“The God Who Guides”
(Acts 15:36-16:10)
Series: The Church on Fire!
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
First Baptist Church Henderson, KY
(1-27-08) (AM)
- Take your Bibles and open to Acts, chapter 15.
We are preaching our way, verse-by-verse, in our expository preaching series through the book of Acts. Our series is entitled, “The Church on Fire!” I was doing some study this past week and discovered that Kent Hughes, pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, a preacher I like a great deal, preached through the book of Acts and entitled his series, “The Church Afire!” So I was encouraged to know how similarly we both saw the overall theme of this book. The church, born in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, is spreading like wildfire as the apostles and others obey our Lord’s commission to be His disciples, taking the Gospel, the Good News, to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.
We left-off our study last week at verse 35 so we’ll pick up at verse 36. We studied about the Jerusalem Council where grace was on trial. And the apostles concluded that we are, indeed, saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Hey, let me ask you, “How are we saved again?” Say it with me: by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
- Stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
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 commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
- Pray.
Introduction:
I haven’t even written my first book yet, but I already know the title of my last book. You know how guys in the ministry later write a book about their years in the ministry? I’ve already got the title in mind: My First Church Picnic was no Church Picnic. Church picnics are supposed to be a breeze; everyone looks forward to going and just having a great time. But my first church picnic at my first church I pastored was my introduction to the challenges pastors face in leading a congregation. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice to say that there was a woman in our church who didn’t want the picnic to be on the day I had planned. She felt it would conflict with another community event and that it would be wrong to do it. Now, the truth is, and I couldn’t say this at the time, but the truth is, I felt she was really upset because she had not picked the date and she was not in control of the decision; she was not “in charge.” That was the truth, but you couldn’t say that! She voiced her opposition and even told me there was talk at the local beauty salon about the pastor being “un-Christian.” She vowed not to come and made sure her large family didn’t go, either. Her family was pretty big in the church. I remember one of her daughters, a young mother of two teenagers, calling me the day before to tell me she was going to have to side with momma. I was willing to call the whole thing off, but called a godly man in the congregation for his input. He felt like we ought to go ahead and have the picnic. So the next day Michele and I and the boys drove to that small country town, praying and wondering whether anyone at all would show up for the picnic. We got there and had the largest crowd we had ever had for any kind of gathering. There were all kinds of people and visitors—laughing, sharing, fellowshipping; just having a great time.
I really had to resist the temptation to gloat about it the following Sunday as I was thanking everyone for their participation. I never said a word about it to the woman in question and she never said a word about it to me. We just carried on. And when God called me to another church a couple years later, on my last Sunday as we said our goodbyes, she had tears in her eyes and I later cried, too, as I drove away from that church. There was a love there for each other despite our differences.
One of the most encouraging things in my life is to know that God guides us through the good times and the bad times, too. His hand is always there—though not always seen—as He guides our steps and directs our paths. I love the hymn:
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
I want you to see in our text this morning how God leads us, how He guides us, and the way He works in our lives. Our study this morning reveals three ways by which God works, three ways He guides. First, we need to know that:
I. God works through Relational Problems (15:36-41)
There are times in our lives when life is no church picnic. A difference of opinion with another person, a personality clash or conflict, is not a fun thing to experience, but God works through that. God works through relational problems. Do you remember reading about the relational problem between Paul and Barnabas? Verse 36 say:
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.”
Paul wants to go and check-out the churches that he and Barnabas started in the cities through which they traveled in their first missionary journey. In fact, the word, “visit” there in verse 36 is a pastoral term, meaning “to care for,” or, “to be concerned about,” or, “to look after.” Making disciples is more than just getting a decision for Christ and baptizing someone. Discipleship is growth in the Lord. Paul wants to be sure these new Christians are growing. Now look at this relational problem:
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.
Do you remember this incident about which Luke, the writer, is referring? Back in chapter 13, verse 13, we read that when Paul and Barnabas got to Pamphylia that John Mark left them. We don’t know whether he got homesick or whether he didn’t like Paul’s leadership style, or what. He just left. So here are Paul and Barnabas getting ready for their second missionary journey and Barnabas is wanting to take his nephew, John Mark along, but Paul is like, “No siree! That guy left us hanging last time. I don’t want someone like that going with us!”
