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The Third Journey Begins

Explore the inspiring story of Priscilla and Aquila and how they exemplify an uncommon life of integrity and commitment to Christ. Discover the encouragement and support that God provides in our own journey.

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The Third Journey Begins

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  1. The Third Journey Begins Acts 18:18-28

  2. The Third Journey Begins In our lesson last week, we looked at Luke’s and Paul’s numerous references to this couple, Priscilla and Aquila They appeared to be average people, with average gifts and abilities In many respects, we could ask if we were much like them, people living a common life

  3. The Third Journey Begins We, like them, dedicate our lives to being wonderful people of integrity and commitment to Christ We worship, we connect, and we serve Could we say that we, like Priscilla and Aquila, are average people, common people?

  4. The Third Journey Begins As we looked deeper, though, we saw that Priscilla and Aquila were not “common” people When we look at their character, relationships, integrity, and service, we see that they present one of the most Christ-like examples in Scripture And, when we study their example, we see many things which may relate to our lives

  5. The Third Journey Begins In the end, we find that the cure for living a common life is not about us It is not even what we do, but rather for whom we do it

  6. The Third Journey Begins In the end, we find that the cure for living a common life is not about us It is not even what we do, but rather for whom we do it A life lived for Christ is UNCOMMON

  7. The Third Journey Begins Today, we want to look at a second message of Acts 18 Do we have help in living our “uncommon” life Do we have any encouragement?

  8. The Third Journey Begins Illustration of Public Auction

  9. The Third Journey Begins If there is one thing that is constant, it is that we are all subject to discouragement There is no shortage of discouragements to hinder the work of God The Bible is full of men of God who at times became discouraged

  10. The Third Journey Begins Let’s look at three things that may have contributed discouragement to Paul in his ministry:

  11. The Third Journey Begins First, the large amount of work Paul comes to the largest and most wicked city in Greece, Corinth Sitting high above the city was the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love The wicked in sexual immorality were called Corinthians There was so much work to be done and the size of the task is discouraging

  12. The Third Journey Begins Second, the small amount of success of the work Although it is true that all that is required of us is to be faithful and the success is up to God, we all like to see growth and success in the work of the Lord While Paul saw some success, he has basically been run out of every place he went While he has seen some come to the Lord, he still sees the masses of people rejecting the truth, which is discouraging

  13. The Third Journey Begins Finally, the lonely service of work Paul has to do a lot of work alone, or with just one or two at his side Why do not more people get involved and get excited and re-prioritize their lives? Much of the time when we travel God’s path, it is a lonely path and that is discouraging

  14. The Third Journey Begins But, while the devil is active in discouraging us, God is at work to encourage us While the devil is trying to drag us down, God is working to lift us up While the devil aims at getting us to quit, God is working to encourage us to keep up the good fight In Acts 18, we see God providing three encouragements to keep going

  15. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) One of the greatest God-given encouragements are friends It is always tougher if you have to bear it alone In Paul’s case, Silas and Timothy are still in Macedonia God knew that Paul needed someone to help him shoulder the burdens of work

  16. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) So, what does God do He stirs up a little trouble in Rome God puts it into the heart of the Roman Emperor Claudius to expel all Jews from Rome When expelled from Rome, Aquila and his wife Priscilla come to Corinth

  17. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) Paul just so happened to be a tentmaker so he began to work with Aquila and Priscilla in their business They gave him the funds for his support so that he could go into the synagogue every Sabbath and reason with the Jews and Greeks for Jesus Christ

  18. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) What a blessing Aquila and Priscilla were to Paul They became his best and closest friends Then God sent Silas and Timothy from Macedonia to Corinth to reunite with Paul God has not only blessed Paul with two new friends, but has brought back to him two familiar friends

  19. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) And, their return must have greatly encouraged Paul for the text tells us “that Paul was occupied with the word testifying to the Jews that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:5) We would probably all agree that we ought to stand for what is right even if you have to stand alone

  20. The Third Journey Begins The Partnership of Friends (Acts 18:1-5) However, it is a whole lot easier to stand for what is right against the pressure of opposition if there are those who will support, strengthen and stand with you Thank God for friends who God puts in our paths who will encourage us in the work of the Lord

  21. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) Paul is now completing his 2nd missionary journey He has experienced a great deal of rejection, but he has also experienced many people being changed into disciples for Christ What does Paul experience, and how does he react in Corinth?

  22. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) We are told that Paul was “testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts 18:5) But the Jews opposed him Did Paul just quit?

  23. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) We are told that Paul was “testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts 18:5) But the Jews opposed him Did Paul just quit? NO!

  24. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) He shook out his garments and told them “Your blood be on your own heads! From now on, I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6) Paul remembered what God had done in previous instances where His message had been rejected

  25. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) Paul then went to a house next door to the synagogue, and the former ruler of the synagogue and his entire family believed We are also told that “many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8)

  26. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) Paul had a choice, and we also have a choice We can either dwell on the negative and be discouraged, or we can encourage ourselves on the positive results For Paul, many lost people still remain lost, but some trusted in Jesus as their Savior

  27. The Third Journey Begins The Positive Results (Acts 18:5b-8) The message is that we are to dwell on all that God has done, not on the undone Perhaps this prompted Paul to write: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things.” (Philippians 4:8)

  28. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) While it is true that friends encourage us and positive results encourage us, the greatest encouragement of all is the Lord Himself The Lord speaks to Paul and says: “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you…” (Acts 18:9-10)

  29. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) Aquila and Priscilla may not be there Silas and Timothy may not be there There may be no earthly presence there at all, but do not be afraid to speak up for I am with you Here is the promise of God’s presence What a great encouragement it is to have God on your side

  30. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) Another promise is made, “…and no one will attack you to harm you…” (Acts 18:10) This is divine protection Not only will God be present, but also He will be there to protect And they tried, but it all came to nothing as the matter was dismissed

  31. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) There was a third promise made Not just a promise of presence, and protection, but a promise of power God said: “…for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:10) What did that mean?

  32. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) It meant simply that there were those who were lost, who under the power of the Holy Spirit through the teaching of Paul, would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior There were those who were to be saved by the power of God

  33. The Third Journey Begins The Promises of God (Acts 18:9-11) Friends are great encouragers Results are encouraging But when God comes to you and promises His Presence, His Protection, and His Power, you have every reason to keep on going forward

  34. The Third Journey Begins We need to thank God For the Partnership of Friends who stand with us For the Positive Results that give us hope, and For His promises of Presence, Protection, and Power that keeps us moving forward for Him

  35. The Third Journey Begins Will you thank God for His Encouragement?

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