ACTS 18:1-11 MINISTRY LESSONS FROM CORINTH2016 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Acts 18:1-11 Ministry Lessons From Corinth

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2016. For the rest of us, we'll be here in Acts chapter 18 and looking at verses 1 through 11. And so let's begin by reading through the passage together. Acts chapter 18, verses 1 through 11. Here's what it says in verse 1.

After these things, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth, and he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome, and he came to them.

Verse 5. Verse 6.

But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, Your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justice, one who worshipped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household.

And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Verse 9. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision. Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent. For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Here as we get into Acts chapter 18 this evening, we're looking at Paul in his ministry to the city of Corinth. And so the title of the message this evening is simply Ministry Lessons from Corinth. Last week we looked at some ministry lessons from Athens where Paul was in chapter 17. And now we're in Corinth and continuing to learn about ministry.

And as I continue to do, I will encourage you that every single one of us as believers in Jesus are called to ministry. And so the book of Acts is important for us because we're learning about, well, what our ministry is to be like. And we're learning the model for ministry, the model for serving the Lord and doing the things that God has called us to. And so these are lessons that we can pay attention to and learn from.

in our own callings and the people that God has called us to minister and the capacities that he's gifted us and enabled us to serve him in his kingdom and advancing his kingdom. And so there's good things for us to consider here as we learn these lessons and see the example of the Apostle Paul. Now, a quick look at the geography as we follow along with Paul in his second missionary journey. We started that in Acts chapter 16. And

And we'll continue that through the end of chapter 18. Corinth is kind of his last stop. He's going to stop at Ephesus on the way home, but it's his last place where he's going to sit down and really spend some time ministering to people and establishing a church there in Corinth. And so

coming to the end, the final stop of his missionary journey, and then he's going to head back home for a time. But he started out with those orange arrows, heading out from Antioch, which was his home church, and went through the region that him and Barnabas had preached in before, and visited the churches they had established in

prior. And then the purple arrows is new territory. He launched out from there to new places and tried to go into Asia, tried to go into Bithynia. And the Holy Spirit said no and forbade him to do that. And so he ended up at Troas. And God called him across the sea to Macedonia, where he was in Philippi. He ministered to Lydia there at the riverside. He ministered to the Philippian jailer. And then he got ran out of town. And he went down to Thessalonica. And

And he ministered there for a while, and then he got ran out of town. He went to Berea. He ministered there for a while. He got ran out of town. And so then he went down to Athens. That's what we saw last week, his ministry there in Athens, and got to see the work that was going on. And now he's going to go from Athens here in verse 1 of chapter 18 to Corinth.

Corinth is about 50 miles west of Athens. So here's a kind of zoomed in look at the region. This is the region known as Achaia. It's the southern part of Greece there. And so that is where Paul was in Athens. He's crossed over to Corinth. And now he's going to spend a year and a half ministering here in this city. And so he's going to spend a year and a half ministering here in this city.

Now Corinth was a very big city. It was an important city because it was the center of commerce for a lot of reasons. One of the main reasons was to get from this side, Rome is over on this direction, and so to get to Athens, to get to that region, they would sail boats around this cape, which was very dangerous. And so what they found was if they go through here, they could port at Corinth,

And there's about a half mile land here. They just had to take the goods half mile to the other side, loaded on another ship, and then go across from there. And it was a lot faster, and it was a lot safer. And so Corinth became this major hub where commerce would be going in and out, back and forth all the time. And so it was a really prime place for a church to be planted and the gospel to be shared, because it was a lot of people that would have the opportunity then to hear the gospel message and for the gospel message to spread widely.

from there. And so Corinth is located on this little strip of land and was a major hub for commerce. Now Corinth was also known not just for its commerce and those transactions, but it was known for its immorality. And so if someone was a prostitute, they would be referred to as a Corinthian. Or if someone was, you know, really immoral and cheating on their spouses and all those kinds of things, they

they would be referred to as a Corinthian. It was just the common thing. Immorality was rampant there in that area because of the gods that they worshipped in that area, and the idols and the temples that were there. I'm not going to get into all those details, but later on we'll get into Corinthians one day and we'll talk more in detail about that. So it was a bad place. It was an immoral place. It was kind of a filthy place in that regard. And so that

that name Corinthian was used all throughout the world, just as everybody knew. That meant they were not faithful, that they were immoral, that they were promiscuous, and that kind of thing. And so it was kind of a dark place, and yet here is a place where the gospel message finds a great open door, and the word of God is going to go forth forever.

