God Works

Moses was a man chosen by God. He was called by God through a burning bush. He was used to perform miracles and secure the release of Israel from Egypt. To most people the call of God on Moses’ life was unmistakable. It was clear, obvious, and necessary. But in we meet a man who disagrees. Korah. He questions Moses’ call and authority. The end result is that God opens the earth to swallow Korah and those who followed him. Now, you might think that is the end of the story. But it’s not.

tells us that Korah’s children didn’t die. Then, in we learn that the sons of Korah were gatekeepers of the tabernacle. God redeemed this family. The failure, the disgrace of their father didn’t disqualify them. And it get’s even better.

The sons of Korah were responsible for writing 11 psalms. They wrote songs for the worship of Israel! Among the Psalms they wrote is which begins with these words...

Psalm 42:1–2 NKJV

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 42:1-2

And it ends like this…

Psalm 42:11 NKJV

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Why begin with this? God is in the business of redemption. He takes broken things and makes them useful. He takes the parts of our lives that are ugly and He redeems them for His glory!

Today we are going to talk about failure, disagreement, and the sovereignty of God.

If you have been following along in our outline of the book we are in the final (and longest) section dealing with the gospel going to the world. Today we begin a new sub-section.

Paul And Silas Commended To Spread The Gospel (2nd Journey) Chs. 15:36-18:22

Preaching The Gospel In Macedonia 15:36-17:15

The call to preach in Macedonia 15:36-16:10

This morning we come to a difficult passage. Not because it contains complex reasoning or confusing argument. This passage is difficult because it concerns sharp disagreement between Godly men.

Today we are going to examine three questions.

We will consider the why, the how, and result of disagreement.

The answers to these questions will equip us to recover, to mature, and to trust.

First, we need to deal with why there was disagreement.

This will equip us to recover in the midst of the trials and difficulties of life.

Here is our first question…

1. Does Failing Make You A Failure? Vv. 36-38

Raise your hand if you have ever failed at anything. If I were to list my failures we would be here all day. I fail often. But the question is, does that mean that I am a failure?

To answer this question we want to turn to the life of John Mark.

Who is John Mark?

Commonly known as Mark, he is the author of the third gospel, believed to be a companion of Peter, thought by some to be the young man who fled naked from the garden after Jesus’ arrest.

The Jerusalem church met in his mother’s house. I picture him growing up with something like PK syndrome. Everyone is watching, everyone has high expectations of you, and everyone tells on you constantly.

The other thing we know about Mark is that he failed royally. Not only that, we will see in a moment that his failure influenced the separation of a powerful duo used mightily by God in the growth of the early church.

Mark failed. And so, to answer our question (does failing make you a failure) we need to ask another one.

When you fail, is it possible to recover? And if so, how do you recover?

From the life of John Mark we learn that recovery from failure requires three components. Component #1…

Recovery from failure requires three components.

Component #1…

a. Failure 13:13; 15:38

If you are going to recover from failure, you must first fail.

There really isn’t much information on Mark’s failure. What we have is two statements.

Turn to .

All that had happened was the opposition and blinding of Elymas. Yet Mark left.

Left your first love.

The only clue we have as to why is this statement of Paul in v. 38.

Mark left them and from the wording it seems his motivation was a desire to avoid the work. Why? We don’t know. Maybe it was too hard. Maybe it wasn’t what he expected.

Whatever his reason, there is one thing we know for certain. Mark’s decision to leave was not motivated by a desire for service.

What causes failure? A transfer of focus. In the spiritual realm failure is caused by a transfer of focus from Christ, to self.

Mark failed because he took his eyes off Christ.

We fail for the very same reason.

Self-focus leads to failure.

If we are going to avoid failure we must keep our focus on the Lord. How do we do that? (S).

(S).

Maturity requires time and growth. Picture it like a tree. A young tree will shoot up tall with growth. As long as it gets regular nourishment, it will continue to grow. But that young tree is soft, shallow rooted, and narrow. As that tree is buffeted by the wind, scarred by animals and people, and afflicted by drought; the roots begin to go deep. Over time the tree matures, the roots go deep, the bark and wood harden, and the truck fills out. Through difficulty, the tree gains all that is necessary to endure and last.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

All of us are going to fail, but we must learn from that failure.

