Navigating Tough Times

One of the primary focuses of the book of Acts is the advancement of God’s kingdom through the sharing of the gospel. Despite opposition, the good news that Jesus forgives those who repent and humbly submit to him continues to be spread across the world. The kingdom of God continues to expand and the church keeps growing. That is a super positive and encouraging message for sure!

A few weeks ago David took us through chapter 16 of the book of Acts. His focus was on the importance of relationships and the three portraits of transformation in chapter 16, with an application of being humble and flexible in our approach to ministry. Today, we will revisit chapter 16 with a little different perspective.

ASK: Have you ever thought about how much work and how many problems were overcome in order to share the good news?

I love that the Bible is real about the struggles that people, and therefore the church, face. While we all want to live in the victory moments, it is often how we live through the struggles of life that really matter. We do not live in the past nor in the future - it is how we live in the right-now moments of life that matter.

I want us to re-examine the chapter and highlight some of the struggles that took place because I think there are lessons for you and me today. Since David took us through the theology of the chapter, I want to circle back and focus on some key applications of the chapter.

The turbulence of conflict

Paul and Barnabas had been a pair for a long time! Barnabas was the first Christian to stand up for Paul after he accepted Jesus. They spent over a year together in Antioch teaching the young, multi-ethnic church together. Then they spent a couple years together on their first missionary journey. They seemed inseparable.

As they were getting ready to head out for their second missionary journey, there was a rift: ⭐

Acts 15:36–41 CSB

36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. 41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

John Mark “abandoned” Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey.

Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance

Paul “insisted” that they do not being along the “deserter”

It was not a simple discussion… it was a “sharp disagreement”.

ask: was Paul wrong to not want John Mark along or was Barnabas being too gracious?

Barnabas was called “the encourager” and as part of his nature he would want to encourage John Mark and help him grow as a disciple. Paul knew the journey was going to be rough and wanted to make sure his traveling companions were committed and not going to back out.

Barnabas took John with him to Cyprus to the West. Paul took Silas and headed North to Cilicia.

⭐[Look at Map]

POINTS:

Even Godly leaders have disagreements! Don’t be discouraged when it happens to you, with your church family.

Disagreements are not synonymous with sin. We do not know if either was acting sinfully, we just know they split.

The important thing is that the work of the ministry still continued

While it might seem that this sharp conflict was a major relationship breaker, we later read that Paul is working with John Mark: ⭐

Colossians 4:10–12 CSB

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

So the one that was a deserter, that Paul refused to take with him, later traveled with Paul and was a comfort to him.

Regardless of the reason for the disagreement, or whether or not there were any sinful attitudes at that moment that needed repentance, we know at least one thing for sure: they all went out and continued to share the gospel and encourage the believers.

In ministry, conflict is inevitable. When it happens we must ensure that the end result is that the gospel is advanced and the church is strengthened.

The disappointment of road-blocks

Last week I was in a hurry, trying to leave Watertown to get to Lowville for a meeting. I took my usual turns leaving work an hit a road block… literally. The main road I always take was blocked off and I had to detour around it, which was quite a bit of turns and extra stops. I was less then excited about my new route and found myself a bit frustrated.

ask: have you ever had your life or your plans rerouted?

I think we have all had this happen.

SOLDIER: there is a good chance that some of you were NOT planning or desiring to be a Fort Drum and … here you are! There are others that wish they could stay at Fort Drum and yet they have been forced to move.

HEALTH: I know people who worked hard to plan for retirement so they could travel… and by the time they retired their health did not allow them to travel.

FAMILY: Perhaps you planned to have children and experienced nothing but heartbreak in the process - whether that be a miscarriage, infertility, or the inability to conceive.

We all face the disappointment of road-blocks.

ASK: How do you handle them? Do you get frustrated like I did with the road-block I mentioned?

When Paul left for this second missionary journey, he and Silas wanted to go further north into Asia Minor. Let’s read what happened: ⭐

Acts 16:6–8 CSB

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.

⭐[Look at Map]

They wanted to go North and could not. So they decided to go south, and could not. Both times there were forbidden by the Holy Spirit. It really doesn’t seem to make sense from an earthly perspective, does it? You have 2 guys that want to tell people about Jesus, and God says they cannot. From our perspective that might seem counter-productive, confusing or even frustrating.

At the moment we encounter the road-block it can be challenging to see the good in it.

Let’s read on and see what happens: ⭐

Acts 16:9–10 CSB

9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

God had a different direction for them… he wanted them to go to Macedonia

⭐[Look at Map]

It was further WEST, not NORTH or SOUTH. But they went. Because of this, the church in Philippi was established! Lydia and he household believed. The jailer and his household believed. Apparently, God was at work in that place and needed Paul and Silas there, and not in Asia.

POINTS:

If you believe God is in control, then you have to accept that even road-blocks may be from him

⭐ Proverbs 19:21 “21 Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.”