I like what Ironside says about that. He says, I think that's important for us to remember and consider that God is not just a man of God.

that God works in those circumstances, in those situations, in those ideas where it seems like it's the worst of the worst. And so, you know, talking about Corinth and how immoral they were and that kind of thing, you know, perhaps you might have ideas about Vegas or, you know, San Francisco or, you know what I mean? Like kind of like notorious bad places like Riverside or I'm just kidding. But

But those kind of places where you just think, you know, not much could happen there, not much would happen there. And yet, I'd like to just remind you this evening that in those dark places, in those people that it just seems like it's just impossible, that's actually kind of where God likes to shine. He likes to work because it's a great demonstration of His power and the truth and the freedom that the gospel brings. And so there's a great work that God will do in Corinth.

And it's a reminder for us that God can do a great work in any place, no matter how dark or in any life, no matter how messed up, that Corinth is a great example for us, a reminder that God is much bigger than even all of the darkness and the immorality and the crazy things that we see happening in the world around us.

And so as we look at Corinth this evening, we're going to look at Paul's ministry there. Now it's going to kind of sum up a year and a half of ministry in just these 11 verses. And so, you know, we're not going to get into a lot of details about all the things that happened. We'll find out more later on when we get into 1st and 2nd Corinthians.

But there are some good lessons for us to consider as we look at this passage. And so the first lesson to consider is that ministers require resources. And we see that here in verses 1 through 5. Let me read to you a couple of verses again. In verse 1, it says, After these things, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

Verse 3. So as Paul's on this missionary journey...

The first thing he does, it seems, when he gets to Corinth is he gets a job. He gets to work. He starts setting up his trade. And in doing so, he encounters these two people or this one couple, Aquila and Priscilla.

Now, Aquila and Priscilla are going to become very important in their relationship with the Apostle Paul. We'll see them in ministry with Paul, mentioned a couple times throughout Paul's letters. And so it's an important relationship that is established here by the opportunity or by the idea that, or the necessity, that Paul was getting a job and getting to work, and that was what forged this relationship with this couple.

And we don't know for sure whether or not Aquila and Priscilla were already believers before this and just encountered Paul now, or if it's through the encounter with Paul right now that they become believers and start to serve the Lord. The scriptures don't tell us. But either way, they become part of the ministry going forward, and they serve the Lord in great, awesome ways after this. Now, it says, "...because they were of the same trade."

Now, Priscilla and Aquila were there because, it tells us in verse 2, Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. And so here you can see God kind of orchestrating these things. They were in Rome. They were from Rome. But Caesar Claudius commanded all the Jews to depart.

And there was some tension that was going on. We're not exactly sure of the circumstances. But so all the Jews had to depart. So they're leaving. And again, Corinth was, you know, on a major thoroughfare. So they ended up there. And that's where they encounter Paul. And they're set up to do some tent making.

It could also be translated leather work or leather work in general. Not exclusively tents, but probably primarily tents that they were working on. And that was the same trade that the Apostle Paul had. Now, rabbis, you might remember Saul,

later called Paul, right? Saul was raised really to be a rabbi. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was, you know, going to be a prominent rabbi if he continued in the Jewish faith. And one of the things that rabbis required or was required of rabbis was that they had a

profession, a means of supporting themselves and providing for themselves, because as rabbis would go from place to place to place, they would be teaching, they would need resources, and rabbis didn't charge their pupils for lessons. And so they had to have a means of providing for themselves. And

And so where Paul was from, the leather was well known there, and it was known for that region. And so it was a natural fit for him to learn how to work with leather, to make tents, and to do that for his profession, his trade as a rabbi. And so now as a believer in Jesus, as an apostle, it's the same kind of concept. He's working as a tent maker,

It's a phrase that's kind of caught on for us as believers today. For pastors who also work on the side, it's often referred to as tent making. It's providing for yourself while you are also involved in serving in ministry. This was the pattern of the Apostle Paul, though we haven't talked about it much up to this point.

Later on in Paul's letters, you'll see all throughout this missionary journey that we've been looking at, he's been working and providing for himself while he's been going from place to place to place. He's been making tents. He's been selling goods and making these kinds of things so that he can provide for himself and his team and the travel that's necessary as they go from place to place.

Here's what Warren Wiersbe has to say about Paul's profession. He said, Paul worked hard to support himself and his associates in their ministry. He also worked so that the unsaved could not accuse him of preaching the gospel just to make money. What sacrifices do we make today to further the gospel?