We can’t learn from failure if we do not first fail. Now, to be clear, I am not advocating intentional failure, nor a flippant attitude toward failing. What i am saying is that When failure happens, we need to learn from it.

That is maturity.

You and I are going to fail. When we do, we need someone like Barnabas. Someone who will provide component #2…

Failure is not something to be feared, it is something to be embraced because through failure, we grow.

Failure is that buffeting wind, that drought, that scarring that forces our roots to go deep!

But for that to happen, there is something else we need.

Component #2…

b. Fellowship 15:36-41

READ vv. 36-41

If we are going to recover from failure, we need a Barnabas to believe in us. We need someone who will come alongside and encourage us! Barnabas is determined to give Mark a second chance.

Why is Barnabas willing to do this? Partly because they are relatives. Also because Barnabas was the type of guy who was always looking to encourage others.

We have seen this all throughout Acts. Barnabas understands the truth of (S).

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We stand strongest when we stand together.

This passage fascinates me because Barnabas is putting into practice, while Paul, the author, is not (S).

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

For Barnabas the goal is to see Mark restored. And so he is attempting to accomplish that through this fellowship with him.

If we are going to recover from failure, this is what we need. Someone to give us a second chance.

That is maturity.

Failure is not something to be feared, it is something to be embraced because through failure, we grow.

With this understanding comes a challenge. Give others a second chance. Be like Barnabas. Don’t write off people who fail.

Failure is that buffeting wind, that drought, that scarring that forces our roots to go deep!

However, tree doesn’t grow without help. It has water, and sunlight, and various other process that help it to grow.

As believers, we grow best when we grow together. A tree in a forest is stronger than a tree all alone.

Know that failure is not the end. Restoration is possible through the help of the body of Christ!

But for that to happen, there is something else we need.

When we get that second chance it brings us to component #3…

c. Faithfulness

Turn to .

2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV

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

How does Mark go from being that one who didn’t go with us to the work, to “bring him because he is useful?” Faithfulness.

Mark got his second chance and he took it. He applied himself, worked hard, and overcame failure.

It is possible to overcome failure. It will take support, and it will take work, but it can be done.

Ultimately, I believe Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance because he understood how failure can be used by God to mature us.

That is maturity.

Failure is not something to be feared, it is something to be embraced because through failure, we grow.

Failure is that buffeting wind, that drought, that scarring that forces our roots to go deep!

As believers, we grow best when we grow together. A tree in a forest is stronger than a tree all alone.

But for that to happen, we must be faithful. We must endure the difficulties. Push through the trials. Get back up after failure.

Faithfulness always get’s back on the horse.

So, that’s the why which teaches us how to recover from failure.

We have to fail, we need fellowship, and we need to be faithful.

Our second question concerns how disagreement happens.

This will help us to mature as life brings conflict and opposition. Question #2…

Question #2…

2. Does Disagreement Arise From Sin? Vv. 36-39a

Have you ever had a disagreement?

If you’ve ever had a disagreement than you probably know that there is more than one kind of disagreement. We can disagree and grow angry and defensive. That is sinful disagreement.

A second kind of disagreement is when we recognize our differences and discuss them.

I would argue that disagreement itself is not sinful. How we react when there is disagreement can be.

In this passage we are about to be confronted by a disagreement.

It is how those involved handle the disagreement that we want to emphasize.

We are going to learn how a good desire can give occasion for disagreement.

We are going to learn why many disagreements become sinful.

First we consider the event.

We are going to learn the primary cause of sinful disagreement.

The disagreement of Paul and Barnabas began with…

a. A godly desire v. 36

Before we even get to the source of the disagreement, we have this plan of Paul’s.

Paul has this godly desire to visit the churches they had planted.

This is a good thing! He wants to be an encouragement to these new churches and new believers.

He wants to return to every city in which they had proclaimed the message of the master.

