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The Value of Fellow Believers

Writer's picture: David WarrenDavid Warren

Acts 18: Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

I have been blessed with many friends who, through the years, have come on board with what God is doing in my life. They are more valuable than I can explain, but here is a list of some of them. Todd and Shannon Johnson, Alexandria, Alabama-Cindy Temple, West Plains, Missouri- Mike and Sheila Newton, West Plains, Missouri- Michael O'brien, Columbia, Tennessee-Phil Franz, West Plains, Missouri - Robbie Robison, Nashville, Tennessee-Bob and Iva Clairday, Jonesboro, Arkansas-Kevin Smith, Manila, The Philippines- and Sam and Kim Livingston, Florence, Alabama. There are many more too numerous to mention, but I have been blessed with them, and God knows who they are because He sent them to me. This walk with God, this pilgrimage, is very important, and I try not to take lightly this calling God has made on my heart and my life. Praise God He sent these people into my path at just the right time to keep me going.

Priscilla and Aquila were these people to the Apostle Paul, and their friendship spurred Paul on to greatness as he followed God's leading. In verse 1 of the above scripture, we see that Paul and those two had a common trade of tent-making and a common love to share the gospel, and that connection would prove vital for Paul as he continued to share the gospel. Aquila was a Turk. He was a converted Jew, and his wife Priscilla arrived with him from Italy because they were deported as Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them in the city of Corinth, and their friendship proved invaluable because there was great evil and wickedness in the city of Corinth.

Paul went to church each Sabbath and reasoned with the Jews and Gentiles. Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia and took the other parts of ministry off Paul so he could just preach the gospel. God incredibly used him, and many came to faith under the preaching of Paul. Then, from the changed lives of those converts, the gospel spread all over that evil city. Hope had come to town, and it was in the form of the gospel. Paul continued to testify to Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, and they opposed him at every turn. Finally, Paul did what Jesus had commanded. Jesus sent out the disciples in Matthew 10:14: If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day. Paul went on to say Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

When the church leaders rejected the gospel message, Paul went next door to the synagogue to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshipped God. Apparently, this did not impair the preaching because Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, got saved, along with all his household. The pastor of the church was saved. Hmmmm. The Word of God continued to spread, and many more became believers and were baptized.

One night the Lord comes to Paul in vision and tells him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” This was a major boost to Paul as he was in a city that had surpassed even Athens in it's worship of Idols. Corinth even had the statue of Aphrodite looking over it as a constant reminder of the evil idol worship. God's power in the gospel's message "trumped" what a lifeless statue could do, and many came to faith. The influence of the gospel in that city made it much easier to share the message, and you can see that God was on the move in the lives of those believers.

I see how powerful God has moved in our nation through the years, and like in Corinth, the message of salvation in Jesus became even more prevalent in every area of our country. We need an awakening in the people of God to share the message, and we shouldn't be afraid to proclaim it IN and OUT of churches. It's time to wake up church and let the gospel's message be heard. Encourage each other to proclaim it, and like those who have encouraged me through the years, keep spurring each other on to greatness!! Then you will experience the value of fellow believers.


Vesselogical Out,


David Warren


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