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| Voice of Prayer |
Just like family units, the body of Christ must be in unity. We are to be speaking God's truth, declaring Jesus's soon return and to be expectant to see not only for today but for an eternity with the Lord!
We take a look at Paul, Barnabas, and Mark in this writing. Within this teaching we can see something has happened with the relationship of these two sent ones.
Acts 13:13 NKJV 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
Now Mark has exited this team, and for whatever his reasoning as a "young" one has returned to Jerusalem.
Two to three years have passed and we get to Acts 15.
Acts 15:30- 41 NKJV 30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time; they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. 34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
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 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.
Let us remember that apostles are about checking on the churches they have begun. They make the periodic trips around the region to not only check on them, but to also preach the word of God there, and have fellowship with them as well.
In this we will see the division occur.
AND divisions do occur and can be painful within the church or body of believer's in Christ Jesus.
We find Paul relating about Mark in Colossians 4:10 NKJV 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas ( about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him). 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
As ministry continued in reaching the lost for Jesus; Aristarchus traveled extensively with Paul. Standing at this time with Paul is of course, Justus and Aristarchus. But he tells the brethren to receive him as per the instructions Paul the apostle has sent. Whatever the earlier instruction was, it was held private. Yet, Paul is adding Mark to be greeted by the brethren.
Yes, divisions do occur. From Paul's standpoint, Mark had deserted them earlier in ministry and probably had a position that had to be done, but failed to do so. Mark left them " so to speak, in the lurch." So Mark had left without leaving help evidently when it was needed most.
Yes, people can ultimately face divisions. People can leave, people can let us down and fail us, but where do we stand when chaos seems to rule over the norm?
Though not of God, divisions can certainly play a big part of people's lives. Like when the husband leaves the wife of 20 years for greener pastures only to find the grassy field is the cover of a septic tank. Or the teenager leaves home to find someone who to them truly cares and who listens........only to find they are in worst trouble than before they left home. Each individual in each circumstance we have listed here can face many new changes, good or bad, and can face challenges that causes one to cry out "help".
IN that division, we know that the church had sided with Paul in the verse 40 of Acts 15. The same was not spoken of Barnabas and Mark.
Paul went on to strengthen the churches in Syria and Cilicia.
We find another situation with Barnabas and his character weakness affecting others. Within Galatians and chapter 2:11-14 we find this: 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to blamed ; 12 for certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Paul addresses the "hypocrisy" that Peter (Cephas) and Barnabas are practicing. They are trying to implement a new commandment for the Gentiles to become Jews. Out of step with God can break people. Out of step of the ordered of God can cause a multitude of problems.
We are to operate in the truth of God's Word and give that truth only!
Barnabas surely wanted to raise Mark up to minister to others. And he had taken him under his wing to teach him ministry. He wanted the young one to grow in the Lord.
But sending people out just for the sake of sending them can produce bitterness, hurt and especially on the part of the one "not ready for service" in the Gospel to the nations. Diversity is good, but we must be Jesus Christ centered, and not out to please man. In the case of Barnabas, the son of encouragement surely took those alongside himself to see they continue with God, but being THE encourager to others that they might continue, also caused him, Barnabas to err.
Barnabas had some strong ties to the Jew more strongly than Paul and was making attempt to add another commandment. And being tied to the past can cause some really big issues for families, ministries and even for the work place.
Paul spoke that he prayed more than them all..in 1 Corinthians 14:18..and in his praying and keeping his focus on the Lord, by the Holy Spirit he wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. He had a devotion to God to pray in tongues and allow God into his life. Praying was to Paul that God is in the midst of me and whatever the situation. Paul filled with the Holy Spirit, we know kept the wisdom, power and holiness of Jesus.
(Note: if you do not have your prayer language, you can ask God and receive by faith just like your salvation. And remember you can pray in your own regular language of words, but seriously for me after about 10 minutes of regular words, I run out....and, I go into my prayer language of tongues)
We do see in 1 Corinthians 9:6 that Paul and Barnabas had continued to have work or trade they had while teaching the Gospel.
Did Barnabas do anything else for the Lord? Is there anymore of him written anywhere?
I have asked others, and of all we conclude little else is known of his career in ministry. Although still laboring in AD 56 or AD 57 about the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 9:5-6, he had died as some point while Paul was in Rome. For we find Mark did come to assist Paul in his latter day.
Broken people can still produce for the kingdom of God. Like broken crayons, one can still color a happy face on a crisp white sheet of paper.
Whatever the difficulty or division, we must remain within God and His leading by the Holy Spirit. We are to stay within the boundaries of His wisdom and love but not go off with something that changes God's Word, God's love,
Many say they believe that two ministries came out of the one, yet of Barnabas, that part was never put out for others to read and know about.
If division has occurred, we need to find what side we remain. If it is on the Lord's side, that is an excellent place to be.
Brokenness hurts, brings much pain and most times separation, but even in that one can still color their future because God continues to guide them when they remain faithful to His leading. Amen.
A child gets upset when a crayon is broken.......will hold it out.........for the parent or grand-parent to fix. I know I have seen it many times. Yet, that same broken crayon will produce. It still has the capacity to color in those places that need help. In division, know there is much you can still do for the kingdom of God. Now go color those places that need your giftings God has placed within you. With that your special circumstance, there will be a special smile on your face as well, a joy in your heart and a knowing that God is with you!
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