Now turning the Bible once again
to the scripture that we read earlier, Acts chapter 15. Acts chapter 15. Now this makes
the third or fourth or fifth message from this chapter. I keep thinking I'm going to
get through it, but I just can't seem to get there. So we'll give
it another shot today. I don't know if we'll finish,
though that's my intention to finish. Acts chapter 15, verse
30 down through verse 40. After the believers in Jerusalem
had fully settled the issue about salvation, grace or works cannot
be both. They said, according to what
is said in verse 11, we believe through grace. Not circumcision
and grace. Not grace and the law, grace
alone, Christ alone, faith alone. After that issue was well settled,
they sent this writing back to the church in Antioch with this
foursome, Barnabas, Paul, Silas, and Judas. Now, I want you to
notice what takes place beginning at verse 30 when they came back
to Antioch. What's going to happen? Well,
let's see what happens. Here's the rest of the story.
Verse 30. So when they came, when they
were dismissed, that is from the church in Jerusalem, they
came back to Antioch. That was the church that God
had established through Paul's preaching and traveling. When
they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered this
letter. And this was a letter that God
gave. His word. Which when they read,
they rejoiced for the comfort, the comfort of the word. Now
let's notice a couple of things here. First thing I want you
to look at, when they gathered the multitude, the multitude,
they came together. This is a multitude who were
of one mind, one heart, one faith, one Lord, one gospel. They came,
God brought them together. That's a good description of
God's people. They are together, one with Christ
and one with another. One body. Members in this one
body. They came together and this was
a multitude. A multitude. That speaks of grace,
doesn't it? When you have a multitude that
comes together, that dwell in harmony and peace, that's the
grace of God that brings a multitude together. But who is this multitude? Well, they're sinners saved by
grace. Turn back to Acts chapter 11, and we see something of this
multitude. The multitude that had been gathered
by the gospel, made one with Christ. This is chapter 11 of
the book of Acts, verse 19. And when they were scattered
abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, remember
he was stoned to death for the gospel, traveled as far as Parnassi
and Cyprus, Antioch, there's that Antioch, preaching the word,
none but to the Jews only. And some of them, which were
men of Cyprus, Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch,
spake unto the Grecians. The Gentiles, preaching the word
of the Lord, and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a
great number," there's this multitude, "...a great number believed and
turned to the Lord." This is that multitude. Now find chapter
13, verse 48. Who's this multitude? Well, they're
gathered with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 13, and when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord,
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. This is that multitude. Now,
I want you to find the revelation, the revelation, singular, the
revelation. It's the revelation of Christ,
chapter 7. Here's this multitude. Here's a good description of
this multitude. And this is a good description of all of God's people
in Christ. Revelation 7 verse 9, And I beheld
and lo, a great multitude. Here they are, this great multitude. He's talking about these people
in Antioch. Talking about God's people, His believers, His family,
His sheep, which no man could number of all nations, kindreds,
and people, tongues, stood before the throne, before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes and palms in their hands." They are
saved by God's grace. Here is the multitude, "...and
they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God,
which sits upon the throne unto the Lamb. And the angels stood
round about the throne. Then the elders and the four
beasts fell before the throne on their faces and worshipped
God, saying, Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving,
honor, power, might be unto our God forever and ever. This is
that multitude. They worship God. And one of the elders answered
and said unto me, What are these? Who are these which are arrayed
in white robes, and where do they come from? Look at verse
14, and he said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb. This is that multitude. This
is the multitude of believers that God chose and saved by His
grace and we sing unto Him who loved us and washed us from our
sin in His own blood. This is that multitude gathered
together. This is that multitude who is
willing and ready, made willing and ready to hear God's gospel. Now back to the book of Acts.
Chapter 15. So there's a multitude. There's
a multitude. And these servants came to these
believers. And look what they did here. Verse 30. They delivered God's
Word. And here's what God's servants
do. They deliver. They're delivery boys. You know
that? I'm a delivery boy. I used to
have a paper route when I was a young boy that carried the
Deseret News. I was a delivery boy. I didn't
write the news. I didn't publish the news. All
I did was distribute the news. And that's what I do today. I
don't write the news. I don't make up the news. I just
declare the news. I just distribute. I'm a paper
boy. You know, Paul said that he was a water boy. It's God
who gave the increase. So that's all we do. We ask God's
servants, they deliver the epistle. Paul says, we preach not ourselves,
but the Lord Jesus Christ. God's servants faithfully deliver
the word. And that's the preacher's business.
