Time Required

Galatians 1:18-20 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
 
THE Bible says little of the lives of God’s chosen prophets and apostles. For example, we know only a few days or months of the prophets’ lives. Their visions, prophetic utterances, etc. are for the most part but a few moments in their lives. In the same way, we have very brief accounts of only two apostles, Peter and Paul. We know more of Paul’s ministry because of Luke’s record of his work in Acts. And his letters reveal more details of his ministry. In God’s providence Paul’s voice has become a primary means to help us know some early church history and how to live the Christian life. But we still know little of the time required for Paul and his companions to evangelize, preach, teach and encourage new belilevers in the early church.
    Time is an essential ingredient of ministry. Reading Acts, we may believe Paul and his fellow evangelists moved quickly from place to place. But consider that when Paul went to Jerusalem for the first time as an apostle, three to seven years could have passed since his conversion. And then he met only with Peter and James and stayed only 15 days. We do not know where the other apostles were. They could have been in Jerusalem or on their own evangelism journeys. This tells us that some seven years after Jesus’ ascension the church was still a fringe movement. God’s work is a very difficult work. It takes time, faith and persistent, right effort to move the gospel forward because all the world is opposed to the truth.
    Paul continued to define his travels in Galatians 1:21-2:1 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me. Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
    When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he had ministered the gospel for a minimum of 20 years. We know from other accounts that he suffered much for his devoted work. He taught, debated, preached, healed and wrote in obedience to make disciples of the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.
          The lesson here is to understand ministry takes time and persistent effort. Many new churches begin with high hopes of being a certain size within three to four years. We set our timetable not knowing God’s schedule. We feel we’ve failed if the church doesn’t form and grow as we desire. But let’s remember that Paul’s and the apostles’ work was under Jesus’ authority. Even so, many churches began and ended. Some remained faithful. Faithful leadership is needed to help a church reject the lies and remain in Jesus. God has his time to complete his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We must work while we wait.