Adventures In Acts: Adventurous Partnerships

Adventure In Acts: Adventurous Partnerships

1 Peter 4:12-13, 12 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. 13 Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. (from THE MESSAGE)

Acts 19:1-13, 19 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9  But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.  10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. ESV

The struggle is, if we don’t understand that the Christian Journey is a blend of process and partnership we will mess up and get off the potter’s wheel before we are completed…

There Are No “LONERS” In TheNew Testament

1. Paul
   • I Shared from Acts 9:1-19 which gave us a glimpse of the journey that the Great Apostle Paul began
   • Saul / Paul – was probably given both names at birth, because he was born with dual citizenship…Jewish and Roman…In Acts 13:9 Saul is Baptized and never goes by Saul again…He took the name that reflected his calling
   • Scales Fall Off-Physical (Like Fish Scales which was an indicator of Paul’s new assignment…Fisher of Men) and Spiritual Scales (Measuring Scales)
   • We think immediately Paul begins his ministry…but not so fast. Paul does preach…and the threat against his life is so great they must lower him down in a basket by night…Saul goes to Arabia for 3 years…He then goes to Jerusalem; there he is rejected by everyone but Barnabas…whose name means “son of encouragement…”Barnabas intercedes on behalf of Saul…Means he vouched for him, spoke up for him, stood up for him when no one else would
   • Saul then goes to Tarsus….Now here is the kicker…Paul is in Tarsus for 8 years….Paul is not mentioned again until Acts 11:25…where it says and then Barnabas remembered Saul in Tarsus…

Acts 11:25-26, 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.ESV

Paul literally serves as an usher in Antioch…for a year

For the next 4 chapters Paul serves with Barnabas….The Most Brilliant man in the new testament outside Jesus and He’s in a Process for 18 years before being released into a full time ministry on his own….Acts 15 Paul chooses Silas to go do ministry.

Paul and Silas

Acts 15:32-35, 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.  35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. ESV

Acts 15:40-41, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. ESV

• Paul chooses Silas and for the first time in the scripture we see the Power of the Apostle and Prophet doing ministry together…
• In the 15^th Chapter they take on the Spirit of Python that is choking a city…
• It get’s them thrown in Prison…
  1. It is invaluable who you partner with…
  2. You want to partner with people who aren’t afraid of the process and know how to praise in a prison

Paul partnered with many to do ministry…Honestly too many to tell or mention…He Partnered with Apollos, Aquilla and Priscilla as His lead intercessors…at the end of each book that Paul wrote we would address particular people who had partnered with Him.  But no partnership is greater than the Partnership with Jesus…

• Paul and Jesus
  • In our opening text…Paul is doing unusual Miracles and Healings by the Power of Jesus…
  • They are taking Handkerchiefs and Portions of His Apron and sending it to people, and they are being Healed and Delivered…
  • This speaks of the Tangible Anointing of the Lord
    • Elisha is dead and they throw a dead Serian Soldier on the bones of Elisha…and because of the Anointing still on his life…the Dead is raised back to Life
    • In Jude Satan is contending for the Bones of Moses…because Satan desires the Anointing on your life…whether you are alive or dead…
    • Now in both cases notice…the Anointing is so saturated in these mens lives…it’s to the bone or symbolically the Structure of Who they are…The Anointing is so powerful on Paul’s life…it can be transferred through a connection point of Faith…Clothe or Pieces of Fabric…
• Seven Sons of Sceva

Acts 19:13-16, 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ESV

Jesus, I know…and Paul I recognize but who are you…I preached a message years ago entitled: “Are You Known in Hell” These demons knew who Jesus was and were very aware of Paul…but to the religious…these 7 sons of a chief Priest…these demons had no knowledge or respect for…

• Paul Partners with a City
  • From Here Paul lives in this City of Ephesus for 3 years…He literally Partners with the City

Acts 19:1-12

Paul spent three years in Ephesus (20:31): three months in the synagogue, two years teaching in rented rooms at the school of Tyrannus, and about nine months in various places (19:8-10 and 22)

Look at the results of Paul Partnering with this City….

Acts 19:18-20, 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.  20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. NIV

• The People Genuinely Repented…. even though it cost them…
• 50,000 Drachmas in today’s value is $2,275,000

When I rededicated my life to Christ…the Lord put His finger on certain things in my life…and I had to get rid of it…

1. Timothy’s Process
   1. In the 16^th Chapter of Acts…Paul brings on another student and partners with him…His name is Timothy
   2. The relationship Grows
      • It is interesting over the years of ministry and where you see Timothy…
      • Paul refers to Timothy in different settings
        1. He is referred to as Son
        2. Co-Laborer
        3. He is referred as Faithful Minister
        4. Then Paul refers to Him as Apostle
      • In Acts 16:3 “Timothy is Circumcised”
        1. This always confused me…because Paul was completely against Gentiles becoming Circumcised.
        2. But Paul knew the Path for Timothy…
      • Ever notice God will cut you at the most sensitive Places…especially if Assignment is Over Your Life.
      • Timothy serves Paul where Paul asks him too….

2 Tim 4:6-18, 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 9  Do your best to come to me soon.  ( Before Winter) 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12  Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14  Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ESV

1. Let’s Break Down These verses if we can
   1. Come before Winter…
      1. Timothy has served with Paul during the Summer and Fall of his life
      2. During the Productive seasons…the seasons when much fruit was being produced…churches being built…great ministry taking place…
      3. Now Paul is entering the Winter of his life and ministry and he has some stuff to pour out on Timothy…
   2. Drink Offering
      1. Pouring His Anointing on this Young Son in the Faith who has been in a process…
      2. Demonstrate Drink Offering

• Cloak
  1. Passing of the Mantle…
     1. Mantle is the assignment given…
     2. Anointing is the God given ability to accomplish the Assignment or to fulfill the Mantle…

Who are You Partnered with…it mattered in the Life of Paul and it will Matter in Your life as well.

• Partnerships and Who You Partner with is Huge…
• Paul’s Life and Ministry teach us that…
• You need a Partnership with Jesus
• When you are young…you need someone who will vouch for you…you need a Barnabas in your life…you need to serve in a Church till people actually know you…and not just your name.
• You need to be in Pits and Jails with the Right Person…
• You need people who will add to your life such as Timothy did…
• BUT WHO ARE YOU IN THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON…
  • Are you a Barnabas?
  • Are You A Silas?
  • Are You a Timothy?
  • Are You Brave enough to say you are a Paul in Someone’s Life?