That's the main business of this ministry that God gives His people,
preaching the gospel. It's not to visit the sick, although
we do, but that's not our main business. It's not to pat folks
on the back, although we do, but that's not our main business.
It's not to close the naked and to feed the hungry, although
we do, but that's not our main business. What is the main business
of God's servants? Deliver the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. We preach not ourselves, but
Christ. You know, and this is per his instruction. Turn back
to Acts chapter 1. Who says we're to do this? Well,
God says this. Acts chapter 1. Look at this.
Look at verse 8. But you shall receive power.
This is the last instructions of the risen Lord spoken to his
disciples. But you shall receive power,
Acts 1 verse 8, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,
and you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, in Judea,
in Samaria, unto the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall
be my witnesses. You see, it's pleased God by
preaching to call out His people. And that's what we do. God's
servants faithfully deliver God's message And God will use that
to call out His sheep. He said, go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved. So there's a multitude who had
this epistle, this Word of God delivered to them. Now look at
verse 30. What's going to happen? How are
they going to react? Are they going to say, wait a
minute, we don't want to hear that. No, that wasn't their attitude. Look at verse 31. And when they
read, they rejoiced. You know what they did? They
received God's instructions. His sheep eagerly hear what God
has to say. God's people received the Word
and they rejoiced. They eagerly anticipated hearing
from God. We ought to be swift to hear.
Swift to hear. Turn just a couple pages over,
Acts chapter 17. Look at this here. Here's the
way believers act toward the Word of God. Swift to hear. Ready
to hear. Willing to hear. Notice chapter
17, verse 11. These were more noble than those
in Thessalonica in that they received the Word of God with
all readiness of mind. They were ready. Oh, they were
eager. Is that the way we come to worship?
eager to hear a word from God, willing to read His word, receive
His truth, and rejoice. They receive the word with all
readiness of mind, and search the Scriptures daily, whether
these things be so." Now, I want you to look at a couple of other
Scriptures. Find 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians. Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians
chapter 2. Here's how we receive His word.
1 Thessalonians 2 verse 13, For this cause also thank we God
without ceasing, because when you received the word of God,
which you heard of us, you received it not as a word of men, you
didn't receive it as a word of Paul or Silas or James, but as
a word of God, the word of truth. As it is in truth, the word of
God, which effectually worketh in you also that belief. Now
let me show you scripture here that will help us. I want you
to find Proverbs. Psalms, Proverbs, okay? Proverbs 8. Talking about the
believer receiving the Word of Truth. Eagerness and a willingness
and a readiness to hear from God. And that's why we've come
today. You didn't come here, I hope, to hear me. I hope you've
come here to worship God and to hear from Him. But notice
Proverbs 8. Proverbs 8, verse 32. Proverbs 8.32 Now therefore hearken
unto me, O ye children, For blessed are they that keep my way. Hear
instruction." That's his instruction. Be wise. Don't refuse it. Blessed is the man that heareth
me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the post of my door.
That's a blessed man. He's eager and waiting at the
door. Can't wait till the door is open so he can come in and
sit down and listen to God's Word. Whoso findeth me findeth
life and shall obtain the favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul, and all that hate me love death."
Oh, we receive His Word. Believers do now. They're gathered.
They're gathered together and they receive this Word of Truth. And God's servants faithfully
declare the Word of Truth. And His people read it, receive
it, and you know what else it says there, verse 31, Acts 15? They rejoice. They rejoice in
what they heard. They rejoiced in the message.
They burst into exceeding joy. Now, I want you to find Psalm
119. They rejoiced in the message.
I like this scripture here. Psalm 119. It's the longest psalm. 160 some verses, but find verse
162. Psalm 119, verse 162. Let's begin at 161. Princes have
persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe
of thy word. I rejoice that thy word is one
that findeth a great spoil. You see what he's saying here?
