Conflict & Friendship

This morning we are jumping into part 2 of our 4 week series where we are exploring biblical understanding of friendship and mentorship in the life of Paul the Apostle. We are looking at 4 key relationships with Ananias, Barnabas, Timothy, and Lydia.

A quick background on Paul if you are unfamiliar with who He is. Paul previously known as Saul of Tarsus was one of the greatest apostles in the New Testament. He wrote 2/3 of the new testament. However before he was used was greatly by God he was seeking to destroy Christians. He went so far in his belief that he was consenting to the murder of people who trusted in Christ.

Pauls has an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and is converted. After confessing that Jesus is Lord, Jesus then instructs him to go to the city and he would be told what he must do. Last week I shared with you how God used a man named Ananias to begin the initial development of Paul (Saul).

Today we are looking at how after God used Ananias in Sauls life, God then used a man named Barnabas to continue Paul’s development. Barnabas is first mentioned in Acts 4:36-37 and his name translated means Son of Encouragement. Remember last week that I told you the name Ananias means God is Merciful.

So we see the plan of God in action for Sauls life. To fulfill God’s plan for his life he would initially need the mercy of God and encouragement.

Ananias helped to reveal the mercy of God and Saul’s assignment.

God used Barnabas as a friend to lend Saul credibility in a season when he didn’t have any. Acts 9:26-28. Acts 11:25-26.

Acts 9:26-28 “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.”

As you continue to read in the book of Acts you see that Barnabas continued to invest in the life of Saul after his initial encounter in Jerusalem. At some point Saul has left Jerusalem and has gone to Tarsus and is ministering there. Barnabas leaves Jerusalem for Antioch, but on his way he goes to seek out Saul to bring him along.

Acts 11:25-26 “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

During this time together their relationship would become a friendship and partnership in the ministry. After the fulfillment of their assignment at Antioch Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the prompting and direction of the Holy Spirit to do ministry together.

This is where I want to pause in the story, and bring to lite a few things about what has taken place.

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Submit:

As we consider the growth of Saul in this story I want to for a moment have you shift your thoughts to the natural process of human growth and maturity.

Growth begins with a process of intimacy. The embryo is protected and nourished for a season before its birthed.

After birth a new born is reliant on its parents for everything. It can’t provide food for itself or eat on its own, it can’t change its own diapers. It is completely and totally reliant on someone else.

Through the first few years of life there are monuments of growth. Growth comes in the form of rolling over, sitting up, beginning to crawl, standing up, taking the first steps, walking, and running. Learning how to feed themselves, babbling until they begin to say their first words.

As they become toddlers they begin to navigate obstacles. Using stairs, getting up and down from chairs, getting into the carseat, walking on and off the curb. They become fluent in the words NO and MINE!

As the child becomes more mobile their dexterity begins to improve and physical coordination increases. The child reaches the point of attend school to develop and mature skills for language, reading, general comprehension, mathematics, etc. which continues through middle and high school.

Throughout the educational experience the child is poured into by many individuals. Collectively they are investing in the development of the child. Of course during this time parents remain a major part of the decisions made and maintain primary responsibility for the child’s life.

This of course will begin to change over time. Responsibility for the outcome of the individual begins to shift from the parent to the young adult. Where ultimately the individual becomes more established in life and begins to make choices concerning their future.

Although input is still needed the young adult begins to determine things like career path. Making the decision to go to college or a trade school. Maybe to become an entrepreneur and launch a business.

In this transitional season of life parents shift from being the primary decision maker to giving council and perspective about the decisions.

Its a time where there is a major transition of responsibility. Reality begins to rest on the individual that the decisions they make for their life are important. It is often stressful when they realize that the outcome and impact of their life will be the sum total of their choices.

This stage although stressful is also filled with Joy. It is often filled with decisions to marry or start a family. Settling in on the career of their choice, raising kids, and preparing for the future.

In this season the cycle of growth begins again only now the individual that was being instructed is now instructing. This doesn’t mean the individuals ceases to learn, but simply that they have matured to a place of impact, and their overall capacity has increased.

This continues throughout the remainder of their life. With each passing year the ability to impart wisdom increases by virtue of life experience.

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Apply:

This process of growth and maturity naturally parallels the spiritual experience at every level. From the experience of initial encounter with God and being born again by the spirit. The seed of salvation is planted in our hearts, and like the embryonic stage of growth much of whats developing is internal and not yet birthed (visible) to others. The work of the Holy Spirit to draw us to Christ is not seen by others.

When we respond to the drawing of the Holy Spirit and confess Jesus as Lord we are born again by the Spirit. John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

At the moment of conversion we are a spiritual newborn in Christ. A newborn has need of spiritual nourishment and care. At this point the new believer is unable to provide this for themselves.

Our benefit in spiritual development unlike being a newborn naturally is that we have a better capacity to comprehend. The bible gives us the key to initial spiritual growth.

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT) “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.”

I think its important to recognize that there is a potential for less than a full experience of salvation. Spiritual growth is directly impacted by our level of hunger. If I cease to cry out for nourishment I will cease to grow. If I cry out continuously I will continuously grow and mature.

This time is like the early seasons of child development. We must grow in the word. Developing the essentials skills necessary for spiritual life. God uses people to mentor train and develop us. Ephesians 4:11-12.

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

Like school we must patiently learn skills over time. We are instructed, tested, and advanced as our skills increase. During this time there are many different people who God will use to invest in your life. Spiritually it will be your pastors, small group leaders, mentors or friends in the church that are believers, the Holy Spirit speaking to you as you read the word. 2 Peter 1:2-11.

2 Peter 1:2-11 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Like the transition of adolescence into adulthood. Maturity in the Lord coupled with experience will allow us to chart the path ahead. The wisdom of God at work in our life will allow for us to begin to invest in others. Through investment in others we become a part of kingdom advancement.

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Closing:

What is crucial to understand is that maturity and growth is a process that will continue for a lifetime. Don’t abort what God is maturing in your life through comparison.

A few tactics of the enemy to derail you are comparison and conflict.

Comparison is a trap. Don’t look at someone else’s ability, comprehension, or spiritual dexterity and begin to despise your own. Growth takes time, and if you stick with and stay hungry you will walk in what they walk in too.

Conflict is inevitable. Barnabas and Saul had a great relationship but they didn’t agree on everything. So much so that in one instance they split up and went different ways.

Conflict doesn’t have to derail. We can not see eye to eye and yet continue to be friends. Don’t allow offense or hurt to keep you from maturing. Conflict is inevitable but through the word we can navigate it well.