THE REVIVED AFLAME MINISTER RAISING FIERY REVIVED MEN MEMBERS MINISTERS (AQUILA)

Acts 18:24-28

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way 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. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:24-28). A person can be fiery, passionate, consecrated, sanctified, forthright, aggressive in a good way, but limited like Apollos. Apollos was fervent and fiery but limited because he knew only the baptism of John. Limited to the teachings and message of John the Baptist. He did not know the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ. Apollos did not know about the Coming of Jesus and Calvary, he only knew about the River Jordan. When a minister is fiery and consecrated, but his message stops at where John was baptizing, and has no knowledge about Calvary, redemption accomplished, life abundant through Jesus Christ, he is limited. You must go beyond passion and fervency; you must get into the abundant supply through Christ. Apollos never spoke about Christ, the Blood of the Lamb that cleanses from all sin. Some people have limited knowledge of the full salvation in Christ. In the Gospels, some people got saved and healed without the Death and Resurrection of Christ. But after Calvary, salvation and healing are hinged on the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Apollos was limited, no Calvary, Blood of Jesus and Resurrection of Jesus in his message. The Lord is sending us forth to be ministers of fiery and fervent messages in Jesus.

1.         AQUILA’S ABIDING WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH A FAITHFUL APOSTLE

Acts 18:1-3

“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” (Acs 18:1-3). Aquila and Priscilla, his wife, were the people who helped Apollos come to the full knowledge of Christ.

• Professional Calling to the Same Task – Acts 18:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12. “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” (Acts 18:1-3). “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Paul the Apostle was involved in tent-making. Those who are still in their profession and doing mission work, are into the tent-making ministry.

• Profound Commitment to the Same Truth – Acts 18:24-26; 1 Thessalonians 3:10-11. When Aquila heard Apollos message, he knew that something about Christ’s teachings was missing. “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:10-11). This is what Paul did, and what Aquila and Priscilla did for Apollos as well, to perfect what was lacking in Apollos’ faith.

• Perpetual Consecration under the Same Teacher – Acts 18:26-28; 17:2-4. Apollos had been taught only by John. He did not know about the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught so much about our life character, conduct and not just being born again. He taught about His Coming, Judgement and a lot more. “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” (Acts 17:2-4). Apollos did not know this, but Aquila knew, so he needed to teach him these teachings.

2.         APPROPRIATE, ACTIVE, WORTHWHILE RETRAINING OF FERVENT APOLLOS (AMBASSADORS)

Acts 18:24-28

We train and retrain fervent ambassadors. This is a Congress for a proper and worthwhile retraining of all our fervent ministers and pastors.

• The Re-Evaluation of a Great Thorough Address – Acts 18:24-26; Matthew 11:11-12. “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way 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. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” (Acts 18:24-26). Aquila was there when he observed the fervent teaching of Apollos, but he did not mention Christ in his teachings. So, he re-evaluated his teaching. “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:11-12). The least in the kingdom of Christ through His Death and Resurrection is greater than John, and yet Apollos did not know how to get into that kingdom. So, Aquila and Priscilla re-evaluated the message of Apollos and supplied what was missing in his teaching.

• The Retraining of a Gifted Teachable Apollos – Acts 18:26; Ephesians 4:1213. It is very rare to find a gifted man who is teachable because they are always ready to teach others rather than for them to be taught. There is no cleansing, full salvation and redemption if you don’t know about the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is important to retrain our own Apollos in this ministry, and this is the purpose of our Strategy Congress every year. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:12-13). This is the purpose of the retraining.

• The Revival through a Guidable Transformed Ambassador – Acts 18:27-28; 2 Corinthians 4:7. Some people are not guidable, full of settled opinions and not teachable. But Apollos was guidable and teachable. The people who are well taught and desire some independence and isolation, but need no guidance. “And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:27-28). “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We have this great treasure in the teachings of Jesus Christ in earthen vessels, and we need to take heed so that pride, self-will, self-management and secret sin will not enter in to crack this earthen vessel so that the great treasure does not leak out.

3.  AWAKENED, ADVANCING WATCHMEN RAISING, REVIVING,

RE-ESTABLISHING FRUITFUL ASSEMBLIES    

Romans 16:3-5

As we go back to the various nations, churches and assemblies, we are going back as awakened ministers to awaken the sleeping giants in our churches so that they will arise and do great things for God. Also, as watchmen now, we are raising up, reviving and re-establishing assemblies. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.” (Romans 16:3-5).

• The Uncommon Helpers of His Great Cause – Romans 16:3; 1 Chronicles

12:17a,18,32. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 16:3). Aquila was a great help to Paul the Apostle. They supported, protected, accommodated and assisted him in the work of the ministry. They were not boastful or undermined the ministry of Paul the Apostle. When words are put in inanimate objects or animals, that is a fable or parable. The fable of the frog and scorpion, with the frog carrying the scorpion across a deep river. In the middle of the river, the scorpion stung the frog that he died, and the scorpion, who could not swim, also died. As ministers, we must help and not hinder, spread the gospel and not sting the minister who is helping you to grow in life and ministry. “And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” (1 Chronicles 12:17-18,32). We need to collaborate to help each other.

• The Unwavering Hearts for the Great Commission – Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16,19. “Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” (Romans 16:4). They did not abandon Paul in his dangerous journey, but became his human shield, to shield him from danger, discouragement and unnecessary death. They did not put a stumbling block or do anything that would hinder him in the ministry. Pray that God will make an Aquila out of you. “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” (1 Corinthians 16:15-16,19). There comes a situation in your life where protecting an Apostle becomes an addiction and a ministry to you. That you are addicted to God, Christ, the Great Commission, Church and then to the Apostle, that you are planning and organising for the good welfare of the Apostle.

• The Unconventional Harvesters with the Godly Church – Romans 16:5; John 4:34-38. “Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.” (Romans 16:5). They made their house available for the church. Today, you are making your life, profession, calling, talent, treasure, experience and property available for the propagation of the gospel like Aquila and Priscilla did. Everything we have to make available wholly, wholesomely, completely, totally and wholeheartedly. Go in the strength and power of the Lord. As they were shielded for Paul the Apostle, so the Lord will shield your life as you travel back to your locations. Happier, Happiest New fulfilment and ministry in Jesus’ Name.