What's your attitude toward the word? Is it like a treasure?
Like a treasure that you anticipate eagerly waiting to open up that
treasure chest and find all those rubies of His love and diamonds
of His grace and sapphires of His mercy. I rejoice that Thy
Word is one that findeth a great spoil. How do you find this great
spoil? And rejoice in this great spoil
by reading it, by meditating upon it, by praying and ask God
to show me Christ. In thy book revealed I see the
Lord Jesus Christ. Back to Acts 15. See, this is
the rest of the story. When they came back to Antioch,
the multitude was gathered together. The servants of God delivered
the Word of God. They received it. They rejoiced
in it. And look what else it says in
verse 31. They received comfort. Comfort. Oh, there's a great
comfort in the Word of God. A great comfort. Find Isaiah
40. Isaiah 40. There's a great comfort
in the Word of God to the sheep of God, to those believers in
Christ Jesus. There's a great comfort. What
would you give to know your sin? Your sin. Your sins. which are a multitude of iniquity
and transgressions against God, what comfort would it give you
to know they're all put away? Oh, you talk about comfort. How do you know anything about
that? What he says in his words. Look, Isaiah 40, verse 1, Comfort
ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God. Speaking comfortably
to Jerusalem, crying to her that her warfare is done, it's accomplished,
salvation's done, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she has received
of the Lord's hand double for all her sin. There's a double
payment. A double payment. Boy, I tell
you, it's gone. So much so that God said their sin and their
iniquity will I remember no more. Blessed is the man to whom God
will not impute sin. Blessed is that man to whom our
sins, that man whose sins are covered. That's comfort. Oh, that's comfort. The blood
of Christ cleanses us from all sin. So they read the Word, they
rejoiced, and I tell you what they had. They had comfort. They had comfort. There is a
conviction with the Word, but I tell you what, there's also
a comfort. There also is a comfort with the Word of Truth. When
we need conviction, He takes the Word of God and convicts
us. When we need comfort, He takes the Word of Christ and
comforts us. Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people.
Now, Acts 15, verse 32. Here comes Judas and Silas. Are
they going to have a different message? than Paul and Barnabas? Is it going to be a split message?
No, Judas and Silas being prophets, these were God sent servants,
also themselves. They didn't put themselves in
the ministry, God put them in the ministry. These were God's
prophets, sent of God with God's message, therefore they had the
same message, salvation in Christ. know the name of their heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved." They also themselves
were prophets put in the ministry, put in, sent preaching the gospel. And they
did two things here. They exhorted the brethren with
many words, and then they confirmed them. Judas and Silas were sent,
gifted by God, to preach God's message for the benefit of His
people. They exhorted, it says there,
they exhorted with many words, with many words. They exhorted
them to continue in the gospel, to continue in the way of grace,
to continue in Christ. They exhorted them to continue
in the gospel. And then they did this. They
confirmed them. Now, how did they confirm them? They exhorted them to continue.
Then what did they use for a confirmation of that fact? Well, they used
the Word of God. Turn to chapter 18, verse 28. Acts 18, 28. Here's what they
used. They exhorted and then they used
the Scripture to confirm what they had already said. Acts 18,
this is spoken of a man named Apollos, for he mightily convinced
the Jews, this is 1828, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures
that Jesus was the Christ. So here's what they did. They
came to town, they exhorted, and then they used the Word of
God to confirm what they'd already said. It reminds me of a story
of a black preacher in the South. His name could have been John
Gasper. I've read his life story, Rhapsody
in Black. But he had this saying, and this
is what Silas and Judas did. Old John Gasper, the black preacher,
said this, and he was a grace preacher. He said, I tell them
what I'm going to tell them, and then I tell them. And then
I tell them what I already told them. And that's what preaching
is. I tell them what I'm going to tell them. And then I tell
them. And then I tell them what I done told them. That's what
Judas and Silas did. They exhorted and then they confirmed.
You see that? A dear friend of mine who pastored
for many years, way up in his 80s now, he's been retired a
few years, he's been here and preached before, Scott Richardson.
