A Call To Unity and A Break-Up
Acts 15
22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
23 This is the letter they took with them:
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:
29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.
31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
33 They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.
35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”
37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.
38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.
39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.
40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.
41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Acts 16
Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.
2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium,
3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.
4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.
6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.
7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.
8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
- Who Is Right, Who Is Wrong? Only God.
Why Paul Is Right:
- Acts 13.13 - John Mark did abandon the ministry and went back home
- Barnabas had been deceived before
Galatians 2
12 He (Peter) was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
Why Barnabas Is Right:
- We don’t get Paul without Barnabas taking a chance on the former persecutor.
Acts 9
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!
27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
- Barnabas helped in John Mark’s development, even Paul cops to this later:
2 Timothy 4.11
Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.
- Did Holy Spirit Intervene Only @ 16v7? Is That Related? In the NLT, there’s 47 mentions of Holy Spirit. There’s NO mention of Holy Spirit in 15.36-41.
- There’s no mention of agreement in the Holy Spirit in the middle of the conflict.
- Holy Spirit had final word in even going on the mission trip.
How come we don’t read about Holy Spirit having any word in the splitting up?
Acts 13.2
One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.Only God is right, and we fall into a terrible trap when we enter conflict and can only see the binary choice of you being right and me being wrong with only one of us having the exclusive revelation of Holy Spirit when there’s no mention of Holy Spirit in the middle of our beef.
- Luke doesn’t detail a point by point defense of either man’s ‘position’ on John Mark. There’s a reason for that.
- It was a disagreement between what two men wanted, and everywhere else we read an emphasis on Holy Spirit guiding and empowering but not here.
Acts 10 and 11; Acts 15.8 reiterates - the Holy Spirit validates the Gospel to the gentiles.
Acts 15.28 - Holy Spirit is key to instructing and encouraging new believers…
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:I know it’s popular to put the spin that this was all God’s plan to get 2 mission teams instead of one.
- Paul’s own words about conflict are not even found in seed for in these five vital verses at the splitting up in Acts 15.26-41.
NET says at 1 Corinthians 1.10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
NLT continues - 1 Corinthians 1
11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters.
12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”
13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
Philippians 3
9 God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,
11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
- Did Paul and Barnabas fail to live up the perfection Jesus has for us?
- By their own words and conduct, YES.
Does that mean we discount the truth that they said, wrote, and lived because they failed? NO.
What Did James Say About Conflict?
James 4
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
There Are People Who Do Depart - Matthew 24
10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.
11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 7
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
…
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
- We see Paul and Barnabas go different directions on the compass, but remain in Christ.
- We don’t see any bad fruit in their life and ministry, so we know God redeems this.
What Did Paul Say About Conflict?
Colossians 3.12-14
Ephesians 4
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
…
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 5
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
What Do I Do About Jealousy and Grudges?
Romans 14.23 (NET)
“Whatever is not from faith is sin.”Experience God Pause App: What If Hate Is Shaping Me?
- Repent and Renounce - quickly.
Lord Jesus, search my heart. Have I allowed any form of hatred into my heart agasint another person, group, or political party? I repent and renounce any hint of hatred or offense I have harbored in my heart. Restore my union with You, Lord, and close this door to the Enemy in my heart and life.
Now, you might feel skepticism about praying against the power of the Devil and the demonic in your emotional life. Perhaps you feel low or not close to Jesus - you don’t feel the same love, desire, and eagerness to hear about the things of God, it’s harder to pray and read - you’re distracted and unable to focus … you feel distant to Jesus.
Cut off all hatred through the authority and power of Jesus Christ - ask Holy Spirit to guide you into bring the blood of Christ and the authority of His power through your body, soul, and spirit. Holy Spirit is calling you; let Him give you the desire and power to please God.
In the name of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ I bring the mighty love of God against all demonic hatred that has come against me in any way. I cut off the hatred of the evil one and his forces from me, from my union with Jesus, from my family and household - all hatred consumed in the fires of God’s mighty love.
And now, Father, I take refuge in your love again. Lord Jesus, restore our union in every place I’ve been under the hatred of the evil one or the hatred in the world.
Restore our love, restore our union, Jesus. Surround me with Your love. Fill me with Your love. I pray by Your authority that only the love of God and the Holy Spirit of God would lead and guide my heart and my interactions today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
