Woodrow Wilson said, “I not only use all the brains that I have, but all I can borrow.” This is a good policy. Go thou and do likewise. 

Fruitful and effective faith is strengthened by increasing intelligence and accumulated wisdom. It is proven by firsthand experiences. Let us avoid both anti-intellectualism and secondhand faith. 

Apollos was well educated. He came from Alexandria, one of the leading centers of learning in the world at that time. It rivaled Athens in reputation. 

Apollos was also a powerful speaker. The New International Version says about him, “He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” There were gaps in his education. Priscilla and Aquila helped him with important details he had not yet learned (18:26). 

Apollos demonstrated wisdom through his willingness to learn what he did not know as yet. This made him even more fruitful and effective than he was before. (See verses 27 and 28.) Good education does that for those who embrace its rigor and reward. 

The wisest among us are ever and always open to adding to their collection of knowledge and wisdom. 

Knowledge by itself is never enough to fully form fruitful and effective disciples. Each of us needs a firsthand faith. We find out why in Acts 19:11-16. Verse 11 gives us the context: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.” 

Some observations are in order:
* God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.
* God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.
* God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.

God did the work. He performed extraordinary miracles. Miracles by nature, or supernature, are by definition extraordinary. Adding the adjective to the noun in this case points to something truly, well, extraordinary. Read verses 17-19 to see the effects of these events. 

God did the work through Paul. Paul was open, available, and free of obstructions that would prevent God from using him to bless others. 

Do not miss what happens in verses 13-16. Some people who did not know Jesus attempted to use Paul’s relationship with him to their advantage in casting out demons. This story is hilarious.

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do not attempt to live off of your grandmother’s faith. Mama’s Bible will not save you. Your preacher uncle’s faith will not cover your sins. Each of us needs a firsthand faith. 

Here we are on this first workday of this new week and we have good guidance to show us how to live more fruitfully and effective. 

1. Use all the brains you have and all you can borrow.
2. Learn something new every day.
3. Apply what you learn immediately.
4. Help others learn what you know.
5. Live a life God can bless.
6. Live with a firsthand faith that shapes you for service that can only be described as extraordinary.

These are, as one of my most well-educated friends says, points worth pondering. There is one point for each day remaining in this week. Well-pondered and effectively employed truth will enrich our days and accentuate our worship.

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I will use all the brains I have and all I can borrow, and I will grow in my faith relationship with Jesus.

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