But he had this quaint saying about preaching. He said, you
know, We've read a lot of definitions about preaching and really it's
quite simple. Preaching is just simply repeating what God's already
said. That's all it is. And that's
what Judas and Silas did. They repeated what God had already
said. And that's what I try to do.
Have you ever noticed some of you have been here a while and
this preacher, you know, I have the same message every week.
I preach the same thing every week. And you know what? You
keep coming back. You know what? I'm going to preach
the same thing to you next week. And the next week, Lord willing,
I'm going to take this word, and I have a different text,
but I have the same message. Because this book has one message.
It has one message. It preaches the person, his work,
salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Someone accused... They thought they was criticizing
Pastor Mahan. And he took it as a compliment.
They said in a critical, you know that old mayhem? He just
preaches the same thing over and over and over again. He said, thank you. That's right.
That's what we preach. The same message. Christ and
Him crucified. You remember what we read earlier?
Paul said, I'm determined to know nothing among you but Jesus
Christ and Him crucified. Just after one message. Christ. So if you come next week, it
will be the same message. salvation in Christ Jesus. Now
look at verse 33. After they had tarried there
of space, that is, Judas and Silas, they were let go in peace. They departed in peace. Or the
brethren there in Antioch, they said, well, we're happy to hear
your message and we thank you for the words that we've heard,
but you're at liberty to go back to Jerusalem if you want to.
Well, Judas did. Verse 34, notwithstanding it
pleased Silas to stay there. Now here we see something of
the marvelous providence of God. Judas' mind, his mind, was to
go back to Jerusalem, back to the home church. Silas here,
for some strange reason, he just thought, well, you know, I just
think I'll stick around a while. And you see the providence of
God working here. You see, God was changing his
mind. It says there, Please Silas,
but you know what? Please God. God changed his mind. And he stayed there. And God
was preparing this man. Here's a missionary prepared
by God. Now he's going to suffer some
great things. We're going to see here. Just
in the next chapter, he's beaten with whips and put in jail for
the gospel. But God's preparing this man
to enter into the ministry. Brother Henry used to tell this
story on old Rothbarner. And Pastor Mahan said, when I
was a young preacher, I didn't understand what he was saying.
But he said, Brother Henry, one day I'm going to enter into the
ministry, and really enter into the ministry. that by the grace
of God. And I pray that one day I will
really enter into the ministry and just be totally consumed
with Christ and that message and enter into the ministry.
Well, that's what God was doing with Silas. He was preparing
him for the mission field. And oh, what a mission God gave
him to do. What a privilege this man had.
to be partners with Paul and to be used of God that sat around
that part of the country preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now look at verse 35. Verse 35. Paul also and Barnabas,
they continued in Antioch. Now here's what they continued
doing. Teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord. It's the
same thing that Judas Isilas did. They continued preaching
the Word of the Lord, and notice this, with many others. God blessed
this church with many others who preached the Gospel. Paul
and Barnabas, they continued in teaching and preaching the
Word of the Lord. Not the philosophy of men, but
thus saith the Lord. Now what did they do? They were
teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord. The written Word. Chapter 17. Let me show you.
Verse 2. When it talks about the Word
of the Lord, talking here, I think about two things. His written
Word. The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any
two-edged sword. It's talking about the written
Word. Acts 17, verse 2, And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto
them three Sabbath days, reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.
You see, it's the written Word. Teaching and preaching. And I
can't describe a difference between teaching and preaching. When
you're preaching, you're teaching. When you're teaching, you're
preaching. It's one and the same. It's presenting the message of
Christ. Opening and alleging that Christ must need to have
suffered and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus
whom I preach unto you, He is the Christ. And He did that with
the Word of God. It's the same as we do. He took
the written Word of God and revealed unto them the gospel. And then
the message of the written Word is the capital W-O-R-D. The Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. So they preached the written
Word, and that message of the written Word is the incarnate
Word. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is called the Word of God.
