunity for you to bless the poor and afflicted… Isaiah 58:6–12 (ESV) ⁶ “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. ¹¹ And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. ¹² And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. But know Jeff that there can be many errors made in discipline if you have not the correct motive or methods. Consult my servant John Piper in his Hunger for God for additional insight on what my Word says about this discipline.
	Application and Prayer:
	Today I will seek to serve faithfully in the community of believers Today I will be a faithful friend that initiates respectful conversation with brothers who are misunderstanding or misusing the Word or God and I will be accepting to those that would do the same for me Today I will stay the course in spite of mixed success and I will hope in the work that God is doing to bring his children into his church Today I will pray and consider the spiritual discipline of fasting and how it might be a faithful tool Thank you for your glorious Word Lord. Thank you for how you opened up insight while hiking the Mist trail yesterday and for the wonderful conversations with a faithful friend. Thank you for the blessing of supplication for fellow believers in this community described in Acts 18. Please guide me into the application of Acts 18 in my daily life Lord and be glorified in my doing. Soli Deo Gloria!