And so again, as we look at these things, this pattern, this example of the Apostle Paul, these are lessons not just, you know, about what Paul did and, you know, a good education about information of what happened back then when Paul was on the second missionary journey, but things for us to consider. Paul sacrificed greatly in order to bring the gospel to these new areas.

And it's something that we need to think about. Advancing the kingdom of God requires resources. It always requires resources to advance the kingdom of God, to go to areas that the gospel hasn't been preached before, brought before. There's going to be resources that are needed or that are

are required. And so, you know, for someone to go plant a church, there's going to be resources required. For, you know, someone to go on a mission trip and share the gospel, there's going to be resources required. And it doesn't make sense. It's not right and not reasonable to expect that unbelievers, you know, are going to provide for and support, you know, this new work of ministry. And

It doesn't make sense to try to require from people that haven't been reached yet, that haven't received the gospel, that haven't been born again. They're not going to. They shouldn't be expected to provide for someone to come and bring the gospel to them.

Paul the Apostle in 1 Thessalonians describes himself as working hard night and day. That he describes this like constant just work, this huge effort, this great, you know, expense of time invested in just providing, in just making ends meet so that he would not be a burden to

on the Thessalonians. Now remember, Thessalonica, that's where he was just a few cities earlier. And so when he was there, he was working hard night and day to make ends meet so that he could preach the gospel. It wouldn't have been right for him to expect the people of Thessalonica to support him and provide for him so that he could preach the gospel to them because they had not received the gospel yet. Now later on,

as a church is established, as people get saved, as they begin to walk with God, then it makes sense for them to develop and begin to provide for those who minister to them. But advancing the kingdom of God and going into new territory and reaching people with the gospel is always going to require resources. It's always going to require something because

they're not going to be able to provide or they're not going to be willing or should not be expected to provide for someone to bring the gospel to them. And so I like what Warren Wiersbe asks here. He says, what sacrifices do we make today to further the gospel?

It's something for us to consider because it hasn't ended with the Apostle Paul. We still on Wednesdays, you know, pray for our missionaries. And that's an important part of how we support those that God has sent out from here. But I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind us

there's still also other ways to support and other needs of support. That is, you know, we are lifting up these missionaries and praying for them, that there's also resources that are needed and that are required for them to be able to advance the gospel, to reach areas and people that have not been reached before.

I think we have a couple good examples because we have this legacy of those who have gone out. If you think about Pastor Tom and Joanna as they went out to Okinawa, when they first left...

Living Water as a whole, our church, supported them greatly. We supported them financially to a great degree because they were advancing the gospel. They were going out and establishing something new. There was no way that they could have ends meet just on their own as they went out.

even though they did get jobs over there and things. There was no way as they were starting out for that to take place. But then as the school was established, as the church was established, and things began to grow and people began to grow, well, then they were able more to provide for the Reese family and we more.

you know, as the timing went, were not able to give as much. And so it worked, the Lord worked all that out. And so that, you know, it was kind of a transition so that they began to be more self-sufficient and, you know, not so much reliant upon the funds that we were able to send them.

And I think it's a good pattern. I think it's a good example. It's kind of what Paul modeled for us, that as you go to new territory, there's those resources that are needed, but then as the church is established, then the church begins to provide for the ministry that is going on in that place. Another good example that we have, you can also look at Pastor Tom Hallman as him and Gene went out to Virginia.

It was a different thing. We didn't provide for him. We didn't have a substantial amount that we sent him every month. But he, through the Lord's leading, provided for himself through the sale of his properties and his resources. And so he basically lived off of a lot of what he had reserved and saved up, probably for retirement, at great sacrifice, at great expense to him, lived off of that so that he could be engaged in the ministry. And then as the church was established,

the ministry began to grow, the people began to grow, and were able to contribute and provide. And so the work began at great expense. There was resources required, and then it continues on now as the believers are there and are growing and walking with the Lord. And so it's a good lesson for us, a good reminder for us. Advancing the kingdom of God is going to require resources. And we need to be involved and engaged in resources.

that work. Now, you as a minister also are called to advance the kingdom of God, and so that means that there's going to be an investment from you, not just in supporting missionaries, although that's something that you can do and should pray about, but as you seek to be an example of Christ and to share the gospel with the world around you, understand it's going to require resources.

