Acts 18:18-28 - Build a Culture of Encouragement

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When Jesus encourages us, emboldens us, and implores us to speak, it means he has work for us to do. It means we can expect him to go before us and remove barriers as he did for Paul through governor Gallio. But never take these victories as a chance to sit back, relax, and go on spiritual vacation. No! It means Jesus is encouraging us to harvest the ripe fields and to get working. Make hay while the weather is good.

God knows the hearts of men. He knows that he’s dealing with fragile, broken, sinful vessels. And yet God’s purposes always prevail. A great hockey coach knows how to win by combining his team’s strengths into forward and defensive units that mesh perfectly to get the job done. That’s the beauty of teamwork. And God, much more than the insightful coach, knows just how to combine our strengths and help us overcome our weaknesses.

We see God’s creative preparation and his use of teamwork in this Scripture passage. Paul is gaining faith in God. Apollos is trained and prepared in the Scriptures in North Africa, but his abilities lead him to Ephesus, where he becomes critical to the growth of the Church. This was a time of singular focus for all involved. It’s incredible what the Church can do when awake and focused. God has a lot of players on his team. There are a lot of parts to the body of Christ. Each of us has a unique role. In Paul’s case, it was good that he was single, as his travel schedule was intense. Paul was custom-made for evangelism. So are you and I. Despite our weaknesses, we have strengths that God will use for His purposes. We, too, are custom-made.

This is an example of how the early Acts Church leaders worked hard to encourage and grow the Church. We see Paul strengthening the Church in Corinth, then moving to the nearby Cenchrea and doing the same thing. The way Paul mentors Aquila and Priscilla and the foresight to take them to Ephesus later plays an essential role in building Appollos’ abilities.

We see a cycle of encouragement and growth. Jesus encouraged and strengthened Paul when he was weak, weary, and under attack. Paul then multiplied that encouragement from the Lord by encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ. God empowers us, and we are to encourage each other. As God’s children, we will fail. We must get back up. And we have to help others up when they fall. Each day is a new day for us to turn from sin, turn to God, receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit, and disciple and encourage others.

The Acts Church saw a lot of advances and success. And a tremendous amount of trouble and opposition. We obviously don’t always succeed. Sometimes our setbacks are the result of resistance. And often, they result from our poor choices, failure to learn from our bad habits, and simply, our sin - and failure to confess it. Yet God is patient with us. Oh, thank God for His patience. And mercy. Without it, we are doomed.

We don’t know much about Apollos. But we see how he was prepared and the strengths that he brought with him, and his openness to learn, grow and serve. Apollos had a heart for God and knew the Scriptures well. He, like Paul, was brave. He traveled to modern Turkey from Alexandria in Egypt - no small feat. He was an eloquent speaker and ready to learn and serve.

Paul taught Aquila and Priscilla well. They were confident in the Messiah’s message, and they encouraged Apollos and explained the way of God even more accurately to him (v. 26). We see a culture of encouragement here. Our modern organizations desperately need that culture. We see in verse 27 that Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the believers in Ephesus encouraged him to go. Let’s be like that. Let’s be encouragers. Jesus says not to be afraid, to speak out. He says, “don’t be silent!” Be encouraged. Jesus, the Messiah, is with us. Now we have to do our part.   I must do my part.   And you, yours. We must work hard to obey God. For our team to succeed, each of us must grow our strengths. That requires good choices today.

Lord Jesus, please help us understand your way with clarity. Let us be prepared to explain our faith with sincerity and accuracy. Help us to see people as you see them. Thank you for your forgiveness of sin. And for your righteousness. May we function with unity and power in Christ as we encourage others today. Amen.

1988 Playing goal for Team Western Canada (U-17 Esso Cup in Montreal, QC).  We beat the USA in this game.