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 commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
So you have these guys parting ways. Don’t read it too quickly. Remember that Paul and Barnabas had spent a lot of time together. It took them about a year just to go through the cities they went through together. As they worked side-by-side, they shared meals, sleeping quarters, stories, victories, and defeats. They had grown very close to one another, but they were so contentious over this matter concerning John Mark that they both went their separate ways.
By the way, who was right? Was Paul right in not wanting to take John Mark because he had abandoned them before, or was Barnabas—ever the great encourager—right in wanting to take along John Mark? And the answer is, “Yes.” Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5? He says:
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
One of the keys in working through relational problems is to remember that both sides are right about something and both sides are wrong about something. Jesus teaches that we must have the wisdom to see our own faults and be willing to take care of our own problems—which are likely greater than we realize—before we can even begin to talk about the small problems the other person has.
The good thing about Paul and Barnabas is that there is no bridge burned here. Later, in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he speaks positively of Barnabas and John Mark (Colossians 4:10) and at the end of Paul’s ministry we have this wonderful request of the older, wiser, apostle. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” Isn’t that a sweet request? However sharp the disagreement here in Acts 15, Paul grows to appreciate young John Mark and even desires that he be there with him in his last years. Praise God.
God works through relational problems, doesn’t He? Trust God to work through the difficulties and challenges you face, too. You have a personality clash with someone in your family, someone here in church, or someone at your work, or a friend at school, have the wisdom to see God’s hand guiding through that, teaching you invaluable life lessons about leadership, humility, and compassion. God works through relational problems. Here’s another way God guides:
II. God works through Regular People (16:1-5)
1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
So now we’re introduced to Timothy, a young man, most scholars believe to be in his teens, mentioned 26 times in the New Testament. It is Timothy I have in mind when I say that God works through regular people. Now we could have said, “God works through reputable people,” because verse 2 tells us that Timothy has a good reputation. He’s “well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.” People some 20 miles away speak favorably of Timothy. But Timothy’s really not that special. He’s a good person and he has a good reputation, but he’s just a young man who makes himself available to God.
He has no special parental background. The Bible says in verse 1 there that his mother was Jewish and his father was a Greek. His dad was a Gentile. The grammar suggests that Timothy’s dad was not a believer and that he is no longer living. We know from Paul’s later letter to Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught him the Scriptures when he was very small (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15) so he had a strong Christian heritage, but there was really nothing else remarkable about this young man other than the fact that he was well-spoken of.
In fact, we get the idea that Timothy was a rather weak, fearful and timid person. Paul tells him later in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young” and in 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul reminds Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” God works through regular people, people like Timothy, people who make themselves available to God. You young people, know that God wants to do great things through you. You may say, “Well, there’s really nothing that special about me. I mean I go to church and everything, but I’m a little fearful at times and feel kind of weak.” If God worked through Timothy as a weak, young person in his teens, God can work through you, too. Just make yourself available to God. That’s what Timothy does. Verse 3:
3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Do you see how Timothy makes himself available for God to use him? Recall from our study last week in the first part of chapter 15 that the rite of circumcision was not necessary for salvation. We said it earlier: we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. But Paul has Timothy circumcised for evangelistic purposes. Circumcision would allow Timothy to gain access in the synagogues they would be traveling through. Timothy didn’t have to be circumcised but he chose to be circumcised out of deference to the people he and Paul would be evangelizing. Again we see this principle of laying aside our own privileges, preferences, and rights for the purpose of reaching others, blessing others, and evangelizing others. James Macdonald says, “The grace of God rushes to the person who resigns his rights for the greater good.”
I’m not always really big on shaving, you know. Sometimes I like to let whatever hair I can grow, to grow. I could say, “I don’t have to shave! I’m free in Christ!” But I shave especially on Sundays because there’s an expectation that I’m going to look a certain way and I don’t want my “not shaving” to get in the way of the Gospel. If I don’t shave I am not as effective in the ministry. We’ve got to know our context: the clothes we wear, the length of our hair, and other matters of custom and tradition are important if we’re going to be effective in sharing the Gospel.
