From
Acts to Revelation
Part
41 – Paul and Barnabas Disagree
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
This week, we will look at Paul and
Barnabas preparing for their second missionary trip to confirm the churches
they have established throughout the land.
It has been approximately one year since
the Jerusalem Council had sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with Judas and
Silas, with a letter explaining that circumcision and obedience to the Law was
not required of gentiles to receive Salvation.
Judas had returned to Jerusalem, but Silas
stayed. We will see why the Holy Spirit prompted him to stay in Antioch and
train along side Paul for a year in the scripture reading today.
The Holy Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas to
a second missionary trip, to return the churches they had established, and
confirm that they were still preaching and teaching the Word of the Lord.
Barnabas wants to take Mark, whom they took
a previous time, but Paul says no, because he abandoned them last time, and did
not complete the mission trip.
An argument breaks out, and Paul and
Barnabas part ways.
In today’s scripture, we shall see;
1. How important
obedience is.
2. How we should not
alter what God tells us.
3. How even good
people can stray.
4. And how God will
provide a plan B to fulfill His will
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 15:36-41
36 Some
time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in
all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are
doing.” 37 Barnabas
wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but
Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in
Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They
had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the
believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and
Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
I.
A CHANGE IN GODS PLAN
a.
The Holy Spirit said at the beginning of
the first missionary trip in the Jerusalem Church; “Set apart for me Paul
and Barnabas for the work I have called them to...”
i.
The Holy Spirit did not mention Mark.
ii.
The Holy Spirit did not give them
permission to chose whom “they” wanted.
iii. When
God gives instruction, His blessings, His protection, His guidance is within
the boundaries of obedience.
b. Barnabas
'insisted' on taking Mark
i.
Paul tried to explain to Barnabas that it
was not a good idea.
ii.
Paul reminded Barnabas of what happened the
last time they took Mark.
a. “he had
deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.”
b.
Mark was not “called” for this work, and
therefore, was not prepared
c.
Any time we do something outside of God's
will, we should not expect God's blessing, protection, guidance, or success.
d.
Because Mark was not called, he could not
perform as needed.
iii. Barnabas
would not let it go, he wanted mark to go.
c. Verse
39 tells us that they argued to the point of anger, and left each others
presence angry about taking Mark.
i.
Barnabas continued in his own will, taking
Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.
ii.
Paul continued in God's will.
iii. Barnabas
will not be mentioned again in the Book of Acts, but we should not forget all
of the Godliness and great things he accomplished when he was working with Paul
in the first mission trip, and obeying God's will.
II.
GOD PREPARED FOR THIS
a. God, in
His great omniscience, knew that Barnabas would part from Paul
i.
This is why in verse 34, we see that after
the Jerusalem Council sent Judas and Silas with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch
with the Jerusalem Letter explaining Circumcision and the laws were not
necessary for a Gentile to receive Salvation, Judas returned to Jerusalem, but
Silas stayed.
ii.
God was preparing Silas to take Barnabas'
place with Paul on the second missionary trip.
iii. Since
the arrival of Silas, and the parting of Barnabas, it has been about one year,
so Silas has been with Paul long enough to learn the ways of the Lord, and
teach them.
b. When
God sets His will in motion, he always has a backup plan
i.
God knows our shortcomings, and weaknesses.
ii.
He always has back up plans for when we
fail.
iii. If God
wants someone to hear the message of the Cross, and I fail to give that person
the message God called me to, then God's back up plan kicks into effect, and
the message of the Cross will still be given.
c. However,
I have still failed to be obedient
i.
Just because God has a back up, does not
relieve us from our responsibility.
ii.
God calls us to be obedient
iii. When we
do not do what He has called us to, we are disobedient
iv.
Just because He has a backup plan, does not
free us from responsibility.
III. CONTINUING
IN GODS WILL
a. Although
Barnabas parted from Paul, Paul continued
i.
Paul was going to be obedient, regardless
of others actions
ii.
Paul knew what the holy Spirit had called
him to do, and he would do it
b. We cannot
allow outward circumstances to change our obedience
i.
When God calls us, He prepares us
ii.
When God tells us to do something, He will
enable us to do it
iii.
If others fail, God will provide a backup
plan
iv.
All we need to do is trust in Him
c. Paul
took Silas, and continued to the Churches
i.
Confirming Syria, Cilicia, teaching in each
church to ensure they were preaching and teaching the Word.
CONCLUSION
In today's scripture, we see;
1. How important
obedience is. - Barnabas and Paul followed the Holy Spirit.
2. How we should not
alter what God tells us. - Barnabas wanted to do things his way.
3. How even good people
can stray. - Barnabas refused to obey.
4.
And How God will provide a plan B to
fulfill His will – God prepared Silas for Paul.
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