Coworker of the Holy Spirit
Acts of Apostles 16:1~5
The Lord does not work alone.
The Lord works with us as coworkers.
Paul didnt rely on people but he needed them as coworkers.
So, Paul started a journey with Silas.
And Paul chose Timothy as a coworker.
Let us think about the co-workers of the Holy Spirit.
1. We should be attendants
After a big argument with Paul, Barnabas went back home.
Paul had to cross the Amanus mountains of 2000 meters high passing Antioch of Syria to Cilicia.
Moreover, after visiting to Cilicia, he had to cross the Tross mountains passing Galatia.
Paul finally arrived at the last stop of 1st evangelical tour, Derbe,
after passing through two high mountains.
Paul walked over 380 km starting from Antioch of Syria.
And he walked another 100 km to Lystra.
Lystra was the place where the teamwork of Paul and Barnabas lighted up.
They witnessed the miracle of healing a man crippled in his feet from birth.
They also saw a crowd throwing stones at them.
Lystra is the place of glory and blame at the same time.
But how could Paul meet Timothy if he had not come to Lystra?
Timothy was the fruit after all these hardship.
Since Luke 16 on, Silas is described as an attendant like Mark, not as an coworker like Barnabas.
Silas was not called as disciple any more since then.
Barnabas and Paul were recorded in 1st evangelical tour.
But in 2nd evangelical tour, only Paul was recorded in many case.
This shows Paul changed his mind for a coworker.
Paul had hard time caring Barnabas as coworker in 2nd evangelical tour.
Because Barnabas was coworker, not attendant in many ways.
Barnabas began to bother Paul, as they continued to disagree and Barnabas was hypocritical.
But, it was time when Paul needed a helping attendant, and Paul didnt let Barnabas go.
It was Barnabas who left Paul after the dispute on Mark.
Paul might be seen cold blood, but he made a holy choice and that was for salvation.
After this incident, Barnabas didnt appear any more.
The Lord is on Pauls side.
Paul needed an attendant, but Mark made his own decision and left Paul.
2. We should be disciples.
Only Timothy was said to be a disciple after all those visits and church revival.
Paul was rejected but he could find one disciple after all.
The New Testament is delivered to us thanks to this disciple.
Having many people around doesnt mean many disciples nor attendants.
The name Timothy means the glory of the Lord.
As in 16:1, where a disciple named Timothy lived,
Timothy was already an attendant since 1st evangelical tour even before he became a coworker.
Disciple means one who is not only being taught but also following the lesson.
Paul needed this kind of obedient disciple as attendant following Pauls teaching.
3. We should be brought up and approved by the Words at home.
Timothys mother was Jewish, married to a Greek, and believed Jesus since 1st evangelical tour.
Many Jews people had to marry to unbelievers those days, as the Diaspora hardly met Jews.
So they wasnt able to be circumcised as Jew.
But, they not only taught Bible but also showed application of the Words.
Her mother could only show her life being obedient to her husband and the Words.
Timothy saw how she lived her life and this lead all family to belief.
As in 16:2 The brothers ~ spoke well of him,
Timothy kept being spoken well of though he could have been ignored as a half blood of Jew and Greek.
That means her mothers instruction was such biblical.
4. We should be obedient to calling and abide by rules.
Timothy followed Paul, in obedient to the circumstances. 16:3
That was the first step as Pauls attendant and Lords attendant as well.
First thing as attendant Timothy did was circumcision.
Paul said this is because of Jews in that area.
Though Paul knew that circumcision is not essential and had nothing to do with Salvation.
But Paul didnt want to put Jews to the test
Paul let Timothy do so, considering weak Jews, yielding to non-essential circumcision.
Paul valued deeds more than talk and he let Timothy followed the rule.
This application is very important.
Being circumcised is painful for adult.
But Timothy did so, and became the best coworker of Paul in obedient to calling.
As in 16:5, So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
We should follow the rules of church for missionary work.
Everyday application strengthen the church and the church grow bigger in numbers.
May all you be coworker of the Holy Spirit this week in the name of the Lord.