We know this as the gospel message, the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

When we have a godly desire, we don’t expect it to lead to conflict, but that is exactly what happens here.

Satan wants to take godly desires and use them to trip us up.

We must be on guard against the sinfulness of our own hearts.

A godly desire can become a personal idol if not properly held.

Next we see how Paul’s godly desire gives rise to…

b. A glaring disagreement vv. 37-38

READ v. 37

Barnabas was determined. He had made a decision, a resolution, and he would stick with it.

We have already discussed Mark’s failure. Barnabas wants to give him a second chance.

READ v. 38

The determination of Barnabas is met with the insistence of Paul. Everything Paul says about Mark is true. He left. He didn’t go to the work.

At this point there is nothing sinful about this disagreement.

Barnabas is determined to take Mark. Paul insists that they shouldn’t. They have an opportunity here to work through some difficulties.

What I believe we have here is a difference in gifting, personality, and focus.

I would conclude that disagreement arises from personal emphasis on differing and sometimes opposing ideas.

Let me deconstruct that statement. We disagree in part because God has made us all different by design. That design is then shaped by personal experience, gifting, talent, and desire. This means that each of us will have a different emphasis when approaching life and its various issues. When our personal areas of emphasis conflict, there is disagreement.

In this particular situation you have Paul placing emphasis on something different than Barnabas. Neither one of them is wrong in where and what they choose to emphasize. The problem is that neither man is willing to compromise. This likely results from an inability to grasp the personal emphasis of the other.

Therefore, disagreement is not sinful. However, how we handle disagreement very well can be.

Example: We believe that for our family Christian school is the best option. Others believe that public school is best. Still others opt for home school. And others for a charter. Each one likely has reasons, convictions, facts, and statistics to support their view. That’s fine. You have every right to have a different opinion. Where we have to be careful is when my opinion leads me to sinful attitudes, actions, or thoughts about the person who disagrees.

Disagreement becomes sinful when handled incorrectly.

Paul is focused on the work and their ability to do it.

Barnabas is focused on Mark and his restoration to usefulness.

I would argue that both men are right. Paul’s gifting, ability, and life experience lead him to a certain conclusion. The gifting, ability, and life experience of Barnabas lead him to an opposite conclusion.

Again, thus far, there is no sin in their disagreement.

If both men are right, when does this become a sinful disagreement? The only sin I see is in parting ways in apparent anger.

We find that as we consider…

c. A grim departure v. 39a

This is where it becomes sinful. The determination of Barnabas and the insistence of Paul have given rise to contention.

Contention – παροξυσμός (paroxysmos) sharp disagreement. Provocation (agitation), a state of intense, emotional turmoil; especially expressed in words.

Contention – παροξυσμός (paroxysmos)

The meaning of this Greek word makes it clear that unkind words were spoken. There was anger, intense emotion, and ultimately, a separation.

Neither man is at fault in the cause. Both are at fault in the failure to reconcile.

All it would have taken was one of them to step back, take a deep breath, and make peace. But they didn’t do it. Why not?

Mark is seen later.

I cannot think of any exception to what I am about to state.

The only reason we fail to reconcile is pride.

I believe that both Paul and Barnabas fall victim to pride and allowed it to separate them.

We have seen why disagreement happens. We have learned how it happens. Now we need to discover the result.

What happens when a disagreement is over?

This will build within us a trust in our God even when challenging situations arise. Question #3…

Question #3…

3. Does God Have Control Of Difficulty? Vv. 39-41

This is a question of sovereignty.

Is God in control?

Can He intend for a seemingly bad situation to turn out for His glory and our good?

Here is something very important that we need to understand about sovereignty.

Sovereignty does not mean that God causes all things to happen. Sovereignty means that God knows everything that could happen and has chosen a plan making that what will happen.

In these verses we see God active in two very important ways. #1…

#1…

a. God is active in restoration v. 39

Barnabas wanted to restore Mark to usefulness. And as we saw earlier, he did just that.

This is the same Island that Barnabas used to own property on. It is possible that they had family there. Whatever the motivation to go to Cyprus, we know that what took place there brought Mark from failure to usefulness.

