Paul a
servant of God received the grace of God to witness Jesus Christ to both Jews
& Gentiles and to demonstrate the wisdom and power of God. It is recorded
in Acts 19:11- 12 that God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that
even handkerchiefs and aprons that touched him were taken to the sick, and
their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Apollos a
learned Jew, well versed in the knowledge of Scriptures taught accurately about
Jesus Christ. It is recorded of him in Acts 18:28 that he vigorously refuted
the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Cephas
called Peter one of the Twelve called by Jesus witnessed the Glory of the
Messiah when He was transfigured, witnessed His arrest and witnessed the resurrected
King. By the grace of God He received the Holy Spirit and began to declare with
boldness all he had seen and heard. It is recorded of him in Acts 3 that in the
Name of Jesus Peter healed a man who had been crippled from birth. It is also
recorded of him that he miraculously escaped prison.
Unfortunately
divisions in the church sprang up because some said we follow Paul, others said
we follow Apollos and others Peter. Still others said we follow Jesus.
Because of
the divisions arguments rose in the church. That is when Paul addressed the
matter saying that it is a childish thing to speak and say, ‘I follow Paul.’ Or
I follow such and such.
For Christ
is not divided
It is
neither Paul, Cephas nor Apollos but God for Paul, Cephas & Apollos are
servants of God.
As I was
reflecting on this topic and how it applies to present day; I see that we are
still childish in doing the same. Some will say, I follow prophet so and so,
another will say I follow apostle so and so another one will refuse to
fellowship with other believers and say I follow Jesus so I read my Bible
alone.
Are we not
being childish? We are all different branches but we are all connected to one
vine; Jesus Christ.
It also
applies to the ministers of God. At one point Apollos was taught by Priscilla,
Aquila & Paul because though Apollos was well learned, he had not learned
of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he only knew the baptism of John of water
& repentance. So he learned from fellow ministers so that he could explain
the way of God more adequately. There are those who know of the gifts of the
Spirit but do not know of holiness & repentance. Others know of Holiness
and repentance but do not know of Justice. Others know of Justice but do not
know of End time message. Others know of End time message but do not know of
Grace.
We need
each other if we are to come to the fullness of the knowledge of Christ
At one
point Peter was rebuked by Paul concerning his wrong actions. Full story found
in Galatians 2:11-14. The ministers taught and corrected each other and the
common foundation from which they build the Gospel was Jesus Christ, crucified
but now alive and coming back.
I do realise
that there are many false teachers just as it was prophesied. However I also
realise that there are many teachers who are teaching wrong things not because
they are false but because they lack the knowledge. We should all learn from
each other because that is how God designed it for us to be co-labourers that
one may plant, another may water and God may make the seed planted to grow.
1 Corinthians
3:5-6 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through
whom you came to believe – as the Lord assigned to each his task. I planted the
seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it to grow.
1 Corinthians
3:21 So then, no more boasting about men!.....
Ephesians
4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of
God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ
