A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#And he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 19:8
Paul had returned to the synagogue preaching the gospel for three months disputing and persuading them of the things of the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened and believed not but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of Tyrannus. We see how when the gospel is not accepted, it is ok to separate the disciples as Paul did. He did this for two years; so that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews, and Greeks.
#And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6
Paul laid his hands on them and the baptisms of the Holy Spirit were upon them. And they spoke in tongues and prophesied. This was the sign to the early church that the Holy Spirit had come. Paul said that tongues would cease and today not many speak in tongues, but if they do there must be an interpreter. So that the Church body will be edified
#And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people in that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:3,4
Paul instructed the people that the baptism of John was on repentance through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
#He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Acts 19:2
Paul asked a very profound question and their reply leads him to believe that Apollos had not taught them properly the doctrine of the Pentecostal teachings of Christ. It is very important that we are taught well the complete Word of God before we teach others. James said to be not many masters, for we will be judged severely of God if we fail to rightly divide the Word of God. Paul told Timotheus to study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the scriptures. II Tim 2:15
#And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and found certain disciples, Acts 19:1
Happy Mother's Day Paul has just returned to Ephesus and the people had been formerly baptized by John the Baptist. They were imperfectly instructed in Christianity and some were likely baptized by Apollos before he had been instructed in Christ in a more perfect way. Just like Mothers have to learn how to be better mothers through scriptures. The Virgin Mary said be it unto me the handmaiden of the Lord according to thy word. This is how to know Christ in a more perfect way. So it was for Apollos he was taught about baptism by Aquila and Priscilla. So if you want to be a good mother study the mother's who take the servant's heart like the Virgin Mary.
#And when he was disposed to past into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: Acts 18:27
Apollos was mightily convincing the Jews and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. So the other disciples said to receive him, for he was worthy of their confidence. Let us through grace and Divine favor receive him too.
#This man was instructed in the ways of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. Acts 18:25
So Apollos was well taught on the baptism of John the Baptist so Aquila and Priscilla mentored him in the ways of God more perfectly. I thank God that I can mentor my brothers and sisters in Christ in the ways of God. This is how the Church grows.
#And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, and eloquent and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. Acts 18:24
Thank God for His faithfulness in sending us associates when we need them, as a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, who was a great speaker and mighty in the Old Testament scriptures joined Paul. This was just what Paul needed as so many Jews were persecuting him for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and he desperately needed an associate in the ministry. He is in need of the teaching of the gospel of Christ, because he was a disciple of John the Baptist. So Paul is the perfect companion for him. This proves that God can use anybody with knowledge of the Scriptures and fervour of the spirit. So pray for God to send you an Apollos if you find yourself in need of a good friend. This pandemic has caused many people to be isolated, and loneliness is rampant so finding a good friend in Christ is very much needed. The scriptures teach us that if we will be friendly we will have friends and I have seen how true this is. So give God the glory for His faithfulness to us in the ministry and when God sends a special friend give Him the glory.
#And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. Acts 18:22,23
So Paul spent time in Galatia and Phrygia in order to strengthen all the disciples. He had planted those churches on his previous missionary journey. What a blessing Paul was to those churches and the disciples as he confronted all the false teachers who were creating havoc in the churches. We need to have a Paul to mentor us in these days of apostasy that we are living in. As Paul is going to strengthen Apollos in the faith and teach us how that one can plant the seed, while the other waters the seed so God can get the increase. I praise God as I am now in the latter stages of the ministry and seeking to strengthen all the brothers and sisters suffering from mental illness. This illness is a stigma in the Church and it should not be, as Paul had the thorn in the flesh, We do not know what this was it very well could have been a mental illness, as he said a messenger of Satan was sent to buffer him, lest he should be exalted above measure. I thank God that His grace was sufficient to see Paul through this illness and He will see us through this illness as well.
#When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must, by all means, keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you if God wills. And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 18:20,21
We believe the feast that Paul was obliged to keep was the Pentecost. Paul wanted every opportunity to instruct the Jews and preach the gospel so that he could free them from the prejudices they had imbibed toward him. So he bade them farewell, but I will return again unto you. We must always say if God wills, for it is the will of God that all men be saved. So God did allow him to return in Acts 19:1 What a blessing it is to do the will of God and have the Spirit of God encourage us along the way. As Jesus told His disciple before His ascension I will send the comforter who will be in you and upon you. So tarry ye in Jerusalem and so it was that ten days after His ascension the Holy Spirit was given, and this is why Pentecost the feast is so important to keep. Pentecost means fifty days, so it was fifty days after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus that Pentecost came. I pray that the Lord will inspire you to keep the feast as well and celebrate with your loved ones the Risen Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit.