God is IN Your World - part 2 (More of the Same)

 

God certainly is everywhere. We are seeing the Gospel message working its ways into people hearts in every chapter of Acts. Last eek, Paul and his group went through three cities and today they will enter several more, but one central place is of geographical importance. Corinth comes into play here and we see the early beginnings of this once mighty church. What do we do when our earthly government leaders get involved in the narrative? We have seen briefly certain governors or prison wardens being a part of the story and how their lives have been affected by hearng the message of Christ. What happens when a Roman emporer jumps into the record? Jesus told his disciples to go int all the world". The world will only get bigger from here. Lets read...

We have seen what happens when Jewish backlash comes against the Christian presentation of this "new" teaching about Jesus. There are confrontations and arguments that lead to jailings or having to sneek out of a city at night time to avoid head to head meetings. What happens when a governmental power actually enters the arena of conflict? Powers like this have a way of saying "everybody out." Historical accounts seem to differ slightly and quite frankly it was a long long time ago, so who knows actually what happened. There seemed to be an uprising in Rome involving Jews and Christians with their differing views on "Chrestus". As we have seen already in Acts, certain factions of Jewish people have been rather vocal (and even violent) toward others who do not hold to their viewpoint of who God is and, more importantly (to the Jews, at least) the ways in which ones is to live their life with customs and rituals. The Christian way of life will turn all of that on its head. In Rome, it has caused enough turmoil that Emperor Claudius has decided that all Jews need to go. And, for the major porton of his tme as ruler, there will be no Jews living in Rome. There is also speculation as to how far and extensive this decision actually went. Some historian suggest that there was simply a ban on public gatherings. A wide sweep of al Jews being tossed from the city was not done. In any effect, the push was strong enough that two prominent Jews to the Christian faith are found travelling toward of Paul. Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, are two people who have found their way to Corinth. It is interesting who we wind up crossing paths with in life. God knows who and what we need as we go down this road. Apparantly, the Jewish couples are tent makers and Paul claims tent making as his trade & skill. Common ground is found and they work together for awhile. We find comfort and solace in those moments when we know that there are others around who share our work and our faith. 

However, we should never feel too secure and especially not invincible or untouchable. Two different moments in this short passage it is shared that Paul is beaten, spoken badly off by his opponents, dragged in front of other people in order to judge his words and message. And right in the middle of all that it says, "Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." You know that if any of us were found in similar circumstances that we'd be packing the U-Haul in the middle of the night and be out of town the next morning. 

The opportunities afforded us through hard times and "trials of many kinds" does, however, bring us into contact with some of the best people to keep near us on the journey. As we will see in the next section, Paul find comfort and communion with two souls who are with him not just in Corinth, but however far they need him to go. Aquila and Priscilla have been through much themselves. Having to flea the confines of home in the city of Rome, they must have a strength we call adaptability. If life takes them to a new place, they find a way to make it. If the journey bring new faces into their world, they do not shrink back or seek to hide from those people. They make the best of it. This is how God provides. Not only God point the way; He also provides and gives us what we need along the way. 

And, the way will go from Corinth to Ephesus...

Apollos would be a central mention in Paul's opening words to the Corinthians people as he seeks to help them understand what it means to be grounded and mature in their Christian faith. God adds another person to the work as the group works to share the Gospel throughout the region. Paul says goodbye to his friends Aquila and Priscilla. He, himself, teaches in Ephesus for a while. He hopes to return but makes no guarantee. "I will come back if it is God's will." In the mean time, Apollos enters the region. Paul would say later in his letters something that seems to reflect what Jesus would have interjected about the harvest. 

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it,
but, God made it grow." (1 Cor. 3.6)

And, there needs to be our central focus. This sections finishes out giving good mention and favor to Apollos and his ability to share the Gospel. He preached with much fervor, it says. He knows his scriptures and how to open them properly to the people so they can understand. All of this is good. But, Apollos is not the center of the picture. It is who Apollos speaks of that needs to be our central focus. He seems to be a man of good skill and ability to share the Good News. And that is what he does. Apollos is not there to build himself up. He is not spending a load of time of his own story. All that he is doing is directed at the central theme of Jesus as Messiah. "For he rigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah." If there is one complaint we should take seriously it is this. Our modern times focus too much on personal experience and not enough on explaining who Jesus is from a biblical viewpoint. The message of Christ gets lost in our own story. Jesus gets mention but the focus becomes too much about ourselves without some kind of scriptural support to ground our testimony. This will be a tenant to the Corinthian people when Paul writes there. They seem to spend a bit too much time debating about who exactly to follow and have lost focus on the Messiah himself. 

Let us not lose our focus. Let us make every effort to put Jesus front and center so that all can see who He is and why He needs to be in the center of our lives. God is In our world. Go with Him. 

Blessings.