Let's take our Bibles and turn
to the book of Acts chapter 15. Acts chapter 15. Let's pray together. Our Father truly is good. to assemble ourselves together,
your body assembling together in your name to hear your word. This evening we pray that you
would bless, bless the preaching, bless the hearing. Lord, bless
it to our understanding, to our prospering. Let this word be
within us like fire that ignites our heart and thrills our soul.
So truthfully, we will say with an honest heart, it's been good
to have been in the house of the Lord. For Christ's sake. Amen. I'd like to look tonight at the
last verses in the 15th chapter, 36 through 41. Paul and Barnabas had been sent by
the church at Jerusalem to deliver an epistle, a letter of encouragement
to kind of help them settle down a little bit on an issue that
had been brought up about having to be circumcised in order to
be baptized. And that epistle was desperately
needed. You know how you feel when, I've
said before, when something comes up, somebody says something and
it's It just doesn't ring true with you, and it just kind of
excites you, it startles you, and you want to know what the
truth is. And when you hear the gospel
of free grace, it just settles you down and you can breathe
again, you know, and you think, that's so. Now that's what I
believe right there. Well, that's what happened. had
come and they brought this letter from the church in Jerusalem.
They read it to them. They encouraged the brethren.
And in time, the Spirit of God, after they had been doing that,
the Spirit of God laid upon Paul's heart to go back and revisit
the churches, the places where the Lord had raised up a hearing. Now, the situation was that these
churches would be raised up, and some places there may be
a pastor, some places there may not be. And where there were
pastors, they all needed encouraging. They were young believers, and
here was Paul and Barnabas and Peter and James and these fellows. that had actually sat and heard
the gospel from the Lord Himself. All the apostles, you know, that
was the criteria, being an apostle. You had to have learned the gospel
from Christ Himself. Paul was the last one spoken
to by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself on the road to Damascus. He called
out to him, he said, Saul, Saul, who art thou, Lord? He said,
I'm Jesus, whom you're persecuting. The Lord called him out of darkness,
what would you have me to do? And so the scripture bears out
that the Spirit of God, who is the director and leader of his
people, spoke So this apostle right here, starting in verse
36, And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go
again, and visit our brethren in every city, where we have
preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas
determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed
from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
And the contention was so sharp between them that they departed
asunder one from the other. And so Barnabas took Mark and
sailed unto Cyprus. And Paul chose Silas and departed,
being recommended by the brethren under the grace of God. And he
went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches." Now,
tonight I want us to look for just a few minutes about five
things that I see in this passage of scripture that I think will
be profitable to the church. Five things that we learn out
of what we just read. Number one, I know this, God's
people are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. in Matthew chapter
28. Turn there, Matthew 28, 19 and
20. Here was, I mean, some of the
last words that were spoken by our Lord to His apostles. Matthew 28, 19 and 20. This is
what He told them to do. Go ye therefore and teach all
nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen." Now, this is what the
Lord Himself told His disciples to do. He said, you go and you
teach, disciple. You preach the gospel. It is
the Spirit of God blessing the gospel that will be preached,
whereby God's people, God's elect, are called out of darkness."
Now you go and disciple them. And then, verse 20, "...teaching
them to observe." Instruct them. How long have many of you here
been called out of darkness? I'd say most people sitting here
tonight were called out of darkness while this pastor preached. And
God called you out of darkness. But how long have you sat and
been admonished and instructed and helped? That's what He told
them to do. You disciple them and you go
back and instruct them, help them, encourage them. There are
going to be some questions. How many times have we heard
messages that are Same thing. Basically the same thing. And
every time you hear the truth, it just rings so. That's right. That's good. I like that. I want
to hear that. I have to hear that again. Now,
this is what Paul was doing. He had gone and preached the
Gospel in these different places. He'd go to this city, this city,
this city, and he said, based on the Word of the Lord, let's
go back. Let's backtrack. Let's go back
to those places where we preach the gospel, and let's go and
see how they're doing. Boy, you know, isn't it good
to go places and see how the brethren are doing? How are you
all doing over there? Is everybody doing okay? Here
is a man that was called out of darkness. The Lord told him. I'm Jesus that you're persecuting.
Paul asked him, what would you have me to do? Well, I'll tell
you. This is what he's going to do.
