Word for the Week...SEPT.12---18 / 2005

(v.24)"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures,came to Ephesus.(v.25) This man was instructed in the way of The Lord ; and being fervent in the Spirit,he taught diligently the things of The Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.(v,26) And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue:whom when Aquilla and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.(v.27) 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 who had believed through grace: for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." If Apollos were here today, he would undoubtedly be preaching and teaching about the Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Considering the numerous, catastrophic, events of recent times, the topic would be both timely and relevant, to say the least! What was the problem then? We see clearly, from the text, that Apollos had only limited knowledge concerning The Gospel. He was a good student and had much ability and gifting in exposition of The Word. Yet, there was something lacking in his experience.The key verse is (v.25). He knew the Baptism of repentance;the Baptism of John, but he did not have the Baptism of The Holy Spirit. This is because he was unaware of Christ's death and resurrection and the coming of The Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 'Oh, for a closer walk with thee!' This is the cry of so many who have, like Apollos, a limited knowledge of God. Zeal and sincerity are fine, but 'it is not good to have zeal without knowledge!We need the Whole counsel of God, in order to be effective to our generation in this day! Even in a secular court of Law, we are to speak...'The Whole Truth'! How much more then, are we Christians to do so? The enemy would like to keep us in darkness, even partial darkness, from The Truth of the Gospel. Priscilla and Aquilla were faithful servants of The Lord, who overcame their fear of man to bring Apollos into all that The Lord had for him. When you KNOW, that you KNOW, that you KNOW, Jesus is Lord - your life and ministry can never be the same again! you will indeed 'buy the Truth and not sell it'. You will commit your life afresh to The Will of God without compromise. You will continue to seek MORE from The Only One Who is able to give it!!!...'Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled'(Matt.5:6). May The Lord Bless you.