WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.700 Pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word. 00:00:03.820 --> 00:00:12.480 Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves before you and before your Word again this evening. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:20.699 You said that your sheep hear your voice, they recognize your voice. 00:00:25.060 --> 00:00:29.420 And Lord, we have heard your call and we have gathered here as your people to worship you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.259 And we now incline our ears, our hearts to you. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:43.719 Because we want to become ever more familiar with our shepherd's voice. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:51.620 Because we want to learn to better discern your will and to follow it, to surrender ourselves to it. 00:00:55.120 --> 00:00:58.320 So teach us how to do that this evening from this text. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.880 We want to exalt the name of your Son. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.299 Captivate our hearts with Christ and His gospel discipline. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.420 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:19.579 Acts chapter 15 verse 36 to chapter 16 verse 10. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:27.259 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, 00:01:27.739 --> 00:01:33.379 Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaim the Word of the Lord and see how they are. 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:39.780 Now, Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:47.920 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 00:01:48.820 --> 00:01:53.640 And there arose a sharp disagreement so that they separated from each other. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:57.599 Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:03.560 But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:08.080 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:11.520 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:17.060 A disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:18.939 But his father was a Greek. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:23.420 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:26.359 But Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him. 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:31.560 And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places. 00:02:32.339 --> 00:02:34.959 For they all knew that his father was a Greek. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:44.719 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 00:02:45.839 --> 00:02:48.219 So the churches were strengthened in the faith. 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:50.819 And they increased in numbers daily. 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:57.959 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 00:02:58.859 --> 00:03:02.739 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia. 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:04.739 But the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:08.299 So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:10.280 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:14.340 A man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.039 Come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:26.579 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:03:27.459 --> 00:03:29.780 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:41.419 When it was published in 2001, the World Christian Encyclopedia counted 33,830 denominations worldwide. 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:46.659 That number is undoubtedly higher today in 2021. 00:03:47.859 --> 00:03:51.979 And I don't mention this to discredit denominations at all. 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:56.259 Our local church is part of a denomination called Sovereign Grace Churches. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:08.479 And churches that declare themselves independent or non-denominational are themselves splitting away from the historic denominations over different convictions about denominations. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:15.239 So it's really not all that different from denominations that are split off for other reasons. 00:04:16.719 --> 00:04:26.459 On matters of first importance that pertain to the gospel of Jesus, there is considerable agreement and unity among all Christians, even among the myriad denominations. 00:04:27.459 --> 00:04:32.659 But the reality is, Christians don't always see eye to eye on everything. 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:41.800 1 Corinthians 13, 9-12 tell us that we know in part and we prophesy in part. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:46.240 But when perfect comes, when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:50.980 It says, for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 00:04:51.700 --> 00:04:57.200 Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:03.819 In the present, our knowledge of God and His will is imperfect and partial. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:06.740 Our understanding is limited. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.159 Our sins cloud our judgment. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:15.360 Our perceptions are colored by various historical and cultural influences. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:24.120 And for those reasons, disagreements between believers, even among godly believers, are inevitable. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:37.379 In this passage, we learn from Paul and Barnabas' example that as we proclaim the gospel, we must discern God's will through conflicts, through controversies, and through closed doors. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.319 And trust God to work through them. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:42.939 So we're going to cover those in turn. 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:44.800 Conflict, controversy, and closed doors. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:51.819 After spending some days teaching and ministering to the church in Antioch, Paul says to Barnabas in chapter 15, verse 36, 00:05:52.280 --> 00:05:57.259 Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they are. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:07.540 Paul was, as many of you know, a frontier missionary who made it his ambition to preach the gospel where the gospel had not been preached. