----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Francis Harper
Francis Harper Message for 6/5/2020
Aquila and Priscilla
“Aquila and Priscilla,” “Aquila and Priscilla.” These names were
repeated to me again and again in the early morning hours of Friday May
22, 2020. I could not erase their names from my mind. The Holy Spirit
has spoken to me in this way before. The names of these early saints are
mentioned very briefly in the letters of Paul. I wondered why my
attention was being so strongly drawn to them? I found their names
listed in only five scriptural references and in a total of only eight
verses. So much more could have been written of them. From that which
was recorded of their lives it is obvious that they played a very vital
role in the survival and growth of the early Christian Church.
Aquila and his wife were among the Jews cast out of Rome by the Emperor
Claudius in AD 49. As a result of their eviction they moved to Corinth.
Paul migrated from Athens to Corinth in late AD 51. It is likely that
Paul found employment in Aquila’s shop. It was a divine appointment. It
is not surprising that they became good friends. They had much in
common. They, like Paul, were Christians and tent-makers.
Paul called Aquila and Priscilla “my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have
for my life laid down their own necks” (Romans 16:3-4). Evidently Aquila
and Priscilla had risked their own lives to save Paul. “Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”
(John 15:13). Priscilla and Aquila loved Paul. They were indeed his
helpers. They were his brother and sister in the gospel.
On two occasions Paul mentions “the church that is in their [Aquila and
Priscilla’s] house” (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19). This good
couple willingly shared their home with the early saints, sacrificing
their privacy, providing a place for the saints to gather for fellowship
and worship. They were given to hospitality. “Use hospitality one to
another without grudging” (1 Peter 4:9). Apparently they also
opened their home to the Apostle Paul: “And because he [Paul] was of the
same craft [occupation], he abode with them [lived with them] and
wrought [worked with them] for by their occupation they were tentmakers”
(Acts 18:3).
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man,
and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed
in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and
taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue; whom when Aquila
and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him
the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:24-26). Evidently Apollos had
not been teaching the baptism of the Holy Ghost, “knowing only the
baptism of John” (Acts 19:25).
As a result of the names of Aquila and Priscilla being repeated many
times in my mind in the early morning hours of a recent day, I have
concluded the Lord is urgently calling the Saints of our day to emulate
the lives of the early Saints such as Aquila and Priscilla in their own.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit has previously brought significant words of scripture
to my attention by repeating them again and again. On one of these
occasions, I had asked in my prayers; “Why did Jesus have to die in such
a cruel way?” The answer was given in these words of scripture being
repeated to me many times at an early morning hour: “. . . without
shedding of blood is no remission,” “. . . without shedding of blood is
no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). I was not aware of these words before this
experience.
At another time I asked, “When will the kingdom come?” The answer came
again by the words of a scripture being repeated, over and over, in my
mind, at an early hour of the day: “For here [in this world] have we no
continuing [eternal or everlasting] city, but we seek one to come,” “For
here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Hebrews
13:14). I had not known of this scripture before this unusual way of
being awakened.
The Holy Spirit teaches in many unique and creative ways, usually at an
early hour of the day. Even as Isaiah said: “. . . He waketh morning by
morning, mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isaiah 50:4). We should
earnestly covet the Lord’s teachings.
I have been concerned with our preparedness for the imminent coming of
the Lord. I believe the names of Aquila and Priscilla being repeated to
me is saying to us: “Hearken unto me, ye that follow after
righteousness; ye that seek the Lord, look unto the rock from whence ye
were hewn . . . look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bore
you . . .” (Isaiah 51:1-2). We need to also look at Aquila and
Priscilla.
We need to look at people like Aquila and Priscilla who have fulfilled
the purposes of God in their lives in the early days of church history.
Looking at their virtuous lives should encourage us to strive to match
or even exceed, their accomplishments with the Lord’s divine assistance.
What was it in their lives we need to include in our own? Evidently
Aquila and Priscilla were good stewards of their time and talents. They
had not been idle. They had sought truth and were led from Judaism to
Christianity. They had studied the Scriptures. They had accumulated
spiritual knowledge and strength plus some material wealth also. What if
they had earned only enough to provide for themselves? They were not
only willing to give, they were able to give. They willingly provided a
place of employment for Paul and also provided a place for him to live.
Due to their generosity and Paul’s willingness to work, he was able to
say, “yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my
necessities, and to them that were with me” (Acts 20:34).
And again, Aquila and Priscilla were willing and able to provide the
early saints a house of worship and fellowship, in their own home. I
think of my mother who provided a place of worship for the saints of
Woodbine in the late 1980’s, and living space for a family of eight for
one year in the early 1990’s. I must also mention another home being
presently provided by a church family, as a place of refuge and
convalescence for a priesthood member who is being treated for cancer.
Hopefully the love and hospitality of Aquila and Priscilla will continue
to be manifested in our lives until the day of the Lord’s coming.
Next we need to remember their willingness to risk their lives for
Paul. If necessary would we willingly do the same? Finally we need to
remember how skillfully Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos the fullness
of the gospel, thus enabling this eloquent man of God to bring many
souls to Him. Aquila and Priscilla “took him unto them and expounded
unto him the way of God more perfectly. How many are waiting for us “to
expound unto them the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Are we
willing and ready to share the riches of eternity? See Doctrine and
Covenants 68:4-f.
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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