Graceful Truth

BECOMING MORE POWERFUL

October 13, 2021

BECOMING MORE POWERFUL

ACTS 18-19


One of the great hopes of all our lives as followers of Christ is that we can become MORE. More useful, more loving, more gracious, more like Christ, a better witness, etc. Apollos was such a man. We only have five verses in the whole Bible that describe him (Acts 18:24-28), but look at the phrases God uses.

  • An eloquent (learned) man
  • Mighty in the Scriptures
  • Instructed in the way of the Lord (which indicates he had been open to being taught)
  • Fervent in spirit

LONG LEARNING

His growth didn't happen overnight. Apollos was a man who applied his heart to learning God's Word. This only occurs through a disciplined study, beyond what others might do, of God's Word. He had an aggressive passion for Christ and a very teachable heart. You don't sense any of the pride that aborts learning. When Priscilla and Aquila come to "explain the way of God more accurately" to him, he gladly receives from them. This is the mark of a truly wise man.

As a result of this spiritual pursuit, Apollos became stronger in the Lord, and the testimony of his life is powerful—so powerful that it was worth noting for all time in the Scriptures. Apollos became a man who ...

  • Was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus
  • Greatly helped those who had believed through grace
  • Powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ

LEARNING AND FIRE

What you love about this brief description is the clear impression of the roots of His life. He had a deep Biblical understanding and a deep love for Jesus. Some people love Jesus but won't apply themselves to the study of the Word and become spiritually unstable. Others study the Word with no passion for Christ and become harsh, proud, and even Phariseeical. Apollos had both grace and truth, just like the One he followed.

Lord Jesus, make me a man like Apollos. Give me the hunger and discipline to be so rooted in your Word that I rightly divide and interpret your Word to others. Protect me from error that will harm me and those I disciple. Never let my passion move past my Biblical understanding, but rather, let it be fueled by Your Word.
But, along with the truth, give me FIRE! Anoint my heart with a red-hot love for you that pushes me to depths of dependency and passion. Let my love for you, by Your grace, make me a man who stops at nothing to know You and make You known to others.

 

 



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