Acts 15 - Submitting Ourselves to God and Godly Leaders

Intro

Why did God make the Church?

Should we submit to godly leadership in the Church?

Read Acts 15:22-35

The Apostles and Elders thought it good to send out a letter to the Churches with their decision. This is to keep the unity in the body and so that no confusion about this decision would be spread any further.

They sent Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

Judas was called Barsabbas (Son of the Sabbath). This is not Judas Iscariot, nor is it Judas the half brother of Jesus.

Judas was a leading brother, a teacher, a prophet, and someone trusted to carry this important decision for the council.

Some wonder if he is related to Joseph Barsabbas mentioned in Acts 1:23 “And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.”

Perhaps they were brothers or something, but this is speculation as the Scripture doesn’t say.

We don’t know much more about this man beyond what Acts 15 shares.

Silas is a man who comes up more in the Scripture.

Scholars believe that Silas is the short form of the name Silvanus. Some say Silas is the Greek form of the name.

This is important, as in Acts Luke calls him Silas, but Paul and Peter both call him Silvanus in their letters.

He was a leading teacher and prophet, as Acts tells us, but also a scribe and assistant for Paul and Peter as they travelled.

He is mentioned in Acts, 2Corinthians, 1Thessalonians, 2Thessalonians, and 1Peter.

They sent this to churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (this is the region just north of Syria in modern Turkey, where Paul’s home city Tarsus was located.

They were concerned about the churches being disturbed by the instructions of the Jewish men, who were telling the Gentiles to be circumcised and unsettling their souls.

They were worried that these newly saved Christians, that they were now doubting their salvation.

POINT - This is a problem with making yourself a teacher and trying to spread doctrine to people, without having the understanding and agreement from the Elders that God has placed to teach and lead His Church.

This is a massive problem in the Church today, as everyone thinks they can be their own best guide to understanding, instead of studying and working in the context of a Church with called, qualified, and gifted teachers who have been placed by God to lead this process of learning and growth.

In a real Biblical Church, with godly people, who submit themselves to God and His discipline, this is the only place where the Body of Christ can grow spiritually strong.

It has always been difficult to get people to understand this, even in the early Church. But today, it’s nearly impossible, because there is so much self focused, so called “Church”.

I cannot stress enough, that it is important for each one of us to submit to God’s method of being part of a real Biblical Church and submitting ourselves to the Pastors/Elders that God has called. We will never flourish in our Spiritual lives, as mature Christians, until we give up the thought that we know what is best and we don’t need anyone else to lead us.

This does not have to be done where you just trust everything, but throwing the baby out with the bathwater is why so many people stay stagnate in their faith. They refuse to submit and listen to godly wisdom and to trust that God is working through these men, as fallible as they are.

When they sent these men back with this message, it was Paul and Barnabas, but also other faithful men that were not with them in Antioch when the dispute about this first arose.

This was to ensure that Paul and Barnabas, as beloved as they were, and knowing how they risked their lives for the Gospel message, didn’t twist or taint the message to their side of the argument.

These other brothers, who will speak with their own mouths and tell the truth of it, along with the letter; so that everyone sees that this is truly the decision that has been made “Unanimously” by the Council.

It is very easy for anyone, including ourselves, to twist matters to make them look more favorable to our side of things.

This is a tremendous risk and frankly it’s lying and deception to do this, but it is so natural for our flesh to try to justify ourselves, even when we are wrong.

I wish I could bottle this lesson that God has taught me over the years, that if we have to justify our behavior, then something isn’t right about it from the beginning. Our actions should speak clearly and not need to be explained.

You should admit to your wrong, your ignorance, your lack of love and caring, and feel the shame of those things, so you don’t keep living that way. If you are not allowing your sin and neglect to hurt you, then you are too prideful.

Once they delivered their lengthy messages, they were sent away in peace by the brothers.

This letter and the messages from the brothers about how it all transpired, were enough to ease the tensions and comfort the gentile brothers that their salvation was secure in Christ.

The dispute was settled by proper leadership, answering the matters in dispute. This should be the way the Church operates and the brothers have unity. Nothing should be done in selfish pride, thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.

Paul and Barnabas remained even longer in Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also.

Notice the Church isn’t just made up of the Pastor/Elders, it has many others who also teach and preach and encourage and love the brothers.

God has gifted each one of us in unique ways, for His glory.

POINT - Are you fulfilling your ministry in the Church?

Are you using your gifts, talents, and love for God’s glory in His Church?

Ask yourself, why did God call me to this Church? What is my role here?

Many of you need to rethink your lives and your commitments. Some of you say far too often, I’m too busy to serve in the Church. I have to many other responsibilities, family tasks, professional job tasks.

If God comes first, I do not understand how anything else can take precedence over the Lord’s Church and the ministry of the Gospel.

Paul and Barnabas risked their lives and set every family-related task aside, every career task aside, to fulfill the ministry God called them too.

Why is it that so many Christians can’t even set a few hours a week aside to minister to the lost, to disciple God’s people, and to focus on training to become more faithful and more godly?

Something is not right, when our priorities are this out of balance!

Conclusion

The Church will thrive and have unity, when the leadership answers the hard questions, according to Scripture. Using wisdom to focus on the most important aspects, so the unity and fellowship are not broken.

God’s people need to submit to God’s plan for His Church and not think they know better than God about what the Church should be and what it should focus on.

Challenge yourselves to focus on maturing and growing and focus on submission to God and His hierarchy for the home, the church, and for society. I believe we could all work on this and get better in this area!