Ananias, you go and encourage him. He's over at Simon's house. Ananias asks him, Lord, you know
who that is, don't you? You know who that is. You think
the Lord didn't know who that was? I know who he is. He's a chosen vessel unto me.
to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of
Israel." That's who He is. The way you see Him, the way
I've always seen Him, is the way that He is. So He was absolutely
obeying the Lord's command. That's God's people are obedient.
Secondly, a believer desires to walk obediently to Christ,
seeking counsel from the Scriptures. Now, there's the source of our
instruction, the Holy Scriptures. Barnabas, the Scriptures said,
Paul told Barnabas, let's go and visit our brethren in every
city where we preach the Word of the Lord and see how they
do. And Barnabas Thought it was a
good idea. But he determined to take with
him John, whose surname was Mark. But listen to this. Paul thought
not good to take him with him, who departed from him from Pamphilia,
and went not with him to the work. Now, Barnabas was in agreement. with Paul about going back and
visiting the churches. But he had a nephew, John Mark. John Mark was Barnabas' nephew. And he wanted to take John Mark. I can understand his thinking. This is my nephew. I want to
take him with us. Maybe we can be a help to him.
Maybe we can encourage him. You know, maybe he can see how
things are, but Paul didn't think that it was a good idea to take
it. And here's the reason why. Turn
back to Acts 13, 13. It says, it says, Paul, verse
38, while you're turning back to 13, 13, Paul thought not good
to take him who departed from them from Panthelia and went
not with them to the work. Acts 13, 13. is where that passage
of Scripture was revealed. It says, now, when Paul and his
company loosed from Pathos, they came to Perga in Panthelia, and
John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. Now, if you're
not careful, you'll just kind of glaze over that. It's kind
of, you know, well, they were aware, and they were doing fine,
and John Mark went back to Jerusalem. But here was what happened. Paul viewed John Mark's departure. He said he departed. Well, the
word is a little bit stronger than just, he just decided to
go. The word is actually deserter. He's a deserter. He was a quitter. What do they do with deserters
in the military? He's a quitter. One who has apostatized. In the heat of the battle, John
Mark left them. There they were. There was Paul
and Barnabas, and they were in Perga, and they were being persecuted
for what they were preaching, and John Mark was with them.
In the heat of the battle, John Mark decided, I'm going back
to Jerusalem, I'm not staying here. And it's never recorded
that Paul ever brought it up until right now. You see, Paul
made a decision, not because he was trying to be insensitive,
not because he was trying to be, you know, not understanding
to Barnabas Barnabas' nephew. It wasn't that. Paul was as sensitive
as anybody, but Paul was walking according to the light that he
had in Scriptures. Paul was a Pharisee. He knew
what the Word of God said. Proverbs 25, 19 says this, Confidence
in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth
and a foot out of joint. Confidence in an unfaithful man
is when a man has got an abscessed tooth broken and he sticks a
big old piece of hard rock candy in that tooth and crunches down
on it. That's how confidence in an unfaithful
man is. Confidence in an unfaithful man
Like a fella that's got a broken ankle, kneecap, whole leg is
just shattered, he's in a wheelchair, and he just tries to get up and
take a step on that foot. Not good, not good. John Mark
had left in the time of battle, and as far as Paul knew, John
Mark had apostatized. He'd gone out from us because
he was not with us. That's all Paul knew. He was
walking in the light that he had. You see, later, Scripture
bears out that John Mark was one of the lords. It says that
John Mark in 2 Timothy 4.11 called for by Paul. Paul was writing
in 2 Timothy. He says, "...only Luke is with
me, He says, Take Mark, John Mark, and bring him with thee,
for he is profitable to me for the ministry. John Mark obviously
was like that prodigal son. He was a son. And something happened
and it just, for a while, he wondered whether or not things
were as that father hoped that they were. That prodigal son
came back, came to himself. There's so many pictures there.
You can see that as a picture of an unbeliever being called
out of darkness. You can see. Here was the matter. Here was the fact of the matter.
He was the son. He was always the son. And he came back. John
Mark, in the heat of the battle, he left. Paul, walking in the
life that he had, he wasn't going to compromise. Barnabas said,
I think we ought to take him. Paul said, I don't think that's
a good idea. Why not, Paul? Because according to the Word
of God, it is written. Paul had been called by God Almighty
to an extremely, unbelievably extremely mission. important, the preaching of the
gospel. Nothing takes precedence over
this. Paul would have no distractions
whatsoever. I don't think it's a good idea.
