SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
OBSERVATION: Upon the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul gives himself “exclusively to preaching.” What was he doing before? From verse 3 we see that Paul was supporting himself working as a “tent maker” alongside Aquila and Priscilla. Now that Silas and Timothy were present, they could work to earn the money needed and Paul could give himself solely to preaching.
APPLICATION: I am thankful for the servants of the Lord who work a second job to support themselves and their families while they are faithful serving in ministry. My father worked as an automobile mechanic while pastoring a small church.
I am also thankful for the ministry of people like Silas and Timothy who give themselves to supporting those in leadership ministries, enabling them to put all their attention, strength, time and energy to fulfill the call of God on their lives. They accept the vision of ministry; they accept the challenge of ministry; they personally accept the support of ministry! They have the ministry of enablers!
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, bless and anoint your servants who labor to support themselves and their families while serving in ministry assignments. Bless their sacrifice! I pray that you would bless them with people who share their vision and accept the challenge of enabling them to work at it full-time. Holy Spirit, show me where and how I can be an enabler. Amen
Pastor Leon
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