Total Dependence – Learning to Live in the Spirit: Committed to Spirit Empowered Growth

Acts 18:24 – 19:7
are we missing key ingredients in the life God wants for us?
do we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and allow God to take control?

4 ingredients for Spirit-empowered growth:

I pursue greater knowledge (v24-25)
- Apollos is the real deal follower of God, a true OT saint; but he obviously needs to gain greater knowledge
- Gaining greater knowledge…
  1. Requires access (v25)
    - Apollos is a Jew and located in Alexandria
      - Alexandria rivalled Athens in terms of library and accessibility to knowledge
    - we also have as much access, if not more now, BUT the access also acts as barrier and stumbling block
  2. Requires effort
    - “eloquent” meant Apollos was formally trained in rhetoric, developed over time, rather than just as a gift
    - he was “competent/mighty in the scriptures” because he devoted time and effort
      - being “mighty in the scriptures” is not an accident
      - are you placing right effort and focus into the right things?
  3. Requires passion (v25)
    - “fervent” = boiling over/burning hot
      - don’t merely gain knowledge to grow our own egos
      - as your mind expands with knowledge, your heart should grow for those around you
      - your mind and heart are closely connected
    - there is an effect for gaining truth, which is growing passion and fervency
    - don’t let the passion for things of the world overtake your passion for God
      - what competes for God’s affections in your life?
    - passion is not the substitute for content nor clarity
    - Apollos is a true believer of Christ, but deficient in actual knowledge of Christ
      - he only knew of the baptism of John, and didn’t know that Jesus the Messiah had already come
      - he had an accurate, but incomplete, knowledge of God and salvation
      - we are like this too; the more we know, the more we know we don’t know
I develop deeper understanding (v26)
- heart of Priscilla and Aquilla to help develop Apollos privately, with grace
  - before we seek to correct, do we seek to build or to tear down?
- discern between major/minor issues (i.e. biblical truths vs non-Gospel issues)
  - some categories of issues include theological, wisdom, lifestyle/preferential
    - do not be dogmatic where the Scriptures are silent about!
    - in all things, love; the approach is important when you think of correcting someone
- God uses context of community to develop our knowledge of things of God
  - are we receptive or resistant?
- truth and life comes to those humble enough to be taught
  - you don’t have everything figured out!
  - embrace channel of humility!
I desire increased effectiveness (v27-28)
- use of muscles increases their effectiveness
  - being taught increased Apollos’ desire and fervency to preach the truth
- we can only lift others up to the level that we live, and not beyond…
  - do you know how God has gifted you?
  - is your heart stern with sharing God’s truth?
  - are you influencing someone and changing their lives?
- there is celebration in sending Apollos, rather than jealousy or a desire to keep him
  - are you tirelessly using your gift?
I exercise genuine faith (19:1-7)
- book of Acts is a transitional book, moving from OT to NT
  - people living in OT promise without full information and knowledge of the Gospel and Jesus
  - “the old has gone and the new has now come”
- when someone saved, they become empowered by holy spirit BUT they didn’t realize Jesus already came to fulfill the prophecy
  - the time has come where no one is saved apart from through faith
- Pentecost seen in Acts 2; mini Pentecost seen 4 times in book of Acts, each time a group believed and were to be sent out
  - as non-believer: have you surrendered self to saving Gospel?
  - as believer: have you exercised on-going genuine faith?
    - are you living with faith in Him alone?
    - are your hopes and faith in Jesus, rather than others and self?
- when you can’t see the fruits of the spirit in your life, you’re not walking and living in the Spirit
  - did your life lose its vibrancy and joy in the holy spirit?
  - you need to return to the cross and identify what is preventing you from living by faith alone!