UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

The ministry of Apollos in Ephesus.

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.

(Acts 18:24-26a)

The bible describes Apollos as:

1. An eloquent man -

 who spoke with persuasion

2. Mighty in the scriptures - 

use the words of God with power (Zechariah 4:6)

3. Instructed in the way of the Lord - 

Walking in the way that the Lord has commanded (Deut 5:33)

4. Being fervent in spirit- 

Literally this means, “to boil in the spirit” with the idea of “bubbling over with enthusiasm.” (Williams)(Romans 12:11)

5. Spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord - 

speak with wisdom (2 Timothy 2:15)

Apollos served God remarkably. Though he has weaknesses and limitations , it doesn’t stop him to boldly speak in the synagogue. It’s not merely skill on his part but conviction based on something deeply embedded in his heart. 

God has given him these things for His glory and so are we. He has given us a lot of potential to minister. The point is, Do we use them fully? We are to Unlock our full potential. We may be an eloquent person, we may be mighty in scriptures like him, or we may receive the instructions from the Lord, but the questions are… 

• What have you done for God in response to the potential that He has given? 

• How often do you share His words or minister to others?

•  Do you let the day pass without sharing it to someone or everyone? 

• What are the ways you have tried to also feed these to others? 

• Do you just let anyone be hungry and thirsty by His words?

Let us be fervent in spirit. Let us always be on fire, keep boiling in spirit.  Be bold. Do what God instructed you to do.

 Allow the spirit to express and show His compassion and love to others. Allow the Spirit to feed others.  Let everyone be fed by His daily bread.

UNSTOPPABLE PRAISES

As we meditate Acts 16, (verse 25) Paul and Silas showed us how to be unstoppable in God’s kingdom even in the middle of the storm but in all situations they praise God. They may be in prison  but it’s never a trap for them in rejoicing and praising the Lord Jesus. 

We may be in the storm but the storm is not us. We are called to PRAISE JESUS at all times. 

Paul and Silas have been through a lot in their journey in God’s kingdom. They just followed the lead of the Holy Spirit, they didn’t have any idea to be in prison. If they’re walking in flesh, perhaps they already blamed God for what happened to them. But they never did because once they surrendered everything was not an accident but under God’s plan for their lives for His kingdom’s cause. This is the reason why they praise God instead of complaining and blaming Him. 

No matter what we’ve been going through, these things should not stop us from praising God. The more we experience brokenness, sufferings and difficulties, the more that we praise and rejoice in the Lord. It is through praising that we declare victory through the name of the Lord Jesus. God understands, God hears. May He never hear prayers of complaints, accuses, and lay the blame on Him. May our hands not be heavy to lift Him up. 

The power of praises

Nothing can stop Paul and Silas from praying and singing hymns to God in prison. They find freedom in prison. The hearts of those who heard them were surely freed as well. (verse 26) ‘’Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.’’

Verse 26 shows us that in praising, you are declaring freedom and victory over the trap of the enemy. YOU ARE FREE INDEED. Not only you, but people around you who hear you are also freed. You are speaking freedom on behalf of those who struggle to praise. 

The children of God always rejoice. For they know that there’s someone greater inside them who fights in the midst of battles. They just have to be still and know that He is God (Psalms 46:10). Their roles are to raise the banner of the name of Jesus, cheer and lift up Jesus just like cheering for your loved ones in the battlefield. For they know that they are always victorious in His name.

Victory is Jesus. What do you grieve for? Be at peace. Rejoice. Praise.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

Let us reflect:

• How do you respond to storms in your life?

• Do you just praise Him only in good times? 

• Do you praise Him and rejoice over Him also in bad times?

• What stops you from praising God?

• Shall tribulations, difficulties and suffering stop you in praising Him?

THE LONG WAIT IS OVER

The long wait is over. Time really comes when the direction of the wind changes. A touch of wind may symbolize an answered prayer. No matter how long you wait, wind blows everywhere as it pleases. The wind in verse two is the Holy spirit which Jesus promised to His children.  

After 40 days of waiting, the disciples of Christ finally received the promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). With God, a promise is a promise. It may take some time but He will make sure that it’s worth the wait.

Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

Why do we have to wait?

• God’s concern is not only to answer our prayers, but more on the process of making us to be deserving of His promise (what we ask). 

• The apostles and Christ’ followers waited for how many days for them to be prepared for the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit. They have to be filled with prayers and stillness with the fullness of their faith. When they were ready, God poured out the spirit in the room. 

• The same thing goes with us, God will make sure that we are prepared for us to use and handle His gift in the right way.  When God is done preparing us, that’s the time that He’ll hand over what He has been excited to give. 

What are we supposed to do while waiting?

• Waiting doesn’t require much effort, but it is one of the hardest things to do. At times, we give up believing if God will really answer our prayers. We tend to be impatient that we just want to do things in our own ways to achieve what we pray for. But we always ended up failing. This is the time of questioning what kind of God He was. 

• The apostles waited for 40 days before the promise was received. They just gather together, sit still, and pray for the promise. 

• WE are also ought to be still, wait, and keep on mentioning His promise. 

• If we want our prayers to be easily answered, then help God to prepare you. Be a deserving vessel of His blessing. 

How to be deserving of His blessing?

• We should have the right intentions for what we ask for. The intentions are always for the glory of God.

• We are for God’s glory and even answered prayers should be used to glorify him 

The apostles glorified God by sharing the Good news about Christ through the working power of the Holy spirit that they’ve received. They allow the Holy spirit to use their lives to show to everyone from different nations that their God is the true living God (Acts 2:14-41).

If you know that the God you have answers prayers, then what prayers should you ask?

• The disciples of Christ received the promise of the Holy spirit, which is the best gift that they can have. 

• This only teaches us to ask the heavenly things instead of the worldly. Those everlasting things that glorify the Father in heaven. 

Let us reflect:

• Have you become impatient with your prayers lately?
• What do you do while waiting?
• Do you complain or question God?
• Are you already deserving for your prayers to be answered?
• Do you try to help God to prepare you for the answered prayer?
• How are your intentions to your prayers?
• Will you offer it to Him? And how will you glorify Him when it’s given?
• What kind of prayers do you ask? Are they heavenly or worldly?

CARRIER OF GOD`S POWER

 

As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4 reminds them not to be divided over loyalties to church leaders because only the Lord can judge. If we consider ourselves judges then, our heads may  puffed up with pride and arrogance.

Paul urged them to change and be imitators of the Lord just like Him. He encouraged them to live out the Gospel.

in verse 20, paul explained that the kingdom of God is not mere talk, just like what the Corinthians doing - debate, talks and other things. He exhorted them that the kingdom of God is power and that we must walk in the power of the Lord if we truly believe.

Paul knows that most of us focuses on words being preached, read and pray. HE said that, all those talks are meaningless without God`s power.

Living for God is not a matter of proclamation that we are saved  but its all about living an empowered life. As true Christians we must be carrier of the truth and His power. 

Psalm 91 - He who dwells under the secret place of the most High shall abide under under the shadow of the almighty.

Let us yield in the Holy Spirit and be obedient  for abiding in Christ, provides a supernatural protection and provision that we cannot buy elsewhere. 

REFLECTION:

- Is our prayer life active? we receive the power of the Lord thru intimate prayers with the Lord.

- Am I one of those who judges our brethren easily?

- Do I walk in the power of the Lord and carry it to share the salvation of the Lord?

- Do i walk my talk?

Amen.