Ministry, 12of15

~ Ministry Lessons From Apollos ~

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Prolog  ~  “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).  

In this post we look at: APOLLOS: A GOOD SERVANT.

Ministry As Seen In Apollos (an example to follow)  ~  “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.  This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.  So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.  When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.  And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:24-28).

Notice a dozen key aspects regarding the ministry of Apollos:

1)      He was “an eloquent man.”

2)      He was “mighty in the Scriptures.”

3)      He had been “instructed in the way of the Lord.”  

4)      He was “fervent in spirit.”

5)      He “taught accurately.”

6)      He “knew only the baptism of John” (he didn’t wait to do ministry until he had all the answers).

7)      He was willing to “speak boldly.”  

8)      He was teachable (“they took him aside and explained to him”).

9)      He had an excellent reputation (“the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him”).

10)  He “greatly helped” the believers.   

11)  He “vigorously refuted” wrong teaching, because…

12)  …by “showing from the Scriptures” the errors being considered. 

The Results (Apollos was a good minister)  ~  These qualities we see listed for Apollos would make him a good minister!  “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.  But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.  For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.  These things command and teach” (1 Timothy 4:6-11). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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