"Aquila and priscilla, Together in ministry" In this modern day, there are so many examples of married couples in ministry. The mega churches are usually the ones that get the most attention. As a congregant, I believe that every member loves, respects and admonishes their Pastor and First Lady for being the leaders that God has called them to be. I sure do.
As we continue our Power Couples Series, I wanted to direct your attention to a couple in the New Testament by the name of Aquila and Priscilla. You may or may not have heard of them, but their example as Missionaries of the Gospel deserves our attention and has placed them among the ranks of a true Power Couple. The first mention of Aquila and Priscilla can be found in Acts 18:1-3 KJV where the Apostle Paul has come to a place called Corinth. It is there he finds the couple who are tentmakers by trade who run a family business. Aquila and Priscilla were not only partners in life, partners in the Faith, but also partners in business. There are several notable attributes of this couple that could also help couples together in ministry today. Aquila and Priscilla have overcome hardships together. The couple were banished from Rome by Claudius. That meant they had to pack up their belongings and their family a relocate to another city or town. Can you imagine someone commanding you and your family to leave a city or town from where you grew up in? I am sure that it was unexpected. I am sure that the couple incurred some unexpected travel expenses. I am sure it was not an easy transition for their business ventures as well. Aquila and Priscilla ran the family business together. The couple and the Apostle Paul all had the same occupation as tentmakers. Maybe that is one of the reasons that Paul was drawn to them, commonality. The important point here is that even though the couple suffered a financial set-back, they continued their missionary work for Christ. They worked together and not let material difficulties deter them from their destiny. Aquila and Priscilla maintained the Spirit of Hospitality. Although they were new to Corinth, the showed hospitality to the Apostle Paul when he arrived by allowing him to stay at their new home. The couple displays attributes of an unselfish, loving, open heart. When one has an open heart, receiving others comes naturally. And when they at Ephesus, their home was also open for Apollos. Acts 18:26 KJV states, “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto then, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Aquila and Priscilla worked together in ministry as missionaries. They were exiled from Rome by Claudius, the moved to Corinth and from there joined the Apostle Paul to preach the Way of the Lord and to plant a church in Ephesus. As a matter of fact, the couple opened their house as a gathering place to have church. I wonder how many couples today would open up their home as a place for people to come and worship God? Or how many couples today would open up their home for a Preacher or Teacher of the Gospel to stay while completing their missionary work? Aquila and Priscilla taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apollos only knew of the Gospel taught by John the Baptist. After hearing Apollos preach in the Synagogue in Ephesus, the couple invited him to their home to teach him about The Gospel of Jesus Christ more accurately. I like this attribute of ministry because it is an excellent example of iron sharpening iron. A fellow Minister in the Gospel needed some updated information in order for him to be more effective at drawing souls to Christ and Aquila and Priscilla intervened. Aquila and Priscilla risked their lives for others. Romans 16:3-5 KJV states, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ.” The Apostle Paul is expressing his gratitude for the missionary couple being loyal, even if it meant risking their own life. Isn’t that what Jesus Christ did for us? He gave His life so we might have eternal life. This world is so corrupt. How many people in your circle can you truly say would lay down their life for you? I read a quote that said, “Blood makes you related, Loyalty makes you family.” Aquila and Priscilla showed mutual respect. Mutual respect is at the heart of every couple who works together in ministry. Their relationship and the way each had mutual respect for the others gifts. In the few times, they were mentioned in scripture, competition was never recorded. Aquila making Priscilla second with anything was never recorded. Whenever you saw one, you saw the other. There’s a modern idea that husband and wife should not or cannot work together in ministry. I’m here to tell you nothing can be further from the truth. It is very important for Christian married couples to work together in ministry. It does not matter if one or both are of the called. Matthew 18:20 KJV states, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Two, husband and wife, three, husband, wife and God. The Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all work together in ministry. Three in one. When laying hands at the altar, all married couples should be together. Husbands should pray for the men while the wife prays in the Spirit alongside. Wives should pray for the women while the husband prays in the Spirit alongside. We were raised in an old school church and this was protocol when my husband and I were young ministers. Now looking from the perspective of modern day churches, I understand why. God covers the couple and the couple covers one another. Although Aquila and Priscilla were only mentioned a few times in the Bible. There are three important lessons, Christian married couples can learn from the life of this godly couple who wanted their lives to be used in the service of the Lord. One, they understood the divine favor of God in their lives. Second, they experienced togetherness, some have suggested it should be “two-getherness” in their marriage. And finally, they put God first in their lives. *Original Article published in heavenandheels.net online magazine for women.*
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“Zacharias and Elisabeth, Righteous Before God” |
AuthorsThe Chef and The Ref, as we are more affectionately called, are just two individuals who God joined together in the Spirit and then in the Natural to walk through the challenges of life together. We have been married for 27 years and have four amazing children. We get many calls, text and emails asking us questions about a variety of topics as it relates to marriage. This blog was inspired by the Holy Spirit and an answer to the growing demand of couples who inquire about our experiences in marriage as it relates to their own. We do not make any claims of being anything more than two sinners, saved by grace who wanted to give couples an opportunity to have safe conversations that will make their marriage stronger. The Chef and The Ref are both licensed and ordained Ministers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ who wanted to create a safe platform for married couples to converse about a variety of topics. Archives
April 2019
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