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TIMOTHY GOES TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN CORINTH!
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger.
The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” And they were filled with awe and amazement. They said to one another, “Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?” (Luke 8:22- 25)
It’s easy to read this story and find comfort in this word-picture of Jesus calming this storm on the Sea of Galilee. We think of the waves and the winds of turmoil in our own lives and petition Jesus to calm the rough waters that threaten to undo us. It’s a legitimate request and anyone can see how this story would prompt us to ask God to exercise his power on our behalf. (See II Chronicles 16:9)
But in the larger context of Luke’s gospel account where this story is sandwiched between the choosing of the disciples followed by a semester of Discipleship 101 and the sending out of the disciples on their own, Discipleship 401. In this larger context this story has a greater lesson. For you see, in the early stages of kingdom work everything, in one sense, depended on those Jesus called to be his disciples.
For at this particular juncture in Jesus’ earthly ministry all the disciples plus Jesus were in the same boat, out in the open, with Jesus taking a nap. That is, they were particularly vulnerable to Satanic attack. They were like sitting ducks just waiting for someone to grab a shotgun and use it to good effect. If Satan was ever going to sink the whole lot with a single blow this was the time and place.
So he acted quickly and sent a squall upon the lake that swamped the boat with water. Within minutes every single person in that boat was facing a watery grave and the disciples, and some of them were fisherman, knew it. But Jesus “got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.”
Did Jesus exercise his power on behalf of the disciples? Sure! He genuinely liked those he had chosen and what he did at the height of the storm saved them. But, the point of the passage is much greater than the rescuing of the disciples.
The point of the passage is that those who have committed everything to the cause of Christ can be assured that the Kingdom of God will ultimately triumph because of the power of the King. Yes, Jesus saved the disciples, but more than that he saved the ministry! For you see, the Kingdom, as well as its servants, was in danger of being buried at sea. So Jesus stood up and exercised his power on behalf of the Kingdom.
As they thought about it, this must have been a tremendous lesson for the disciples. They had learned a number of lessons in the classroom, but on this particular field trip they learned one of the biggest lessons of their lives. It was so significant that it wasn’t long before they were courageous enough to go out on their own.
Just as the disciples learned from Jesus, Timothy undoubtedly learned a lot from Paul and Silas. He took notes in Philippi, he got his feet wet in Thessalonica, he was encouraged by the careful research of the Bereans, and was given his first real assignment while in Athens. For it was in Athens that Paul asked him to go back to Thessalonica to strengthen the believers, to encourage them, and to see to it that no one was being unsettled as they faced many and various trials.
But it was in Corinth where Timothy attended graduate school. It was in this city where he learned some of the most important lessons in his life. At first glance, it looked like the sequence of events in Corinth would be no different than what the team had experienced in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Paul, as was his custom, reasoned with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the local synagogue and persuaded some that Jesus was indeed the Christ. But, he also antagonized others.
Timothy probably took a few notes, but had observed the routine enough by this time to see the handwriting on the wall. Paul wouldn’t back away from preaching the Word and within a few weeks the antagonized Jews would see that he was beaten, thrown in jail as a public nuisance, and/or ran out of town. So, it is my guess, that Timothy went back to the tent and started packing things up. He knew how the game would play itself out.
Paul could hardly blame the young man. He was on the receiving end of the abuse heaped on him by the antagonized Jews and knew it would only get worse in the days ahead. He was near the point of giving up. In fact, early on in Corinth, fear had convinced him that maybe it would be better just to keep his mouth shut. But God had bigger plans for them. In Acts 18:4 - 11 we read:
Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent his full time preaching and testifying to the Jews, telling them, “The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.” 6 But when the Jews opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his robe and said, “Your blood be upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 18:7 After that he stayed with Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized.
Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
By this time, Paul was gun shy. Yes, Paul! It is hard to imagine him shying away from speaking out about Jesus. But after what happened in the last four cities he was understandably reluctant to stand his ground. For in three of the four cities he was either physically abused or threatened with harm. In Athens he wasn’t physically abused, just discounted by most which was as painful as the whip.
So in Corinth he was ready to call it quits. He was thinking it was time to head home and lick his wounds. He had done all he could and, at the moment, it didn’t look like all that much was done. But, in the midst of his discouragement God spoke to him in a vision. The late night communication was as clear to him as the message he had received on the road to Damascus. It was clearly God on the other end of the line and what He had to say to Paul and company came through loud and clear.
Now what did he say to Paul? And why did Timothy suddenly start taking notes again? He said this:
“ When you are weak, I am strong!”
Don’t believe me? Then you ought to take a look at two pieces of evidence. The first is found in the next few verses of Acts, in vv. 14 - 17, where we have a hearing to determine if Paul should be ran out of town as a troublemaker. We read:
But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose in concerted action against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.” 14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would be obliged to listen to you. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish laws, you take care of it. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 And he drove them out of the courtroom. 17 The mob had grabbed Sosthenes (their spokesman) the leader of the synagogue, and had beaten him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.
What did you think of Paul’s defense? As in Athens he chose his words well and strung them together like a polished lawyer. He spoke so eloquently and with such power that the judge was compelled to rule in his favor. Nope! That’s not how it happened. Paul started to speak and the judge interrupted him with his ruling of a dismissal. He found no fault with Paul and his team.
Next, look at what Paul wrote to the Corinthians. In I Corinthians 1:26 - 2:4 we read:
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, 29 so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom. 31 As the Scriptures say,
“The person who wishes to boast
should boast only of what the Lord has done.”
Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God’s message. 2 For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you. 5 I did this so that you might trust the power of God rather than human wisdom.
You see, when Paul walked into Corinth he was physically, mentally, and emotionally whipped. In Athens he had spoken eloquently and with power and accomplished little. In Corinth he came in weakness and wasn’t up to using lofty words to present brilliant ideas. But through this abused jar of clay God accomplished a great deal.

We see this same principle played out when Timothy and Silas find Paul in Corinth. With their arrival Paul was able to give himself fully to preaching, “testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” If we had only Luke’s account to go by we would be inclined to think that Paul devoted himself fully to preaching while Timothy and Silas took over the tent-making business.
But a few other verses suggest otherwise, when we put them together it appears that all three of them were able to devote themselves to preaching and teaching the Word. For elsewhere in Scripture we read:
As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. (Philippians 4:15 - 16)
Did I do wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not ask you to help me. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me another gift. I have never yet asked you for any support, and I never will. (II Corinthians 11:7 - 9)
&
You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn’t I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no? 18 As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes 19 because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes—God’s affirmation. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say “Amen” when we give glory to God through Christ. (II Corinthians 1:17 - 20)
Judging from these passages it appears that all three of them set aside employment while they preached the Word. They were able to do this, of course, because the Philippian believers sent a financial gift through Timothy and Silas.
In like manner missionaries all over the world are able to devote themselves fully to the work of the Lord because of financial gifts from individuals and churches within the United States. Without adequate financial gifts they would have to focus much of their attention on simply surviving in a foreign land. I trust you are praying for some of them as well as supporting them financially!

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