“Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.”

Apostles and Prophets do not have dominion over our faith. They are helpers of our joy [2 Cor 1:24].

Let us not look on the authority of men as supreme.

First, our authority is the Bible, the written word of God. We do not bow to creeds, confessions, or spiritual leaders: It is Scripture Alone, and until a man learns this, he will be misled. All who refuse this counsel are under needless bondage.

There was a man, 38 years a cripple, who was healed by the Lord Jesus. The Pharisees - the religious leaders of the day - asked him who gave the authority to take up his bed, violating the Sabbath in their minds. He told them it was Jesus, who also said, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you [John 5:14].”

This "worst thing" would have been going back under the religious thumb of the Pharisees. He would have lost the joy, and I see this a lot. People hear the gospel, but they go back under liars, because they are afraid to stand [Gal 5:1].

Stand fast in your liberty, and don’t be entangled in the yoke of bondage!

Secondly, Apollos was not under Paul, but under God. We have too much false religious authority in Nigeria - too many little popes.

If Paul had something to say as an Apostle, then great. Let’s obey it. If he speaks only as a man - what he desires - then it can be left alone.

“Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.”

Bondage is when one pastor seeks authority over another. This is a problem in the church. Men say, “This is my church,” but it is not. You have no right to deny a man the use of his gifts. You can only discern if he has the Spirit of God, and then let him do God service. You cannot hold him back or command him to go somewhere. He has to be willing in his own heart.

Men like to be lords, but that is not the way of the gospel.

1 Pet 5:3, "Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

We have one Shepherd before whom we stand, and we are servants, examples, and brothers.

Thirdly, God will see you through.

What can the Pharisees do to the man who is walking? They can take his life, but they can’t take his joy. Gehazi can deceive Naaman, but he can’t pull Christ from his heart [2 Kings 5].

We are safe in Christ our true Savior. We are not servants of men, but being bought with a price, we serve the Lord Jesus in boldness that no man can touch.

Cursed be the man who trusts in man, but trusting Christ will prosper. He will not forsake you or let you down.

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind,

who makes the flesh his strength

and turns his heart from the LORD.

He will be like a shrub in the desert;

he will not see when prosperity comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in Him.” -- Jer 17:5-7

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." - - Matt 5:11

He will draw near when others depart.

Remember the blind man who Jesus healed. Family forsook him and the Pharisees cast him out, but Christ revealed Himself, and he worshipped [John 9:35-38].