I just don't think it's a good idea to take it. Just don't do
it. John Mark was proven later to be a believer, but Paul didn't
know that. All Paul knew was that you left
in the heat of the battle you ran you quit you forsook us listen
psalm 119 105 says thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light
unto my path If you know that the preaching
of the gospel is the power of God, brother Scott, unto salvation,
and some fellow that you know real well, not a preacher of
the gospel, he's a false preacher, he's been nice to you, he likes
you, and he's been cordial to you, and wants to stand in this
pulpit and preach, he can't do it. I can't do that. You see what I'm saying? We walk
according to the light that we have in this book right here. This is God's Word. And Paul
was doing that very thing. Let's take my nephew. I don't
think that's a good thing. I don't think we ought to do
that. He has proven himself to be unfaithful. even amongst the most faithful
of men, were all reminded of our frailties. Verse 39 says,
The contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder
one from the other. So Barnabas took Mark and sailed
unto Cyprus, and Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended
by the brethren unto the grace of God, and he went through Syria,
Cilicia, confirming the churches." Now, Paul and Barnabas had not
long before this admitted that they're frail. Turn back to Acts
14 and 15. Remember when they healed that
fellow? They healed a man, and boy, all the people jumped up
and said, I tell you what, we've got Jupiter, here and we've got
uh... uh... margarita here we got the
god has come down and paul spoke up and say stars in first fifteen
acts fourteen fifty stars why do you do you think we also are
men of like passions with you and preacher did you think you
should turn from these benedict is under the living god which
made heaven and earth and see it all things that are that they're
in paul said let's see we like you are We are frail creatures,
like passions, just like you. The only steadfastness, unwaveringness
that we ever find is in one, the Lord Jesus Christ. No shadow
of turning, no deviation, nothing. Barnabas, Peter, me, you, Scott,
we're men, we're women, we're frail creatures. I know that. But even in this frailness, even
in the contention that was happening right here, here's the fourth
thing. The Lord graciously overruled. These men had a great contention
between them. They split. These fellows had been through
thick and thin. I mean, they were tight. And
they split over this thing. Fourth thing is this. All things
work together for good to them that love God. Here were two
preachers. Paul and Barnabas. Paul took
Silas, Barnabas took John Mark, and it went two different directions.
You know, Psalm 7610 says, Surely the wrath of man shall praise
thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. For the
glory of God and for the good of His church. Let me tell you
what happened. This separation called the gospel
to be spread to more places went to different directions these
fellows were not blameless in the contention they had uh... i think i can just imagine just
knowing what i know reading what i read about the scriptures and
the sensitiveness that paul had and barnabas had i mean don't
you know this it killed him it just i mean it hurts if there
was uh... if there was somebody in this
congregation tonight and i i we fell out over something i don't
think that i would be it killed me i guess i couldn't do that
if i thought there was something between me and brother scott
i could not sit at home i i did not have to call him i uh...
you know can i come over talk to you about it listen i did
i did not he killed me but paul When he said what he said based
on the Word of God, he could not deviate. He couldn't deviate.
He had scriptural authority to do what he did, but their passions
flared up and they went two different directions, and the Lord still
blessed it. He told them, I'll never leave
you. I'll never forsake you, even in the midst of our frailties. He's our friend. stayed with
him. That doesn't excuse their actions. It just shows us the power of
our mighty God who providentially accomplishes His will in all
things. These men suffered for it. I
don't doubt they suffered for it. They hurt over it inside.
Paul loved Barnabas. He loved him and Barnabas loved
Paul. They weren't You know, they didn't become enemies, they
just, you know, they had fallen out, you know. Paul spoke favorably
later of Barnabas. But in closing, on the fifth
point, I want to say something that I know that this Scripture
bears out to be so. Believe, trust, have some confidence
in the man that God has placed in authority over you to the
extent that that man is following Christ according to the Scriptures. The Scripture says, verse 40,
ìAnd Paul chose Silas and departed being recommended by the brethren
unto the grace of God." Now, let me tell you what that says
right there. The church, by and large, who had sent those two
men out, agreed with Paul. The reason that they agreed with
Paul, that's what it's saying. Paul chose Silas, departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. They knew that
the reason that Paul made the decision he made was because
he made it according to the Scriptures and they took his side. Barnabas stood against the man that God
had raised up in authority. Paul was the man that was in
authority there. Paul was the apostle in that
duo right there, that pair of men. Paul was the one that was
in authority. And whenever Paul said, I don't
think that's a good call, I don't think we need to do that, when
he made that decision based without a doubt on the without a doubt in his heart. He did what he did because he
believed in his heart that that's what the Spirit of God. I don't
doubt that for one second because the Spirit of God is going to
bear witness to those scriptures. Now you bank on that. You don't
say, well, the Lord has led me to go, to do, to say, well, has
the Lord then born record to you according to His Word. Because
if you're telling me that the Lord is leading you to do something
and it's contrary to this Scripture right there, I'm going to tell
you something. That's not the Lord leading you. Now, you write
that down. Well, I tell you this, I feel
in my heart that God has told me, well, unless God Almighty
changes His Word, then you're wrong. Paul made the decision
based on the Scriptures. Barnabas stood against them.