If you're going to be spending time with someone, let's say to, you know, have opportunity to minister to them and pray for them, you know, there's resources of time, there's financial resources, even just having them over and hosting them, there's costs involved in that. You know, you have to buy extra toilet paper and food and stuff like that, and so, I'm just being silly. But

But there's costs involved. There's resources involved. There's resources required to minister. And you're called to minister. And so you need to understand there's going to be sacrifice. Paul the Apostle knew that. He engaged in tent making to provide for the need that was there to be able to bring the gospel. And so what sacrifices do we make to further the gospel? It's something for us to consider. It's something for us to pray about. Now,

Again, as I was sharing those examples, as churches are established, as works are established, as people, you know, come to the Lord and grow, well, then it's appropriate for there to be a shift, a change. And so no longer outside support providing for a work, but

But now the work is supported from within. And Paul talks about that in 1 Corinthians 9. He talks about the example of the priests and how they receive and are provided for by the ministry. And also shares in 1 Corinthians 9, verse 14, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel, that that is appropriate. And so

The point I just want to share briefly is that it is appropriate for those who are involved in ministry to be provided for by the ministry, but we also need to have the understanding that as we go to new places, as we reach out and advance the kingdom of God in new ways, it's going to require resources, and that expectation for that kind of provision cannot be there. Well, going on here into verse 4, it says, "...and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks."

And so here you have this example of the Apostle Paul. Again, understanding the resources that are required to minister. Paul described himself as working hard day and night. He described himself that way in Thessalonians, but then in 2 Corinthians, he described himself that way as well. That he was doing everything he could to not be a burden on the people of Corinth.

Later on, he's going to receive a financial gift. We'll see that in the next verse. But until that time, he's tent making. He is working hard night and day. But then on the Sabbath day in verse 4, he's reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuading both Jews and Greeks. So he's doing both. He's working hard night and day. He's working long hours. He's investing himself greatly. You know, he's doing everything he can to provide and

meet the needs that are necessary, but he hasn't worked himself to the degree that now he's not able to minister. He's working hard night and day, and then he's also on top of that, ministering the gospel and persuading the Jews and the Greeks and bringing forth the gospel message to the people of Corinth.

And again, it's a good model for us. We need to understand, you know, there's a lot of times that we can be lazy in our lives and in our Christian walk. And, you know, we're tired because we work hard. And so we excuse ourselves from ministry. But can I just remind you, we're called to minister.

We're called to make disciples. And it's going to require some investment. It's going to require some resources and sacrifices. And yeah, you might have to work hard night and day. And then on top of that, minister. And that is part of ministry. That is part of what we're called to as believers in Jesus, to work hard as well as make disciples. And it's not, you know, one or the other, but it's both and ministry.

And it's what we are called to as believers. And so we have to work hard to provide for ourselves. And I mean, you guys know, this is kind of a different season for me in that for many years, I was able to be full-time here at the church and provided for and super blessed by that. That was amazing. And then, you know, for the past few months, I've had to change that and

And so now I'm working on the outside as well as ministering. And so this was encouraging to me and reminding me, hey, when I'm working hard night and day and then ministering on top of that, that's the way that it is. That's the way that we're called to live. And both are valid. To work to provide for yourself while you minister and to be provided for by the ministry, both are valid and both are appropriate in God's timing and in the appropriate seasons.

here's what I would ask us to consider. The provision part is part of the ministry that you're called to as much as the ministry part that you are called to. Here's what I mean. It was because of the tent making that Paul is here connected to Priscilla and Aquila. And that was just as much a part of the plan of God as Paul preaching the gospel there in Corinth.

That him being connected with this couple that we see as a repeated thread throughout the rest of his ministry are involved in his ministry, involved in his life and encouragement to him, part of the work of God. It's all part of the work of God. That there's not a separation of, okay, well, here's my work. And that's, you know, that's only secular. God doesn't even care what happens there. There's nothing to do with God about that. That's just work. That's just what it is. And then there's ministry and that's all that God cares about.

