Friday, June 5, 2020

Francis Harper Message for 6/5/2020

----- 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).

            Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, were good Christians in word and deed. Cleopas described Jesus as “a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:18 IV; 24:19 KJV). Paul counseled Timothy to be “given to hospitality, apt [quick, ready] to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Aquila and his wife followed these words of counsel. Evidence of them being “apt to teach” is revealed in the following words of scripture.

            “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.

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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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