This is what Paul has in mind in 1 Corinthians 9:22 where he says, “I have become all things to all people that I might by all possible means save some.” People often misquote that verse. They say, “I know you can’t be all things to all people” and what they mean is, “I know you can’t please everyone” and that’s true, but that verse, “I have become all things to all people” means that I will do whatever it takes to share the Gospel with someone and if that means I have to lay aside my personal preferences in order to reach the cultural context of my ministry then I’ll do it.
God works through regular people. Timothy makes himself available to God and God uses him. I was so encouraged yesterday at our men’s breakfast. Best one we’ve had in as long as I can remember. We had at least 40 men come out at 7:30 and share a meal, and fellowship, and sing, and worship. One of our speakers, a young new member of our church, shared about how God was growing him and his family in the short nine months they’ve been in the church. And he mentioned our BodyLife workshop for new members and how we teach that God wants to work through every single one of us in the body of Christ.
And those of you who signed up for FAITH Evangelism Training, God is working through you, too. God doesn’t just work through Christian superstars; God works through every single one of us. In fact, God especially delights in working through people who regard themselves as weak because when we are weak then we are what? Strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
God works through relational problems and God works through regular people. Say, “God works through regular people like me.” Number three:
III. God works through Remarkable Providences (16:6-10)
I love the teaching of God’s providence. Here’s a good definition of providence I came across in my study this week. Providence is, “the belief that the events of our lives are not ruled by chance or fate, but by our sovereign and loving Lord who works out His plan and purpose in the lives of all His children.” Let me read that again. Providence is the belief that the events of our lives are not ruled by chance or fate, but by our sovereign and loving Lord who works out His plan and purpose in the lives of all His children.”
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
Do you see God’s providence there? Paul, Silas, and Timothy wanted to take the Gospel into Asia, and that’s Asia Minor, modern Turkey today, but they were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit.” Now we don’t know why God didn’t want them going there. Later Paul will go there, but not yet. The timing isn’t right. How did God “forbid them?” We don’t know that, either. We don’t know whether Paul, Silas, and Timothy ran out of money or had a string of bad experiences, or they couldn’t sleep at night, or what—but the Bible makes it clear that God shut the door. Thank God for times He shuts the door in our lives. Now watch as it happens again. Verse 7:
7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
Again, how did God go about this? We really don’t know, but we see that God shut the door to opportunity twice. The timing isn’t right. Now watch where they do end up going. Verses 8-10:
8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
God works through this vision or dream that Paul has one evening. God doesn’t usually speak through visions and dreams today. He usually speaks to us through His word, the holy Bible, but if God does speak to us through a vision or dream we make sure that the experience of our vision or dream is consistent with the teaching of Scripture. If it is not, then we just had a dream. So while God can speak to us today through visions and dreams, it is the rare exception. He has spoken to us primarily through His word. Read the word for guidance.
But that night Paul sees this man pleading with them to come to Macedonia. So while the timing is not right for Paul and his party to go to these other places, the timing is right for them to go across the Aegean Sea and over to Macedonia, the place we know today as modern Europe. And by the way, aren’t we grateful that Paul and his missionary team went to Macedonia? We are gathered here today in large part because Paul traveled west. Europe would become the missionary base from which missionaries would eventually come to all the continents, including North America.
God works through remarkable providences. God knows what He’s doing. He guides us often by shutting doors when we think they ought to be open. Trust God to rule and reign in your life. If there’s a job situation or a school situation or a relationship thing and God shuts the door—just remember that God is sovereign and He knows the things you don’t. So don’t be disappointed for too long. Someone said, “Disappointments are His appointments.” God knows what He’s doing. He’s protecting you from something. The timing isn’t right. Hang in there. Keep trusting. Keep following.
Trust and follow the God who guides, the God who works through relational problems, through regular people, and through remarkable providences.
- Stand for prayer.
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