Well, I would suggest this is a reminder, this example for us that, no, no, the work part of it is just as much a work of God and part of God's call in your life as the ministry part of it. And so our serving the Lord in various capacities, our making disciples is important and it's going to require resources, but the making of those resources is also part of the work of God. And God is going to use that work,

that investment of time and that provision for his purposes and for his work, it's not a full separation, you know, from those things. And so it might be in connections, like here we see with the Apostle Paul, but

with other people in the workplace that are a big part of the reason why God has you where he has you. That's part of the way that God works. He has you connected there because, well, he wants you to be connected with that person or that person. And maybe because you're gonna encourage them and be part of their lives, or maybe they're gonna encourage you and be part of your life, or maybe both, probably both, which is usually how God works. But you understand the point that the provision is,

is just as much a part of the call of God and the work of God as what we would call the ministry. Paul preaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath was just as much a part of the plan of God as Paul working Sunday through Friday with Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila in tent making together for that time. And so there's resources required. And as Paul is investing himself and working hard day and night, he's involved in the work of God, whether he's building or making tents or whether he's in the synagogue persuading both Jews and Greeks with the gospel message. Well, now we hit verse five. It says, when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia,

Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. Now there's a shift here that happens in verse 5. Up to this time, Paul's working hard. He's tent making. He's persuading the Jews and the Greeks on the Sabbath. So the Sabbath was the day of rest, right? That was the day where God said you can't work. So every other day Paul was working, but on the day that he couldn't work, well, that's when he ministered.

But in verse 5, it looks like things change when Silas and Timothy come. Silas and Timothy finally catch up. They were back in Macedonia. So that's Philippi, that's Thessalonica, that's Berea, those places where Paul was and he was run out of. He left, but Timothy and Silas stayed behind and

And we're doing ministry there with the churches and ministering to those new believers and helping them get established. And then they caught up with Paul here in Corinth. They weren't with him in Athens, but now they've caught up with him. And it's at this point that things change. And now Paul is compelled by the Spirit. And it says he testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Now, I don't think that this is suggesting that prior to this, Paul wasn't preaching that Jesus is the Christ. Here's what I think that Luke is highlighting for us. That is, now Paul has switched from tent making to

to every time, you know, all his time there in Corinth is now focused on, because he's compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. And so he's shift focus. He's not tent making anymore now that Silas and Timothy are there, but now he's focused full time on bringing the gospel message to the Jews that are there in Corinth.

And here's one of the reasons why I would suggest that to you. Paul records for us in 2 Corinthians 11, verse 9. He's writing to the Corinthians. So this is later on. He's speaking to this city where he's at, the church of Corinth. He says,

Paul, writing to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 11, talks about how he was working and providing for himself. But then, even then, I think it's interesting, verse 9, he says, I was there with you, and I was in need. So even with him working hard night and day, he still was in need. But what he needed was then provided when the brethren came from Macedonia. Now again, verse 5, Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia.

Paul also talks about in the letter to the Philippians, that's the northern part there of Macedonia where he first began to minister. He talks to them about how they supported him and how they gave financially to help provide for him while he ministered in Thessalonica and then down into Achaia, which is where he's at now in Corinth. And so it looks like Silas and Timothy now, when they come to Paul from Macedonia, they bring a gift from the church at Philippi.

So, you know, Lydia was there taking an offering and the jailer was kind of like, you know, the enforcer and making sure everybody gave. We've got to support the apostle Paul, right? And so otherwise you're going to be put in jail. I'm just kidding. But you get the point. So they're a church now established. They're walking with the Lord and they want to provide. They want to help advance the kingdom of God. And so they're sending gifts to Paul while he's in Thessalonica and then gifts again now while he's in Achaia and helping to provide for him. And now he's able to switch gears and

stop tent making, not because that was never part of God's plan, but that was part of God's plan for that season. And now he needs to switch gears and focus full-time on bringing the gospel to the people of Corinth. And so the church of Philippi provides for his needs while he's in need there in Corinth, and now he's able to focus on bringing forth the gospel full-time there in the city.

And again, this is a good model for us, a good reminder, as I've already been sharing about advancing the kingdom of God requires resources. Like the Church of Philippi, we have the opportunity to participate in the work of God that is happening in various places. And I would encourage you to be seeking the Lord on that and reminding you, like Paul said in Philippians 4, verse 17, he says, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. You

are contributing to your eternity as you support the work of God in various places. As you're involved in advancing the kingdom of God, there's fruit that abounds to your account. And so Paul says, thanks for the gift. And I'm not saying that so that you give me more money. It's not just about the gift, but I,

I want you to be blessed in eternity. I want you to have fruit that remains for all of eternity. And so it's good that you're part of the work of God, the kingdom of God in that way. And so just to encourage you and remind you to be praying about that and be seeking the Lord and be willing to give to those things because it abounds to your account.

And if you would, you know, if you do have it upon your heart to support the missionaries, we used to on Wednesday nights receive a missionary offering and we stopped doing that because we don't care about the missionaries anymore and we want them to suffer. No, that's not why. We stopped that because we didn't have people who are committed to be here every Wednesday to receive the offering and make sure it was deposited appropriately.