So the message was Christ. Christ and Him crucified. Now,
let's consider the rest of this story in verse 36 down through
verse 41. Here's a dividing difference
between Paul and Barnabas, and we see in this even how God overruled
this to the glory of God, to the fervent of the gospel. You
see, God even overrules our evil to His ultimate good. It was
evil that these two men had a separation, but God overruled that separation
to His ultimate glory. Now, instead of having one missionary
team, there's two. Paul and Silas, and then Barnabas
and John Mark. Let's see the details here, just
a few minutes here. 36, here's Paul's good idea. Paul
had a good idea. He said to Barnabas, let us go
again and let's visit our brethren in every city, have an anxiousness
and a readiness to go and preach the Word and to fellowship with
them, and let's see how they do. He had a concern for them,
didn't he? He had a concern for their soul's
welfare. He wrote in another place, I
seek not yours, but I'm after you. I want to know how you're
doing. So Paul had a good idea. Barnabas
though, verse 37, Barnabas determined to take John Mark. Barnabas perhaps had a bad idea. Maybe Barnabas had some sympathy
toward John Mark because this John Mark was his nephew. His
nephew. Verse 38, and Paul said, Let's
wait a minute. Let's think about that just a
minute. Paul objected. Paul thought it not good to take
John Mark with them. He departed from them in Banthelia
and went not to the work. Turn back to chapter 13. Let's
read that. I don't know, and we're not given,
the particulars of why John Mark went home. And I've found it's
always wise where the Scripture is silent. Where the Scripture
is silent, we need to be Silent. I don't know what happened. But here's where it's recorded.
Acts 13, 13, now when Paul and his company loose from Paphos,
they came to Perga in Pamphilia, and John, departing from them,
returned to Jerusalem. That's the only word we have.
Don't know. We don't know the exact reason.
Persecution, maybe. We can speculate. Hardship, maybe. Maybe he just got homesick. Maybe
he saw that this was going to be tough. And he went home. You know what? Paul resented it. Paul resented
it. Verse 39, And the contention
was so sharp between them. Now, they didn't divide over
the gospel, did they? It wasn't a gospel issue they
divided over. It was something that they shouldn't
have divided over. They should have worked out a
compromise, and in some areas we can compromise. It wasn't
a division over the deity of Christ or salvation by grace
or works. It was a contention over some
side issue. It was so sharp between them,
they departed asunder one from another. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and departed,
being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. It seems
like reading that verse that God blessed Paul and Silas because
it has no word about Barnabas and John Mark. It just says they
sailed off. We never read another word about Barnabas. Now John
Mark was used later on. Perhaps Paul was too severe. Perhaps Barnabas too lenient.
were not told. But these who were faithful friends
and labored in the gospel departed each other's company. They didn't
split over the gospel. It was something of indifference. The best of men are only men
at best. God brought much good out of this evil, overruled their
weakness to the furthest of the gospel. Now there's two missionary
teams instead of one. Now here's the rest of the story.
We never read another word about Barnabas. But later, Paul considered
John Mark a very useful, useful servant of the Lord. I want you
to turn and see this. Find 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy chapter
4. This is Paul's last letter. He's
about to lose his head for the gospel. He's in Rome. He's in
prison. He's been sentenced to death. You know who he wants
to see before he dies? John Mark. I tell you, the grace of God.
Don't ever say never. That's a big word. That's a big word. You imagine if Paul would have
said to Barnabas, maybe he did. I'll never have anything to do
again with John Mark. I don't think he said that. Because
look what he says here. 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 11. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark. and bring him with thee, for
he is profitable to me for the ministry." In another place,
in Colossians chapter 4, he calls him a fellow worker under the
kingdom of God. Moreover, this young man who
had a shaky beginning was later used of God in a mighty way to
pen the gospel that bears his name. We have the gospel according
to Matthew, Luke, and John. but also the gospel written by,
according to, recorded by Mark, the same man. You see, God is
able to use weak vessels unto His honor and His glory. Maybe even you. Maybe even me. That God might promote His gospel
around this world. Well, we'll pick up there, Lord
willing, in chapter 16. I would encourage you to study
this chapter and read it. And when we go back and look
at the particulars of it, it will be that much more of a blessing
to you. So we'll have several. There's 40 verses in this chapter
as well. But we see God using Paul and
Silas to preach His gospel.