Acts 15:36-41

³⁶ 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.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being ^[b]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 

August 4, 2024
Acts: To All The World Part 28

Acts 15:36-41
³⁶ 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.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being ^[b]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (NKJV)

THE PLAYERS

PAUL
Originally known as Saul of Tarsus 

Jewish – Pharisee – Educated under Gamaliel

Knows the Jewish Law and Prophets front and Back

Persecutor of the Early Church
• was there at the stoning of Stephen
• Zealot for Judaism
• Pharisee of Pharisees

Road of Damascus Experience –

• Blinded by the Light
• Ananias prayed for him
• scales fall off his eyes –
• He is filled with the Holy Spirit

 He begins to Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ

• Always went to the Synagogue first – debated with the Jews
• Very logical orderly – direct – straight forward
•  in his thinking, preaching and dealing with people.

 God used Him to write nearly half of the books of the New Testament
•  Including Romans – Theologically the most important of all Paul’s writings
• Saint Augustine was converted after reading Romans
•  Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation (Justification by Faith)
• John Wesley – Reading Martin Luther’s preface on Romans brought him to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  Paul’s focus is on the task at hand 

•  the Mission Comes First
• We got a job to do – let’s get it done !!
• There’s no Cryin’ in Baseball!!
•  “Subtle as a Chainsaw” – kind of guy

BARNABAS
Originally known as Joseph, he was a Levite from Cyprus

Acts 4:36-37

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

• Barnabas was an encourager
• Motivator – Helper –  leader by example 
•  Barnabas was the first disciple to accept Paul as a brother in Christ

Acts 9:26-29

 ²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.

• Barnabas went on the first Missionary Journey with Paul
• Barnabas shows Christian Love and Forgiveness
• Barnabas is focused on Restoring a Brother
• Barnabas is a people Person – A Relationship guy

JOHN MARK      

• Sometime called John Mark – Sometime called Mark
• Younger than Paul and Barnabas
•  Barnabas’ Cousin – 

Col 4:10
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas

THE STORY:

Was on the first Missionary Journey with Paul and Barnabas

         But did not complete the Journey – 

ACTS 13 – tells us that JohnMark started out on the trip with Paul and Barnabas. They hopped on a ship and the first stop was Cyprus. Once there they began to proclaim the message of God in the Synagogue. There was this Proconsul (Governor/Senator) that was known as a very intelligent guy – he summons Paul and Barnabas to him – because he wants to hear the message.

But Proconsul Dude has a Magician/Spiritualist guy the is his advisor – Jewish False Prophet. As Paul and Barnabas are sharing the message – this guy is doing everything he can to get in the way of the Proconsul. Finally, the Holy Spirt fills Paul and he speaks over the Magician – that the magician would be blinded for a period of time. This Mist comes over the Magicians eyes – He is groping around in the dark, BLINDED– The Proconsul believes. Paul, Barnabas and John Mark leave the Island – get back to the mainland and John Mark splits and heads back to Jerusalem.

Proverbs 25:19

Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot
Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.

Henderson Rasberry – 

“We have no Problems here at Leavell Woods – Just Personalities”

So we all Have Issues – we are not perfect 

Big Whoop!! 

How big a deal is it really??

Matthew 5:23-24 

²³Therefore, if you are bringing an offering to God and you remember that your brother is angry at you or holds a grudge against you, ²⁴ then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God.

Proverbs 6:16-19

These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,

 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Matthew 6:9-14

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Dealing with Conflict Among Believers

Matthew 18:15-17

¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you:

Step #1 , go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Step #2 ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

’Step #3 ¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

God forgives you 

Romans 10:9-10

 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

 and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the

 dead, you will be saved. 

 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and 

 with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

You need to forgive you

*************************

Made in His image 

Genesis 1:26-27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 Matthew 22 – The Pharisees are trying to trick Jesus

    “Is it Lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”

         Yes – See He is not on your side he is on Rome’s 

         No- they gonna turn him into the Roman Guards

  Show me a coin you pay taxes with – 

     Who’s Image is on it? Caesar’s!

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s

It’s about the Image 

– You were created to reflect the Glory of God