And that stand that he took against Paul proved to be a very fatal
judgment call. The only mention after this event
right here of Barnabas was made by Paul's recollection of the
way that things used to be in the book of Corinthians. The
Scripture says in Hebrews 13, 17, Obey them that have the rule
over you. Believe them. That's what that
means. When it says obey, believe them. Wives, obey your husband. Believe
your husband. Believe him. Obey them that have
the rule over you, that govern. And submit yourselves For they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that
they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable
for you." You know, there's a duty and a dignity that is associated
with pulpit, with a pastorate. Almighty God raises up pastors
according to His heart. God calls them, God gifts them,
God teaches them. I understand that they're men,
they're frail men. But you listen to me. When a
pastor preaching the gospel of free grace, and what he's preaching
and instructing and teaching is according to the Scriptures,
if you come and you ask, me or Brother Scott or anybody else,
any other pastor, you ask them a question, and it's answered
in the Word of God. And we give you an answer according
to the Scriptures. Now, I said before, an opinion,
that's why we've made such an issue when we're teaching through
the Book of Revelation. I said, now, if it's just my
opinion, that's one thing. Everybody's got an opinion. If
I can't back my opinion up with the Word of God, then you've
got just as much... I mean, you can say what you
want to say, you know? Whatever you think seven-headed
beast is, well, you know. But if I can back up what I'm
saying with the Word of God, that's where you are to obey
them that have the rule over you. Believe them! Why? Because
they watch for your soul. because they care about you. They desire God's leadership. Now, order is established and
maintained by Almighty God within His body through a pastor. I
thank the Lord for men that I've listened to and gotten some instruction
from, and it's comforting to me. It's comforting to me to
call Him and ask Him. Well, Scott, what do you think
about it? I asked him something the other day. I told him, I
said, Think about this and tell me what you think. I want to
know. Obey by attending, hearing, receiving
the Word that's preached by God's faithful ministers. Regard that Word. Regard that
counsel. as it is consistent with the
Word of God. I want to reiterate that. Listen,
if it's not consistent with the Scriptures, don't listen to it. I don't know any gospel preachers
that would knowingly steer you wrong concerning the Scriptures.
I don't know any. They want to know the right thing.
They want to tell you the right thing. But to stand against the
message of God, Stand against the gospel. Stand against counsel.
The Scriptures deal with issues. And to stand against that, to
stand against wise or scriptural counsel of God's pastors according
to the Scriptures is dangerous, dangerous. Barnabas, I understand. I understand. I wanted to take
his nephew. Paul was saying, let's do what
the Lord told us to do. Let's go back. Let's go back.
We've been preaching now. Here we are. Let's go back again.
Let's revisit them again. The Lord had already revisited
them one time. Let's do it again. Let's go back
and see how they're doing. Barnabas says, that's a good
idea. Let's take John with us. I don't think so. Why? He left
us in Perga. according to scriptures I don't
think it's the right thing to do they split over it the church
backed Paul said we think you made the right decision on that
he was walking in the life that you had and from that point right
there you don't find Barnabas ever mentioned again it's a dangerous thing to stand
against the word of God stand against God's preachers as they
stand according to the Word of God. I pray tonight that the
Lord might teach us something. You know, God's people, they
do want to know the right thing to do. They do. They hunger and
thirst after righteousness. They want to hear, what does
the Lord say? What does the Lord say about
this? If I've got a decision to make
And there's something in the scriptures and it's dealing with
it. I truly, I desire, I think I do, I think I want to do that. Bow to it. I'll tell you this,
it's always the safe thing. You bow. Bow. Bow to His Word. Bow to His authority. Bow to
His scriptures. Bow to Him. who is worthy to
be heard and honored.