And so because we couldn't do that, we couldn't receive the offering on Wednesdays. But the opportunity is still there. You can still give if you write, you know, the missionary's name on your check or on the envelope if you're giving cash.

and deposit that in the box or deposit that in the offering on Sundays as it's given, that money goes to that missionary. And so there's not a limit. And you can also do that online. And so just to let you know, that opportunity is still there. And you still have that opportunity to have fruit that remains by investing in the kingdom of God in that way.

Ministers require resources. That's just the reality of life. It's the reality of ministry. It's part of what God has called us to. But don't think of it, don't distinguish it between, you know, well, this is my work and this is my ministry. Understand like the Apostle Paul, your work is your ministry.

And God's going to connect you with Aquila's and Priscilla's. He's going to connect you with various people that he's going to have you share the gospel with, or maybe they're already believers and you're going to build one another up in the faith. You're going to be a light. You're going to be a witness like Joseph was. Whatever the case may be, God has that as part of your life because that's part of your ministry. It's not, you know, distinct and separate things. And so ministering,

ministers require resources. You're a minister and you require resources and that's why you work, but your work is part of your ministry, but also encourage you to help provide in advancing the kingdom of God. Well, moving on to verses six through eight, we have point number two. I spent a lot of time on that because that's where we were and that's what the Lord had on my heart. We'll spend less time on these last couple points. Point number two is ministers are responsible to share.

And that's found in verses six through eight. Let's look at verse six again. It says, but when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean from now on. I will go to the Gentiles. So when Silas and Timothy came, Paul shifted gears and began full time to preach Jesus Christ as the Messiah to the Jews and

And they put up with it for a little bit, but then they opposed him and blasphemed. So they began to speak blasphemies in their opposition, in their resistance to the gospel message. And so Paul, following his normal pattern, he would preach to the Jews until they said, okay, that's enough. We don't want to hear no more. And then he would shift his focus and minister to the Gentiles in that area.

But as he shifts focus, I want to highlight and pay attention to one phrase here in verse 6, where he speaks to the Jews and he says, Now this is something we talked about a few weeks back on Sunday morning as we were looking at Ezekiel chapter 3.

But it's repeated, and we read it this week in reading through the Bible in three years in Ezekiel chapter 33. And so I want to take us there for a moment and just remind us of some of those things that are taking place there. So if you can, turn in your Bible to Ezekiel chapter 33, and let's consider, because it seems that Paul has this passage in mind as he's speaking in this way to the Jews, your blood be upon your own hands.

heads. It comes from this idea that is presented here in Ezekiel chapter 33, as God calls Ezekiel to be a watchman. So I'm going to read to you Ezekiel chapter 33, verses 1 through 6. Here's what it says. Again, the word of the Lord came to me saying, son of man, speak to the children of your people and say to them,

Verse 5.

He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning. His blood shall be upon himself, but he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand."

So here in Ezekiel chapter 33, God is asking the people to consider the

The reality of, you know, their watchmen, the reality of this position that existed for them as they had their cities and the city walls, as they were under attack and there was threats of attack, they would post sentries. They would post people on the wall whose only responsibility was to be watching the horizon, watching, you know, the forest or whatever was around them and to sound the alarm if the enemy was coming. That was their job.

And so he says, look, this is how you guys handle it, right? Whenever there is a threat, you take one of your men and you make him the watchman. And his responsibility is to sound the trumpet to warn the people. Now, if he does sound the trumpet when he sees the enemy coming and the people don't respond, they're like, eh, it's probably a false alarm, not a big deal. And then they die. Well, he says, that's their own fault. Their blood is on their own heads.

They heard the warning, but they just didn't respond to it. They didn't react to it. So that's their own fault. That's their own responsibility. Their blood is on their own head. But if the watchman sees the attack coming and doesn't sound the alarm, God says that changes things because those people didn't have opportunity to be warned.

And so their blood, they're still going to die, but their blood I'll require at the watchman's hand. Instead of the blood being on their heads, the blood's on your head as a watchman because you did not do your job and warn the people. Now in Ezekiel chapter 33 verse 7, God says to Ezekiel, So you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear a word from my mouth and warn them for me.

