June 25

We have already seen the biblical order of belief and then water baptism. Dr. Luke highlights Crispus’ experience: he and his family believed, and they were baptized. The same happened to many of the Corinthians. (Acts 18:8)

Dr. Luke introduces us to Priscilla and Aquila. They came to Corinth because the Jews had been expelled from Rome by the Emperor Claudius. (Acts 18:2) He also tells us that they were tentmakers, as was Paul. (Acts 18:3) However, we aren’t told elsewhere that Paul was a tentmaker. The fact that Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila were tentmakers tells us that bivocational ministry is a biblical model of ministry. In this type of ministry, the minister is following the call of God while holding down a separate “secular” job, which normally puts food on the table. By no means is bivocational ministry a second-class ministry. In the early days of the church, bivocational ministry may have been the normal model of ministry, rather than the exception.

As we have seen before, after seeing people come to faith in Christ, the Apostles stayed in a city for a period of time. They did this to help establish new converts in their walk of faith. Here we see that Paul discipled the Corinthians for eighteen months before his departure. (Acts 18:11) Later, we see that Paul visits and encourages churches that he started in the past. (Acts 18:23)

Paul departed and went to Ephesus by way of Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. An Alexandria Jew named Apollos also arrived in Ephesus. (Acts 18:24) He was competent in the use of the Scriptures (e.g., the Old Testament) and had been taught about Jesus, though he only knew of John’s baptism. He didn’t know anything about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 18:25) For more on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and becoming a Christian, see our devotionals here and here. Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak and pulled him aside to explain the way of God to him more accurately. Apollos was humble enough to recognize that he didn’t know it all and needed to learn more.

Application

John the Baptizer was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Apollos spoke eloquently about what he knew, but he didn’t know the whole Gospel. He needed someone to explain it so he could accurately preach it. Priscilla and Aquila stepped in and filled in the gaps between what he knew and what he needed to know of the rest of the story.

Perhaps you prayed a prayer to accept Jesus, but no one ever told you about the Holy Spirit. Many Christ followers can identify with this experience. The Bible doesn’t say anything about “praying a prayer to accept Jesus”. There’s nothing wrong with praying, but no one has ever been saved by simply praying a prayer. We are made children of God only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit makes us children of God. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Later, we’ll see Paul’s plea for the Ephesians to have a daily, renewed relationship with the filling of the Spirit. We’ll read about that on September 24.

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June 21

Not much has changed since Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Today, many people spout opinions concerning Jesus’ return. As in Paul’s day, many of those opinions are simply that: opinions.

Biblically speaking, there are several – very different – views of eschatology which are held by godly theologians. Each of these views has valid Scriptural bases. However, they also have Scriptural problems. I am not saying that the Bible contains contradictions, (it does not!) only that sometimes the Bible isn’t as clear as we would like it to be on some topics, including eschatology.

But one thing is certain: Paul and the other apostles expected Jesus’ return to happen within days, months, or a few years of their preaching and writing. The Thessalonians had heard some people say that Jesus had already returned. But Paul assured them that the End could not come without a few things happening:
1.) The widespread apostacy or rebellion (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
2.) The revelation of the man of lawlessness, (the antichrist) who is the personification of hostility against God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

Paul had already told this church that Jesus’ return would occur with the archangel’s voice and the sound of God’s trumpet. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Obviously, none of these three things happened before Paul wrote this letter, nor has it happened since then. But Paul wrote both of his letters to this church to encourage them. No, these things haven’t happened yet, but be ready!

Paul says there will be a wicked deception of unbelievers. His description sounds very familiar to what he says in Romans 1:18–28, where he talks about those who exchange the knowledge of God for a lie. He says that signs and wonders can be counterfeited. (2 Thessalonians 2:9) Elsewhere, he says that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Therefore, believers must be discerning. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) And to protect ourselves, we must know God’s Word so we can recognize and reject the counterfeits.

Paul also says that God sends a strong delusion on unbelievers to believe the lie so that they would reject God’s offer of salvation. (2 Thessalonians 2:11) And therefore, because they reject God’s offer, He judges them. As in Romans, Paul says that God gives those who reject the truth exactly what they want. And then judges them based on those desires.

