"(Holy) Ghost Writers"
July 10, 2005

The Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 8: 11 - 18
The New Testament Lesson: Acts 18: 24 - 28

We need to learn to work without specific recognition from people.

I.  Recognition is a wonderful thing to receive, but dangerous to expect.
   A. Not too long ago, I participated on the planning team of a conference.
        1. It was planned to be a western regional conference.
        2. While attendance was lower than expected, the event was fantastic.
        3. At the closing of the conference, someone thanked everyone
            a. then went through a list of helpers.
            b. mentioned every name… but mine!
        4. I wasn’t expecting to be thanked and didn’t do it for recognition.
            a. At least, I didn’t think that I was.
            b. but when my name was forgotten I admit, I was hurt.
        5. Has that ever happened to you…I’ll bet it did!
        6. Recognition is a wonderful to receive, but dangerous to expect
   B. The desire for Recognition can lead us in wrong directions.
        1. There is nothing wrong with offering recognition.
            a. In fact, it is very important
            b. I’d go as far to say, it is a sign of humility when we are thankful
        2. Likewise, there’s nothing wrong with receiving recognition.
            a. It is a natural outcome of hard work.
            b. It is normal be thanked at work and even given raises.
            c. We should enjoy others complimenting our services.
        3. It is a pleasant experience when we are held up as examples
        4. The trouble starts when we expect to be recognized.
            a. That’s when an unhealthy pride becomes involved.
            b. It can have negative effects on the way we serve God!
   C. When looking for recognition, you modify your actions by Opinion.
        1. The person who strives to be recognized is sensitive to reactions.
            a. They listen for the word of praise
            b. They watch faces to guage what people are thinking.
            c. The shift what they are saying when they see a frown starting.
        2. That was taught in my classes on doing therapy.
            a. the therapist needs to take care when responding to a client.
            b. The therapists demeanor can actually change what the client says.
            c. By offering facial and verbal rewards for certain kinds of speech, a therapist can promote or even destroy therapeutic work.
        3. The danger of course is that we begin to live our life to please people.
            a. our values begin to shift to match whoever we are with.
            b. We no longer give a clear and consistent witness to Christ.

II.  Today’s heros, Priscilla and Aquilla wanted God’s approval, not man’s
   A. Like Titus, they were stalwart companions of Paul
        1. They had a natural connection because they shared his trade, tents
        2. Met Paul when he came to Corinth to preach the gospel
        3. Shared the evangelistic effort in their city with Paul
   B. They also shared in his work of building churches.
        1. Paul asked them to hit the road with him when he when to Ephesus
        2. They continued building that church after Paul when to Jerusalem.
        3. They were instrumental in the conversion of Apollos!
        4. Paul say of them, “they risked their necks for my life!
        5. But their greatest contribution to Christianity is unknown!
   C. They are probably the key to the mystery “Who wrote Hebrews?”
        1. For quite sometime, that letter was attributed to Paul.
        2. however, scholarship shows that this is impossible.  No Paul in text!
        3. One of the best theories for authorship is that Pricilla wrote it.
            a. It was written at a time when male leadership dominated everything
            b. The church was no exception in this regard.
            c. in some places, women were excluded from leadership.
            d. even a fantastic teacher like Paul’s friend Pricilla would be ignored.
        4. The book of Hebrews is her admonition to fellow Jewish Christians
            a. The theology in this letter is beautiful.
            b. It is actually the most advanced Greek we have.
            c. Yet, with a woman’s name attached, it would have been trashed.
        5. What a marvelous testimony of humility that she cared more for the kingdom of God than her own recognition.
            a. allowed her name to be removed so the message could be heard.
            b. She didn’t even contradict those who said it came from Paul!
   D. They did not care for glory or even to be remembered, they cared only for the good of God’s kingdom
        1. There minds were focused on what God wanted them to do.
        2. They were willing to sacrifice their personal notoriety.

III.  We will do well to make our primary audience God.
   A. Like these two great saints, our orientation must be God’s purpose.
        1. the seed of desire for the kingdom must be planted in our hearts
        2. We have been called to be God’s messengers
            a. we have been given the word of love to speak.
            b. we have been given the gift of grace to share.
            c. We have been given the power of forgiveness to wield.
        3. But none of these things operate in the presence of pride.
            a. where a person is looking to their own interest, these gifts tarnish
            b. people see that we have an ulterior motive.
            c. They question the reality of our love and grace and forgiveness.
        4. For us to truly be the people of God, we must grow in humility.
            a. We must eradicate any desire for recognition.
            b. Our concern must be the welfare of those to whom God’s sends us.
   B. We need to listen to what people say, but judge it by God’s Word.
        1. The result is that we become vulnerable to what people say.
            a. hearing criticism, we listen carefully for truth.
            b. where people speak validly, we accept correction as from the Lord.
        2. But at the same time, we listen through the filter of the Bible.
            a. It is the standard the we hold before us.
            b. We use it’s light to examine what people say.
            c. Because, in the end, the only one we must please is God.
   C. If we are convinced we are doing God’s will, we go forward!
        1. We do not modify ourselves to match everyone’s expectation.
        2. We let the spirit of God use everything to mold us into little Christs.
        3. We act in the confidence, that the gracious and forgiving God is the only one who will judge us—indeed, the only one who can judge us!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!