I believe this is a God-given desire that Barnabas has. He desires to see a young man restored.

God is in the business of restoration. He restores us to fellowship with Him. He restores broken lives, broken hearts, broken families, broken marriages. No matter the brokenness we might be experiencing, God can restore it.

With that thought in mind, that God restores, …

I am going to make an argument that you may have never heard before. Ready?

Paul and Barnabas were reconciled within 3-6 years of their disagreement.

How can I say that?

Separation occurs in AD 50 – Constable.

1 Cor. written – 53 (Benware), 56 (Constable). Why does that matter?

Turn to (p. 1317).

(p. 1317)

1 Corinthians 9:3–7 NKJV

My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

This was written 3-6 years after the events of believe that the wording demonstrates reconciliation.

God used Barnabas to restore Mark to usefulness. Then, at some point, God restored the relationship of Paul and Barnabas.

You may look at your life and think that the mistakes you made or the difficulties you have faced are too much. You may think that you can never be restored. I assure you, …

God delights in restoration!

God is active in restoration. #2…

b. God is active in edification vv. 39b-41

READ v. 39

Barnabas and Mark sail to Cyprus. Do you think they were silent there? No! I believe they preached the gospel.

Barnabas instructed, trained, and invested in Mark.

Barnabas built up Mark and together they built up the saints.

READ v. 40

Paul takes Silas and implements his original plan. To visit all the believers and churches and see how they are.

As they embark on this journey, Paul and Silas are committed to the Lord by the brethren in Antioch.

Some have made much of the fact that Paul and Silas are commended while Barnabas and Mark are not.

I believe the simple answer to this is that Paul and Silas were continuing missionary work, while Barnabas was going home to work with Mark.

Regardless, they dynamic duo of Paul and Barnabas ends here as far as the Biblical record goes.

This is where we start to ask why. Why would God allow the break up of Paul and Barnabas? Especially if I am right and they were reconciled shortly afterward?

We don’t know the answer to why. We can speculate, but we don’t know.

Maybe this helped Mark understand the seriousness of what he had done?

We don’t know! However, what we do know is the result. What was the result? The spread of the gospel.

READ v. 41

God could have multiplied the spread of the gospel message in any way He wanted. Yet He chose to do so through the conflict and disagreement of Paul and Barnabas over Mark. Why? The answer to that lies within God’s sovereign will. We do not always know why, but through God’s revealed Word we do know what. God used the disagreement between these men to bring the gospel and encouragement to the world.

While I would not go so far as to say God caused this disagreement, I would say that He used it.

God does not cause the problems or difficulties in your life and mine. But He will use them.

We look at ourselves and think that our failures make us useless. God looks at us and determines that our failures are exactly what is needed for Him to get maximum glory!

In the midst of the most difficult situations we can face, God is at work.

He uses difficulty, disagreement, and trial to build us up, to grow us and mature us.

God is sovereign over difficulty.

Conclusion

As I studied this passage another way of outlining it occured to me.

This passage:

Starts with… A Godly Desire v. 36 Get’s derailed by… A Glaring Disagreement vv. 37-38 Which results in… A Greater Distribution vv. 39-41

A Godly Desire v. 36

Get’s derailed by… A Glaring Disagreement vv. 37-38

A Glaring Disagreement vv. 37-38

Which results in… A Greater Distribution vv. 39-41

A Greater Distribution vv. 39-41

When i look at the passage laid out in this way I am struck with the reality that God works. He works in my life and yours. He works in the world around us. God works!

He sovereignly works for the good pleasure of His will.

Failing does not make you a failure. We can recover through fellowship and faithfulness.

Disagreement is not sin. As long as we speak the truth in love we can disagree with grace.

God is in control of all difficulties and trials of life. He works all things for His glory and our good.

When failure happens, seek restoration.

When disagreements arise, seek truth.

When difficulty strikes, seek Jesus.

#42 “Seek Ye First”

Acts 15:36-41

Acts 15:36–41 NKJV

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

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