When Men that Love God, Struggle Loving Others.
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Text: Romans 12:18
Text: Romans 12:18
Intro: Early in my Christian life, after getting saved and being in church for a while, I had this idea about Christians that I thought would ring true and would just be a staple in my Christian life until I reached eternity. Let me show you how naive I was as a new believer in Christ.
Intro: Early in my Christian life, after getting saved and being in church for a while, I had this idea about Christians that I thought would ring true and would just be a staple in my Christian life until I reached eternity. Let me show you how naive I was as a new believer in Christ.
Ready?
I had this idea that Christians actually got along...
But then I found out through life, and ministry that, that isn’t at all the case. In fact, I found out that the number one reason that missionaries come off the field is because, they can’t get along with other missionaries…
I thought pastors were supposed to get along… But I have found that sometimes churches are full of strife and division because there pastor or pastors are full of strife and division.
So today, I am not naive anymore… But I marvel, because those of us that claim to love God, struggle to love one another.
Acts 13:
Excellent model church in Antioch has two men, that where holy, and dedicated, and committed so much so that the Holy Spirit called two men out of that church to reproduce across the world.
Amazing, that these two men, where able to work together, tell others about Christ, and plant churches.
These two men who love God, and love people, had a falling out, so much so that they were separated the rest of their life.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
We learn a few things from this verse...
One, is that at times it may not be possible.
Secondly, that we must put everything into living peaceably.
The men - Barnabas and Paul go into the region of Galatia which is a Gentile area. And they come into Galatia and they are preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Think about it… Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, and people are receiving it, and their lives are changing , churches are being planted, pastors called and just a great work of God.
But during all of this, false teachers began to come in. They came in behind Barnabas and Paul, and starting adding the works to to Gospel of Christ. (The Gospel of Grace) In these early days, this could have been a disaster…
Barnabas and Paul spiritually bonded, b-lined to Jerusalem to bring about a decision about all of this...
And then we arrive here.
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
As we begin to look deeper into this passage together...
1. They planned many days:
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
Now that this is settled, lets go to the churches and encourage and strengthen the brethren with this word...
They agreed about the place...
They agreed about the purpose...
But they disagreed about the personnel...
Vs. 37 Barnabas wanted John Mark and Paul doesn’t...
The issue is this: Mark had been part of this group before but he left them.
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
We don’t really know what happened to cause Mark to leave, but we know Paul saw this as a major issue… We could speculate, but we are not going to do that this morning. We know that John Mark departed, and then we know that Paul had an issue with his departure.
They disagreed philosophically.
Paul’s philosophy:
Paul’s question: What can Mark do for the work of God.
Paul was thinking with his head… and I don’t think Paul is necessarily wrong.
Barnabas philosophy:
His question: What can the work of God do for Mark.
Barnabas was thinking with his heart… And how can you fault that…
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Barnabas means son of consolation, or son of encouragement. Have you ever met a Barnabas? Full of grace and encouragement?
They didn’t just disagree philosophically,
They disagreed passionately.
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
“the contention was so sharp between them…
These are men that clearly loved God, and loved each other, and yet the contention was so sharp between them that they divided.
Note:
In times of disagreement...
Your attitude is as important as your argument.
Your disposition is just as important as your position.
It is important that we note here, that even though the contention between them was so sharp, that they didn’t assassinate one another.
Paul didn’t go after Barnabas, and Barnabas didn’t go after Paul.
Paul didn’t say to Barnabas - Look, if you cared one bit about the work of God, then you wouldn’t want that no good, bail on us when it mattered, immature, do nothing to go...
Barnabas didn’t say to Paul - You know what, if just for moment you would stop looking at yourself as God’s gift to humanity, then you could have enough compassion and care to allow him to come along with us.
Can I say, that this was an extremely sad day in the work of the Lord...
Paul was making a decision to leave the man, that had not only a major effect on him, but on the world. And Barnabas was doing the same thing.
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Barnabas went South-West
Paul went North-East
One thing we notice is that they proceeded in their new way.
What we often see today, is that people in these situations end up on the sideline. There was definite contention, but they didn’t sit around and pout, or complain, or try and disqualify the other, they didn’t blame God, they kept focus on the work.
Suggestion: Don’t ever try to make disciples to yourself by assassinating the other persons character. There will be disagreements, but just a disagreement is one thing, but don’t try to persuade people to your side.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Look we must remember, it isn’t about us, it isn’t about your ministry. It is about the body of Christ...
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavor - work your tail off, do everything possibly that you can do… Not to create it, but endeavor to keep it.
If you don’t get your way, get over it, and get on with life.
The battle is intense and there is to many lives at stake for us to have it our way. Look it isn’t going to always be the way we want it, or the way we in-vision it to be, the timing will be wrong, the color will be wrong, and even the way will be wrong.
Can I say to you in love, get over it, get on with life, and get on with ministry.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
God is the judge, and He doesn't need us to judge every situation...
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Pass it over to the judgement seat.
A caution: In rare cases separation is the best solution.
Make sure, you are disagreeing with the real issue, and not someones bitter interpretation of the real issue.
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just;
But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
It is folly and shame unto him.
Be careful, who’s words causes you to separate.
Make sure you are understand that you will reap,from those that follow your authority...
Watch how you handle yourself, your attitude. How many times have we seen parents reap what they sow. Make sure you deal with it the same way you want your children to deal with you in a disagreement.
Make sure you do not violate the clear black and white instruction of the word of God while championing a Gray issue in the word of God.
Paul and Barnabas disagreement was not over doctrine. It was a gray issue, a judgment call.
This is what most issues are over.
So often we get so caught up in the gray area that we leave the very black and white instruction that there is clarity over.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Look at how we grieve the Holy Spirit of God...
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Don’t violate the word of God, trying to champion a gray issue.
Recognize that disagreements don't have to be the end of ministry or of God doing something good.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Even in the midst of Paul and Barnabas disagreement, God used it. God restored a wounded soldier and we see it in one of the most beautiful scriptures.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Realize this:
Paul didn’t have one thing to do with this, but the man that there was sharp contention between, God used that man to make Mark profitable to Paul...
Do you realize that the man that there was contention over God used to write in your Bible. God used him to pen the words for the book that we call the Gospel of Mark.