February 26, 2023 -- Acts 18:24-26 -- The Acts of the Apostles: Believers training up new believers

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 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.
Acts 18:24-26 ESV

See how Jesus’ words, in Acts 1:8ff, proved true. The apostles, empowered by the Spirit were Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, to Samaria and the ends of the earth. The book of Acts is showing how the first generation of believers disciples and trains up the next generation, setting the pattern for believers through all the ages.

Paul, the last of the apostles, taught Aquila and Priscilla the way of Jesus. He worked closely with them in the business of making tents. Obviously he instructed them in the way of salvation and they received it, because they became quite discerning. When Apollos came to their area and taught about Jesus, Priscilla and Aquila heard him and were able to explain to Apollos the way of God, so that his understanding was more accurate.

This is the pattern for believers after the time of the apostles. Believers in Jesus Christ are able to evangelize new believers. The people of God are given discernment so that errors among the believers can be corrected and the truth preserved. Believers makes disciples for Jesus who make disciples for Jesus.

When a man or a women is saved, he is given a beautiful purpose: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever (The Shorter Catechism, Answer 1). The whole life of the believer is given to God for the work of praising Him, of teaching others, of growing in understanding, and hating sin more and more so that life bound up with knowing God becomes all his joy.

Get to church. Get refocused on loving Him and knowing Him. Get revived so that you will in turn teach others to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Our Father in heaven, You are the LORD, hallowed and ever-blessed be Your Great Name! Thank You for the generations of believers who have declared Your faithfulness and love to the next generation. Triune God, may Your praise grow in our hearts and grow in ever-swelling choruses of praise and worship reverberating here on earth until that splendid and terrible day when Jesus returns in His glory with all the holy angels. In view of Your majesty and extraordinariness, may all our inclinations to sin be revealed as petty, worthless and ugly. Ah, let our minds and souls contemplate all that is honorable, just, lovely, commendable, excellent and praise-worthy. Amen.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing -- Nathan Pacheco 
https://youtu.be/j-k32dEKrsk
 

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