SCRIPTURE: Acts 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
‘Master,’ said John, ‘we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’ [Luke 9:49-50]
As messengers of the King, we are not competing against each other, we are on the same team.
We should beware rejecting someone who is not from our ‘group’.
Look at Apollos, and how effective he was for the Lord.
Somehow the Lord had anointed his ministry, even though he did had not been baptized into the name of Jesus.
This passage comes to mind when I think of the divisions between denominations regarding baptism.
Each side thinks the other does not fully know the baptism of Jesus.
Nowhere does it say that he was rebaptized.
He already is baptized in the Spirit, even though he did not go through the ‘name of Jesus’ baptism.
The evidence of the Spirit is seen in his wisdom, boldness and strong witness for the Lord.
I see this as a challenge to all of us to RELAX on the issue of water baptism, whether it’s as an infant or an adult, whether its sprinkling or immersion.
Jesus is bigger that that!
Just because they are not one of our ‘group’, doesn’t mean that the Lord isn’t using them.
Water baptism is symbolic of Spirit-baptism, and Spirit-baptism is not dependent on water baptism (see Acts 10:44-48].
We are all together as one team.
Priscilla, Aquila, Apollos, Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Norm Kevin, Lisa, Mary – no matter what church or denomination or group they belong to.
Our unity does not lie in our confessions or denominations but in our connection to Jesus Christ.
Sadly, we are a divided body.
Though there is only one church, we act as if WE are that one church, and we often ignore or even reject others, unless they belong to our group.
Thankfully there is increasing evidence of a unity that transcends our denominational differences.
This does not mean that we all join one denomination; each church has its own unique flavour.
Variety and difference is OK, so long as we accept one another and humbly admit that we can benefit from each other.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the many amazing people out there who truly belong to You, to us, to me, even though we’re different! May we serve You together!
Supporting one another. That’s what I see with Paul, Aquila and Priscilla. When Silas and Timothy came, Paul spent his entire time preaching. When the Jews didn’t want to listen, he proclaimed the Good News to the Gentiles. Not only did his friends encourage him, but also the Lord Who spoke to him in a vision.
Once again there is in house fighting – this is the way to worship God – not that way. This was brought to the proconsul who said these religious matter must be decided among yourselves. There was also a beating in his presence and to that he also showed no concern. Indifference.
God does make a difference. He does give guidelines on living – love God – love man. He does not tell us the specifics. Just do. Don’t get hung up on rituals, traditions, or indifference. Live the Word each day in His presence. Encourage one another as Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollos who only knew part of the true. They told him the rest of the story and he too became a mighty champion for the Lord. We all serve one risen Lord. May that be evident in what we say and do.
We are one in the spirit we are one in the Lord
We are one in the spirit we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love , by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand (2)
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
We will work with each other we will work side by side(2)
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
All praise to the father from whom all things come
And all praise to Christ Jesus his only son
And all praise to the spirit
Who makes all things one.