Here's the Apostle Paul now in Acts chapter 18 saying, look, I've been appointed as a watchman like Ezekiel. I've done my part. I've sounded the alarm. I've shared the gospel. Now your blood is on your own heads. I've given you the opportunity to respond to the danger of judgment. I've given you an opportunity to respond to the truth. So I've cleared myself of my responsibility to

And now your blood is on your own heads. If you reject the gospel, you're accountable for that. That's this concept. That's this idea of when Paul says in verse 6, back in Acts chapter 18, your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean. And so now I'm going to the Gentiles because I've given you the opportunity. And now I'm going to focus on those who will receive the message.

Listen, as I began in chapter 18, at the beginning of the message, just reminding us that we're all called to be ministers. Let me just remind you, we are all called to be ministers. We're all called to make disciples. And that means we have a responsibility to share. And that means we are watchmen. We are watchwomen. And there is a responsibility. There's an accountability for us to fulfill the ministry that God has given to us.

And if we don't warn people when God calls us to warn them, if we don't bring forth the truth when God calls us to bring forth the truth, if we don't shine the light of Christ when God calls us to shine the light of Christ, if we don't share the love of Christ when God calls us to share the love of Christ, there is a responsibility that we will have in that. And God says to Ezekiel, their blood I'll require at your hand. They're still going to be dealt with according to the Lord, according to what's right, but

and their response and their sin, you know, whatever happened in their life, but...

But because you had a responsibility, because you had a part and you didn't do your part, God says there's going to be something held against you. There's going to be a charge against you. There's going to be blood required at your hand. And as I shared that a few weeks ago from Ezekiel chapter 3, I shared then. I don't know exactly what that means. What does that look like for us as believers when we don't share the gospel and God calls us to? It doesn't mean that he's going to take away the salvation that he's given to us.

But what does it mean? There is a cost. There is something that's held against, something that is charged to us, required of us. And I don't want to find out what that means, but I would ask you to consider. Do you think up to this point in your life, do you think you've had opportunities, things that God has called you to do, but you haven't done? Are you going to be held accountable for anyone? Is there going to be blood required at your hand?

When you stand before God, I'm sure for me, I know there's lots of opportunities I've missed. There's things that I've just been reluctant to do. There's things that I've not wanted to do. I've held back and I've reserved and I've ran from and there's all those things. And I don't know about you, but I don't want that to be going forward. I want to make sure that I'm faithful in everything that God sets before me. And so I want to be like the Apostle Paul and be able to say, hey,

I'm clean. I've fulfilled the ministry that God's given to me. And your decision, that's up to you now. But I've done my part, and I've shared the love of Christ. I've shined the light of Christ. I've shared the gospel message. And now the rest is between you and the Lord. Well, moving on here in Acts chapter 18, verse 7, it says, "...and he departed from there and entered to the house of a certain man named Justice, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue."

Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.

So Paul storms out of the synagogue and goes right next door. It's kind of a funny picture in my mind. I kind of see this whole thing, and there's all this blasphemy, and Paul throws out this message, hey, your blood's on your own heads, I'm clean, I'm going to the Gentiles, right next door. It's just like storms out, walks next door, slams the door shut, and ministers to the Gentiles.

It's probably not exactly how it went. But he goes right next door. And this is where he kind of sets up the ministry now. So now he's ministering the gospel right next to the synagogue.

And the ministry is effective, so much so that the crispus, the ruler, the maintainer of the synagogue, is now converted and becomes a believer in Jesus. But verse 8, I want to focus there just for a second on the last part. It says, And so here's the fruit of the gospel going to the Gentiles. Here's the fruit and the pattern of the gospel going forth. Many of the Corinthians, number one, they heard Jesus.

Then they believed and then they were baptized. And this is always the order. This is how the kingdom of God advances. People hear the word of God. They hear the gospel message. They have an opportunity to choose. But when they believe, then they're baptized.

They begin to walk with God, and that is the pattern. That is the cycle. Paul the Apostle in Romans chapter 10 verse 4 says, how then shall they call on him in whom they've not believed, and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher? And so again, point number two is ministers are responsible to share. You are a minister. You

And how can people believe unless they hear? And how can they hear unless you preach? You're going to be held accountable. God's going to, you're going to stand before him one day. I'm going to stand before him one day. And we're going to have to give account for what we did with the calling that he has given us, with the message that he's given us, with the opportunities that he set before us. We have a responsibility that is serious, that is pretty intense.

