A Journey Through Life

A Journey through life

Paul and Barnabas just went through a difficult situation with the Jerusalem Council the fought together for truth

Salvation by grace through alone is how we are saved!

This was something that would have bonded them together for life.

And the next time we see these brothers they desire to embark back on the trail to every city where they shared the word to make sure the church is following Christ.

Acts 15:36-41 (ESV)

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Some background to remember and also some forshadowing

It was because of Barnabas and God using him that Paul is where he is..

Acts 9:26-27 (ESV)

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

At this point in the story Paul and Barnabas where most likely in ministry between 5 and 7 years…

Who are they arguing over?

John Mark

Our last encounter with him was in Acts 13 when barnabus and paul where in Cyprus and the come up on a magician who Paul calls Son of the devil

Than hand of God falls on the magician and he goes blind ..its after this that john mark things..ok I am out I am leaving..

Perhaps as Paul begins to think about what they are headed back into, he contemplates that this guy just is not ready, we have a job to do and we do not need any dead weight

In the journey through life we should realize

Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses.

Paul was not empathetic to those who had no resolve why because perhaps his greatest strength was his willingness to throw himself to the wolves for the love of Christ.

Thanksgiving day football… competitiveness

Pauls weakness was his unwillingness to do ministry with someone that did not have his resolve.. Paul says in scripture be like me.. .. all out.. willing to risk it all

Yet Barnabas wants to give him a second chance..

Barnabas name after all is son of encouragement

We also see in Colossians 4:10 that this is family

Colossians 4:10

English Standard Version

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

I think its important too point out that these where not theological differences but personal differences.

How do we apply this.. ? well we need ot honestly look at ourselves.. if we love Gods word and want to obey it to the fullest ..which is good.. perhaps when others don’t we are judgemental. We are rule followers and when others do not follow them we get mad or angry with them. Or perhaps we are very accepting of all people and we might be willing to tolerate someones sin… too much or worse we beome an enabler… of that sin

John 15:5 (ESV)

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

In this journey of life we should

Consider others more than ourselves

Acts 16:1-3 (ESV)

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

The first question is why circumcise timothy?

We just went through two weeks of why this was not necessary for salvation

Well whats the mission? Reach Jews.. not cause the jews to stumble..

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Called to serve All Called to win

Why?

To win others

Vs 19 win the more

Vs 20 win the Jews

Vs 21 win those without the law

Called to save and share

Vs 22,23b win those who are weak and to save some

may share with them in its blessings

Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

For the Gospel

Vs 23 I do all things for the sake fo the Gospel

Paul wanted us and Timothy to understand whatever it takes to be authentic and true to follow the pattern of life set by the life of Jesus and care for people is what we should do everyday

1 Corinthians 9:19, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all," and in Romans 13:8, "Owe no one anything, except to love one another."

Whatever it takes to love others and not violate the law then I should do that.

Does your love for others lead them too Jesus? Is it winning them to Christ or the world?

Last week Pastor Jim asked to reflect on the age old questions will you live for Christ over yourself? He gave his life for you… will you sing of his good news.

In this journey of life we should understand

Teaching the word strengthens and increases the church

Acts 16:4-5 (ESV)

4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

They are sharing about the importance of faith over works.. What true salvation means…

Coach henshaw

Bible pics 1-5

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV)

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults.”- John Calvin

In this journey of life we should

Always follow the words of the Lord

Acts 16:6-10 (ESV)

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

When God Calls we should respond

1 John 2:3-6 (ESV)

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Oh paul hurt me

Even when paul didn’t want John Mark to be a part of the ministry he didn’t quit.. this later leads to Pauls commendation of him..

2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV)

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

It is John mark who most likely hangs with peter and gives his recount of Jesus life in the Gospel of Mark

In the Garden of gethsemane when Jesus prays for the next day… on the cross.. Jesus is seized by the solders and betrayed by Jesus and only in the Gospel of mark do we see this account….

Mark 14:51-52 (ESV)

51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Acts 15:36-16:10 (ESV)

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.