Loading... HE WAS OF THE SAME CRAFT - Acts 18:3
Friday, November 30th, 2007Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Paul left Athens and went to minister in Corinth. Silas and Timothy were still in Berea ministering to the people there. Because he did not have the accountability and help of Silas and Timothy, Paul was not as active in his missionary work. He still went to the synagogue every sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greek. When Silas and Timothy showed up, he was pressed in the spirit, and testified that Jesus was Christ.
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy to arrive, he found a husband and wife team of Aquila and Priscilla whom he lived with. Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers and Paul practiced the trade of tentmaker with them. Paul, the great missionary understood the trade of tent making and while he was waiting for his God given partners who assisted him in his missionary work to return, he earned a living. However, Paul did more than just earn a living. It is clear that Paul must have been discipling Aquila and Priscilla. After Paul left we see them ministering to others and discipling them.
Paul understood that until Silas and Timothy arrived, he was not to be as active in his missionary work. Yes, he still went to church and he still shared the gospel, but he understood that God had given him Silas as his partner for this particular missionary journey. When Jesus had sent out the disciples to preach the gospel, he sent them out in groups of two. When Paul took a journey, he always traveled with another person. Since Paul was separated from his team, he understood that he needed to wait for the rest of his team before he continued.
There are times in your life where you know what the will of God is for you, but you must wait. This was one of those times in the life of Paul. Paul knew that he was called to be a missionary, but he needed to wait for his partner that God had given to him. Because Paul was in a period of waiting, he remained productive by working a trade, tentmaking.
God has given you a ministry. Do you know what it is? If you know what it is, do you know whom God has brought into your life in order to fulfill that purpose? Just because you know what job you need to do for God, it does not mean that you have the green light to do it right now. You must understand that there are times in your life where you must wait on God. There are times where you must work and do other ministry work while you wait for the perfect timing of God to do that which HE has shown you HE desires you to do.
It takes knowledge of the ways of God to not only know the will of God but also HIS timing. You do not automatically find out the will or timing of God just because you proclaim to be a Christian. Instead, you must spend time seeking God so that you can find HIS perfect will. As you draw closer to God, you will learn HIS will and more importantly HIS timing.
Be careful that you are not a lone ranger in your pursuit of the will of God. While there are some who God called to work on their own like John the Baptist; even Jesus made sure that HE had disciples around HIM to help HIM in HIS ministry. Jesus did not need the accountability, but HE had it anyways. Remember, where two or more are gathered in HIS name, HE is with you. Whatever ministry God has called you to, how much more effective will it be if you do it with those who are also called to the same ministry. Wait on the perfect timing of God.