Monday 16 February 2015

And still there was more.....


Acts 18:24-26
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 

*A thorough knowledge of the scriptures
*Instructed in the way of the Lord
*Spoke with fervour
*Taught about Jesus accurately

But he still need the way of God explaining to Him more adequately.....

What was he missing?

The true nature and implications of baptism...the repentance, identification with the death AND resurrection of Jesus and baptism as an outward act celebrating,or immediately responding to, the prior experience of new birth through Jesus and of having being given the RIGHT to be a child of the Father. Of the expectation & experience of the descending, indwelling, fullness and overflowing of the Holy Spirit. Of the Holy Spirit as our constant guide, companion & comforter. Of the reality of us being able to 'to what Jesus did' in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It seems he had sufficient accurate knowledge to genuinely excite him to speak fervently, to believe that there was something life changing about Jesus, to want to tell others...BUT , he had not yet stepped into the key to it all... The ongoing experience to which the knowledge points and invites.

There is absolutely no problem with where he was as a part of his journey ( way ahead of where many Christians ever get to in many important aspects ) - but there was so much more. There always is with our God.