And we're accountable for those opportunities that God has given to us. How will they believe? Now, the other side of that is we understand God is big. And if I fail to share with someone that God has set before me, God's not going to let them be lost for eternity because of my failure. He's going to reach them. But there's going to be a part that I have in that, in the sense that there's a missed opportunity. There's a

failure in the calling that has been given to me. And that's a responsibility that God gives to every one of us as believers. This is why, complete, super off-the-wall side note, okay, but it just popped in my head, and so I'm going to share it. This is why it's important for us to not be engaging in things that messes with our mind, to not be under the influence of things, because there is a huge responsibility that all of us have as believers, right?

And if you're messing around with that stuff and then you're missing opportunities because your head's not in the game, you're not engaged in the work of God, there's an accountability that you have for that later on. There is an importance for us to be engaged in the work of God. We're called to be ministers and that's not just for those two hours a week that we serve at church, but that is our life as believers in Jesus.

Side note over, rant finished. Point number three, verses nine through 11. Ministers need encouragement. Verse nine, it says, Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision. Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent. For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city. Here, this final point, I think it's interesting that the apostle Paul here is encouraged by the Lord.

He's ministering. He's seeing some fruit. Although the Jews rejected, now there's fruit. They're amongst the Gentiles and people are hearing. They're believing. They're getting baptized. But Paul has this fear within him. And it's not something that we think about probably when we think about the apostle Paul. But let me just encourage you, God doesn't speak unnecessary things. And so when God shows up and speaks to Paul in a vision, do not be afraid, but speak.

You can understand that Paul was wrestling with fear about speaking. He was wrestling with fear about whether or not to bring forth the message and to keep on preaching the gospel. He was wrestling with that fear. And so God tells him, don't fear. You don't have to fear. And you can understand as you consider the pattern so far, Paul is driven out of this city. He's driven out of that city. He's driven out of that city. He's driven out of this city. I mean, he's...

He has reason to fear. But here God shows up and says, hey, Paul, don't be afraid. Speak up and don't be silent because I'm with you and no one is going to attack you to hurt you because I have many people in this city. I think it's important for us to recognize this. The great apostle Paul needed encouragement from the Lord.

The most prominent, greatest men of God throughout history have always needed encouragement. If we were around the Apostle Paul, I think we would have never, ever, ever, ever thought maybe there was a need for him to be encouraged. Maybe there was a need for me to go share with the Apostle Paul. Can you imagine going to encourage the Apostle Paul? Hey, Paul, can I pray for you? But let me just remind you, every person, every

Every believer in Jesus needs encouragement, needs to be built up, needs to be strengthened because we have a great ministry that we've been entrusted with and we fear speaking forth. We fear shining the light. We fear it is terrifying, but here Paul is encouraged by the Lord. And so in verse 11, it says he continued there for a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.

Paul received the encouragement he needed to be faithful and to fulfill the ministry that he'd been given there in Corinth.

Paul was just like us. He needed encouragement. In Hebrews 10, verse 24, it tells us, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Don't forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but exhort the one another daily. And so much the more as you see the day approaching, because we need that encouragement. We need that ministry. We need to build one another up to help each other be faithful, to help each other fulfill the ministry and not miss those opportunities. We need it.

Because we all face those fears, those difficulties, and those things that go on. And so here we have some great ministry lessons from the work of God, the work of the Apostle Paul there in Corinth. First of all, ministers require resources. And so let's do our part. Let's be involved in investing ourselves in sacrificing to contribute to the work of God and to invest ourselves to do the providing for the ministry that God has given to us.

ministers are responsible to share. We will give an account for those opportunities that we were given and those things that were set before us. And so we need to be mindful of that and be faithful to share even when we're fearful. And then finally, ministers need encouragement. And so Jonathan's going to come up and lead us in some closing songs. And

As he does, as we usually do, I want to encourage you to spend this time considering, you know, what the Lord has been speaking to you and ministering to you about. And we can be worshiping the Lord together. But also we want to open it up and give you the opportunity to minister to one another, to put into practice this last point that ministers need encouragement. You know, there's people here who are

Needing encouragement. There's people who are needing to be faithful in the ministry that God has called them to, and they're on the verge of maybe not being faithful. They're on the verge of maybe not doing everything that God has called them to. And so, you know, there is that need to stir up within one another love and good works. And so we have an exhortation here to be faithful to that. And so,

Let's take this time to worship the Lord, but also have the freedom. If you want to get up and go pray for someone, you want to get up and encourage someone, you want to ask someone to pray for you because you're the one needing encouragement, then let's do that. Let's seek the Lord together and pray for one another, encourage one another, that we might fulfill all that God has set before us. Amen? Let's worship.

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