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Just the Right Person

Just the Right Person
Words of Faith 6-17-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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Acts 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.

Isn't it marvelous how the Lord will bring just the right person across your path at just the right time?
Corinth was like no place Paul had ever seen. Located on the isthmus between northern and southern Greece, it was the center of virtually all trade by land and sea. The population was around 700,000 in this thriving city which has been described as a combination of New York City and Las Vegas.
Corinth was the wealthiest city in Greece and had a predominantly middle class. It was a melting pot of cultures, religions and temptation. It was a center of sinful activity with its renowned 1000 temple prostitutes walking the streets. This was "sin city" and it desperately needed the Gospel.
When Paul arrived he was pretty discouraged. He had responded to the call to come over to this region, yet he had been beaten up, jailed, and run out of nearly every town he visited. Athens had been a difficult venture showing little fruit. In Corinthians 2:1-5, we learn that Paul felt weak and afraid by the time he got to Corinth. He was now all alone and needed a place to stay and recuperate.
The Lord brought to Paul's side a delightful couple named Aquila and Priscilla. These two knew something about discouragement. They had recently been run out of town themselves, victims of an anti-Semitic pogrom in Rome under Claudius. But they seem to have been wealthy and resourceful enough to relocate to a new community and now they had a job opening.
We do not know when Aquila and Priscilla became believers in the Lord. Because it is not mentioned, we cannot assume that they knew Jesus when they became friends to Paul. Paul would have had no aversion to staying and working with them. After all, his first efforts were always to the Jews and he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and Greek followers of God. So Paul spent some time healing and making tents with his new friends.
Isn't it marvelous how the Lord will bring just the right person across your path at just the right time? Paul needed a job, a place to stay, and someone who understood adversity. He found all three in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. We don't know exactly when, but these two became believers in Jesus. A friendship and ministry partnership was born as they worked together making tents and talked about their adventures. They would later travel with Paul to Ephesus. In our times of discouragement, the Lord will bring to our side encouragers. We just need to keep our eyes open.
Have you been discouraged? Look around. There is likely someone that the Lord is bringing across your path to encourage you. Have you been encouraged by the Lord? Look around. There is likely someone near you that the Lord would like for you to encourage.

Lord, show me your ministry of encouragement. Teach me the joy of bearing burdens for another and sharing my burden as well. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2001, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.