Ultimately it is not OUR direction that matters, it is GOD’s direction that matters

⭐ Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”

That road block in Watertown was there to prevent me from driving into a situation that might cause me or my vehicle harm, and also to allow someone else to do work to make something better.

Do we recognize this about God as well?

Sometimes the road-block might be to protect us from danger. Other times it might be for the benefit of others. Ultimately it should be meant for the building up of the kingdom of God.

The pain of being mistreated

Of course, once Paul, Silas, and Luke were in Macedonia things went swimmingly, right? Paul preached down by the river, most likely because there was no synagogue. Lydia believed in Jesus, was baptized and opened her home for the disciples to stay with her.

But then there was that nagging, annoying slave girl! Acts 16:17 “As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.””

Paul was “greatly annoyed”. The NLT says “exasperated”. I love that. We get to experience some of the emotion there. He is so annoyed that he casts the demon out of the girl. NOTE: Jesus felt compassion and cast out demons. This is the only time I can find where someone felt annoyed and cast out a demon. 😂

Well, that did not go well for Paul and Silas. They were:

taken to the authorities

stripped and beaten with rods (“severely flogged”)

had their feet shackled

thrown into the inner prison

ask: have you ever been mistreated? What is your natural reaction when you are mistreated?

Paul and Silas did not deserve to be beaten. Even IF there was something wrong with what Paul did, why was Silas also beaten and imprisoned? Not only did they not deserve to be beaten, their rights were violated. As Roman citizens they needed to have a trial first. What happened was against the law.

I could picture me in that jail cell screaming that I was a Roman citizen, that I had been wronged and that I demand justice! Anyone else imagine doing that?

What did Paul and Silas do? ⭐

Acts 16:25 CSB

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

I suppose you can have a prison ministry by visiting prisoners, or by becoming one! They spent the evening in prayer and singing - and all the prisoners were listening to them. We call this a captive audience.

POINTS:

It is always good to remember that we are not in control and God is.

God is the one who is the ultimate judge and the only righteous judge. He will dish out justice if needed.

How we handle being mistreated and suffering is being watched by others who do not know God

The result of this midnight mass was spectacular: ⭐

Acts 16:26–34 (CSB)

26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

⭐29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.

When Peter was in prison, God used a earthquake to set him free and the angel even led him out of the prison. Paul and Silas - and all the other prisoners - remained in the jail! It had a profound impact on the jailer!

Paul recognized that God was in control of all things, and he did not have to fear jail or the jailer

Paul showed mercy to the jailer by not leaving, and thus sparing his life. The jailer’s life was worth more than Paul’s rights or freedom.

The net result was that the kingdom of God continued to grow. The attitude and actions that Paul and Silas demonstrated during their mistreatment pointed the jailer and his household to Jesus.

I doubt the we would have seen the same results had Paul complained and demanded justice.

Believing in Jesus does not guarantee that you will have smooth sailing. It does not imply that you will live a life without conflict, or road-blocks or injustice. What it DOES do, or SHOULD do, is change our perspective on things. We can trust that God is ultimately in control and that our struggles are meant for something greater - even if we do not see it in our lifetime. ⭐

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

As a Christian, I choose to believe that God can be trusted and that his plans are greater than mine, and his praise more significant than my pleasure or comfort.

As a Christian, I choose to view the circumstances of my life with God’s kingdom in mind - recognizing that anything in this world is temporary and only worthwhile if it counts for eternity.

As a Christian, I do not have to be disappointed, dismayed or depressed with the rocky roads on my life’s journey because I know it is the Way that matters.

Being a Christian changes things.

It not only affected the way Paul and Barnabas handled conflict, or the way Paul and Silas dealt with road-blocks and mistreatment, it also affected Lydia and the jailer.

Lydia was wealthy. She was a seller of fine linens. She had a large house. She was a prominent leader in her community. After accepting salvation through Jesus and being baptized, she used her resources to bless others. She opened her home for the disciples to stay and gather. (Acts 16:15,40)

The jailer was an important Roman man. He was powerful. After being saved he washed the wounds of the prisoners. What a humbling thing to do. Then he invited them into his home and prepared a meal for them. He did not wield his power, he humbly served and practiced hospitality.

If you have placed your life in Jesus’s hands and asked him to forgive you and adopt you into his family, then you, too, are a changed person! You have been called out of the darkness and into the light: ⭐

1 Peter 2:9 CSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Ephesians 5:8 CSB

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—

What does it mean to walk as children of light?

It means to show kindness to our enemies.

It means to be generous with that God has given us.

It means we value the kingdom more than conflict.

It means we see road-blocks as re-directions, not obstacles.

It means we demonstrate grace when we are mistreated.

At the end of the day, it means viewing the circumstances of the present through an eternal, kingdom lens.

These are NOT easy things to do. It is not natural - and that is the point! It is SUPER natural, above our nature. This kind of perspective, this kind of living comes from God when we allow him to be where he belongs -> as king, lord and master of our lives.