Application

Paul tells the church to stand firm in their faith and hold tightly to the traditions they had learned. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) These were not the Jewish traditions, but the new covenant traditions. God has loved us and has given us an eternal, encouraging hope. God is in control!

Ground yourself in God’s Word. And reject counterfeits. And put your entire trust in God.

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June 15

Paul feared that the church in Thessalonica might have wavered in their faith, so he sent Timothy to them to check on their spiritual health. Paul was greatly encouraged by what Timothy reported. So, in the first two chapters, Paul praised the church for how they had responded to the Gospel; here in chapter three, he learned that their participation in the Gospel was not just something in the distant past. They continued to embrace the Gospel message!

The final paragraph of chapter three (1 Thessalonians 3:11–13) reads like the end of the letter, but it’s not. He prays that he would be able to travel back to the church again. He prays that God would continue to increase in their love, and they would overflow in love. The word “overflow” is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.^[1] Elsewhere, Paul speaks of growing to maturity, emphasizing the same idea.  

Application

God doesn’t want us to mature. He wants us to grow in our faith until we are fully developed in our faith. To get there, (not that we will ever “arrive” on this side of glory) we must actively pursue God for the long haul. Our experience with God was never intended to be a flash in the pan. (Philippians 1:6) We were designed to have an ever-growing, ever-active walk with Him.

Paul was greatly encouraged that the Thessalonians’ faith was still active and alive, and not just something that happened years earlier.

What about your faith? When you look back at your conversion, does your current walk with Jesus look like it did back then? Have you walked away from your faith? The fact that you’re reading this gives some indication that you are interested in growing spiritually. Are you still actively growing in your walk with Jesus? Are you spending time with God in prayer and Bible engagement? Do you regularly practice the Spiritual Disciplines to help keep your spiritual edge sharp?

^[1] Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.

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June 14

Paul begins 1 Thessalonians 2 talking about how he and his companions ministered to the church with such care for the people. He talks about how he and his partners conducted themselves when they ministered there in 1 Thessalonians 2:7–12.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13–14, Paul repeats what he said in yesterday’s Bible readings at the beginning of 1 Thessalonians 1: he thanked God for the church and their glad reception of the Gospel and support of his ministry.

Paul said that he and his companions desperately wanted to return to Thessalonica, but that Satan had prevented them from doing so. We don’t know what kind of opposition they experienced, but they were disappointed that they weren’t able to return. Perhaps this comment reflects a promise that Paul may have made that they would return.

Application

Look around at how your pastor, ministry staff, or other Bible teachers conduct themselves. Are they above reproach as Paul and his companions were? Are they good stewards? Granted, no one is perfect. God knows I’m not! But over time, each of God’s representatives should exhibit more and more godliness as time passes.

James tells his audience that God holds those who teach the Bible to a higher standard, (James 3:1) not because we’re special, but that, in our position, we are accountable for what we say and do.

The Bible doesn’t let anyone off the hook. Yes, leaders are held to a higher standard, but God holds all of us to His standards and expects each of us to grow in godliness.

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June 13

It can be very dangerous to imitate someone. But the key is who you are trying to imitate. Paul doesn’t hesitate to praise the Thessalonians for imitating him and his partners, (1 Thessalonians 1:6) and he goes further in 1 Corinthians 11:1 to tell them to imitate him as he imitated Jesus.

Paul thanks the Thessalonians for their openness to the Gospel and their dedication to his ministry. Their support was not just a shallow, passing support, despite severe persecution. It was so impactful that he says that every time he and his companions pray, they pray for and thank God for this church. (1 Thessalonians 1:2) He says that the Gospel came to them in tangible ways: not in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. And they received it as such.

But not only did they receive the gospel so wholeheartedly, but they also spread the Gospel beyond themselves, as well. (1 Thessalonians 1:7–9)

Application

How often do you make mention of other believers in your prayers? Are there some particular people whom you remember in your prayers? In what ways do you encourage them? A simple text, letter, or phone call goes a long way to speak life into other believers.

And when someone encourages you with a card or something similar, do you read it and then drop it in the trash? How about creating an “encouragement file” where you can save those encouraging words? I have benefited a lot from occasionally browsing through the contents of my “encouragement file” folder.

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