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:15.000 But this doesn't mean that Paul only cared about making converts and didn't care about those who were already converted. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:22.420 He wanted to make another long and arduous journey to revisit all the cities where he had preached the gospel and planted churches 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:27.259 because he was invested in building up and caring for the people who were already converted. 00:06:27.900 --> 00:06:29.860 Make sure that those churches are firmly established. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:34.580 We, too, as a church, must do both. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:39.759 We can't be content merely with caring for the internal needs of our local church. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:42.139 We must send out missionaries. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:44.020 We must evangelize. 00:06:44.340 --> 00:06:47.740 We must have an outward orientation toward unbelievers. 00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:52.759 But we also can't neglect the upbuilding of the local church. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:57.259 We must nurture and build up one another in Christ-likeness. 00:06:57.259 --> 00:07:04.519 Otherwise, if we don't do that, there would be no mature believers left to evangelize and minister to others. 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:11.959 We should ask ourselves, ask yourself, which area do you tend to be stronger in, tend to be weaker in? 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:14.060 Because we need to be doing both. 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:16.319 So far, so good. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:18.000 Barnabas and Paul were agreed on that front. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.480 They were agreed that they should revisit these churches to encourage them, check on them. 00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:25.579 But then they hid a snag on the road. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:28.259 It says in verses 37 to 38, 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:31.379 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark, 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:36.120 but Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.740 and had not gone with them to the work. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:47.299 You might recall from Acts chapter 12 that John called Mark is the son of a certain Mary in Jerusalem 00:07:47.299 --> 00:07:50.759 who hosted a house church there, so a prominent believer in Jerusalem. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:08:01.039 Mary, it turns out, is Barnabas' aunt because John called Mark was Barnabas' cousin according to Colossians chapter 4 verse 10. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:08.099 So this John called Mark, whom I will call Mark from now on, was beloved in the Jerusalem church. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:14.980 Apostle Peter had a particular affection for this man and called him his spiritual son in 1 Peter 5 verse 13. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:21.379 So after Paul and Barnabas delivered the famine aid that the Antioch Christians had prepared for the Jerusalem church, 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:30.020 they encountered John Mark, they encountered Mark and started having him accompany them on their missionary journeys. 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:37.519 However, it appears that on their missionary journey, while Mark was following them and assisting them, 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:40.480 that at some point he withdrew from them. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.879 He didn't go with them to do the missionary work. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.460 Paul saw this as nothing less than desertion. 00:08:50.819 --> 00:08:54.600 Like when a soldier deserts his comrades in the battlefield. 00:08:54.600 --> 00:09:00.580 You could imagine Paul arguing with Barnabas over this issue this way. 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:04.879 Barnabas, Proverbs 25, 19 says this, 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:10.519 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:15.759 Barnabas, Mark proved undependable. 00:09:16.540 --> 00:09:18.879 He deserted us at the moment of our need. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:23.600 He was like a decayed tooth that you can't chew with when you need to eat something. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.259 Or a slipping food that you can't put weight on. 00:09:27.040 --> 00:09:33.820 Our missionary work involves long journeys that's physically exhausting and emotionally draining. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.639 And even more than that, we're entering a spiritual battlefield. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:42.060 And we can't, and we can be, and we have been persecuted. 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:43.600 We might even be killed. 00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:51.100 We don't have the luxury of taking a chance on someone who has already deserted us in the past. 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:53.139 We're a small team. 00:09:53.580 --> 00:09:55.360 Every single person is integral. 00:09:56.060 --> 00:09:58.560 We can't afford to lose one man. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:03.120 You really can't blame Paul for making this argument. 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:05.800 Saying we can't take Mark along with him. 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:13.519 But on the other hand, it's also hard to blame Barnabas for wanting to give Mark a second chance. 00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:16.660 Barnabas was a gracious man. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:20.839 Remember from Acts 4.36, his actual name is Joseph. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.539 But nobody calls him that. 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:27.419 Everyone calls him Barnabas by his nickname because it means son of encouragement. 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:28.360 Why? 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:34.120 Because Barnabas was a man who was always found encouraging and building up other people, other fellow Christians. 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:40.860 The word encouragement means to exhort and embolden another person for a certain task, for a course of action. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:46.940 The same word is used in Acts 9.31 to refer to the comfort that the Holy Spirit brings. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:51.220 So Barnabas is someone who comforts others, encourages others. 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:56.840 There's an older pastor in our denomination named Kyle Huber. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.399 And I mention him because he's been like a Barnabas to me. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:07.100 He's someone that's always sending encouraging texts and letting me know that he's praying for me. 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:12.620 Whenever I spend time with him, I walk away more aware of God's gracious presence in my life. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:14.539 That kind of person. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:16.759 I hope you have people like that in your life. 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:21.579 People who encourage you, build you up, comfort you. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.539 Barnabas was that kind of man. 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:30.360 So when a fledgling church in Antioch needed some encouragement, who would they send but Barnabas? 00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:32.620 In Acts chapter 11.22-26. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:43.699 In Acts 9.27, when Paul, right after Paul's conversion, because of his fierce reputation, his terrible reputation as a persecutor of the church, 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.639 the Jerusalem church was wary of him. 00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:47.699 The apostles didn't want anything to do with him. 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.980 And of course, who else? 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:53.339 But it was Barnabas who took Paul along and introduced him to the apostles. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:54.379 To the church in Jerusalem. 00:11:56.839 --> 00:12:00.179 Barnabas was a man who understood the importance of second chances. 00:12:01.719 --> 00:12:03.419 And Mark wasn't any man. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:05.299 He was Barnabas' cousin. 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:10.559 So you can imagine Barnabas arguing back and forth with Paul. 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:14.079 Paul, please, let's give Mark another chance. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:18.360 He's a young lad, and he's remorseful about what he did. 00:12:18.819 --> 00:12:23.199 He's given us his word that he will accompany us and assist us and not desert us again. 00:12:24.439 --> 00:12:29.459 Didn't nearly all of the twelve apostles forsake Jesus when he was arrested and crucified? 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:33.659 Did not the great apostle Peter deny our Lord three times? 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:39.279 And yet he did not give them all a second chance? 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:42.860 Did he not reinstate Peter as the leader of the twelve? 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.399 Come on, Paul. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.919 You were once a persecutor of the church. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.500 And yet our Lord showed you mercy, didn't he? 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.659 Can we give Mark just one more chance? 00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.580 Even if it's just for my sake. 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.580 He's my cousin after all. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:02.419 He'll be crushed if we refuse to take him along because of that one incident. 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:10.500 You really can't blame Barnabas for wanting to take Mark along with him either. 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:16.379 Verse 39 says that there arose a sharp disagreement. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:23.620 The same word is used in Greek literature to describe a severe convulsion that comes as a result of a disease. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:32.919 It's the word from which we get the English word paroxysm, which means a sudden uncontrollable outburst, a fit of emotion or action. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:38.980 Paul and Barnabas were not engaging in soft-spoken debate. 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:43.200 They were engaged in a sharp disagreement. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:49.320 There were emotionally charged statements said, bitter arguments made. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:56.539 Two dear friends and Christian comrades simply could not see eye to eye on this issue. 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:03.399 So that, it says in verses 39 to 41, they separated from each other. 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:07.259 Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:12.220 But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:16.039 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, sprinkling the churches. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.139 It's a sad scene, really. 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:24.080 The separation must have been so painful, can you imagine, for Paul and Barnabas. 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:31.500 Remember, it was Barnabas, as I mentioned before, who first took a chance on Paul and introduced him to the church in Jerusalem. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:37.720 It was Barnabas who went to Tarsus to recruit Paul for their ministry in Antioch in the first place. 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:44.460 Humanly speaking, there would have been no Apostle Paul that we know of apart from Apostle Barnabas. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:49.680 The two had traveled thousands of miles together. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.019 They had preached the gospel together. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:55.280 They had slept in the same quarters, eaten the same foods. 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:59.620 They had been persecuted together, driven out of cities by persecutors together. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:02.100 They had seen the Lord perform miracles through them. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.700 And had seen Him save multitudes through their partnership. 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:08.180 They were brothers from another mother. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:14.699 And yet, they decided to go on separate ways on account of this sharp disagreement. 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:25.759 The way verses 39 to 41 are written seems to suggest that the church in Antioch sided with Paul on this disagreement. 00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:32.620 Verse 39 makes it sound like Barnabas and Mark absconded without any fanfare. 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:33.899 It's kind of quietly departed. 00:15:34.839 --> 00:15:36.319 Barnabas just took Mark along and left. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:40.140 It just says, Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:47.640 But, in contrast, it says, Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.220 That verb, commended, is singular in the Greek. 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:52.760 It applies to Paul only. 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.420 It doesn't apply to Paul and Barnabas. 00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:04.060 And not only that, in chapter 16, starting in verse 10, we get the first we passage in Acts, 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:09.899 which are passages where Luke, the author of the book, starts to put himself in the narrative, 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:16.039 using first-person plural pronouns, indicating that he was an eyewitness of traveling with Paul. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:20.619 So Luke himself decided to side with Paul and to go with him on his missionary journey. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:26.240 But we do know that Barnabas was later vindicated from other texts. 00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:30.519 In Philemon 24, Paul describes Mark as his fellow worker. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:36.700 In Colossians 4, verse 10, he commands Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, to the Colossian church. 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:43.259 And then, most movingly, in 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 11, I think I have this to show on the projector. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:51.020 Toward the end of his life, after Paul had been abandoned by almost everyone, he writes to Timothy this, 00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:53.860 Luke alone is with me. 00:16:54.600 --> 00:17:01.300 Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:08.519 So obviously, Paul was willing to give Mark another chance at a later point in ministry. 00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:12.919 And it seems by then that Mark had matured and grown in faithfulness as well. 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:16.319 He even authored the Gospel of Mark, which is part of the Scriptures. 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:22.659 I think this account of Paul and Barnabas' separation is very instructive for us. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:31.700 Note first that this was not a disagreement that was a matter of truth and error, of orthodoxy and heresy. 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:35.560 They were both trying to apply biblical principles. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:38.920 It was an important disagreement because it affected their ministry. 00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:43.040 But they were both trying to faithfully apply biblical principles. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.920 Paul wanted to protect the missionary work. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.720 Barnabas wanted to care pastorally for Mark. 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:56.579 Sometimes, even godly Christians like Barnabas and Paul simply disagree. 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:01.100 It's not necessarily the case that one of them is in sin. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:05.059 It is sometimes the case that one of them is just wrong. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:12.440 And this kind of disagreement will happen until Christ returns and our faith is turned to sight. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:15.620 Only then will we know perfect. 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:19.299 We are finite. 00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:20.719 We are not omniscient. 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:24.139 We are all susceptible to faulty thinking and erroneous judgments. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:29.839 Of course, the Holy Spirit could have decisively ended this debate 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:33.299 by giving them a vision maybe of what to do with Mark. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.439 He does that. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.899 He just shows Paul's vision later in chapter 16. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.879 But he doesn't do that here. 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:44.960 Sometimes God works in and through uncertainty 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:49.280 and leaves us to make the best decisions we can 00:18:49.280 --> 00:18:51.320 with the partial knowledge we have. 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:54.560 And then he asks us to trust him with the rest. 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:59.100 So as we proclaim the gospel, 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:02.860 we have to discern God's will through conflicts that inevitably arise 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:04.920 and trust God to work through them. 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:08.100 And God did work through this disagreement. 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:11.519 The outcome of the disagreement is that now, 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:14.299 instead of just one missionary team, 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:17.319 there are now two missionary teams that are sent out for gospel ministry. 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:21.319 Not having Barnabas or Mark to share in his ministry, 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.679 Paul chooses Silas to accompany him. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.579 And we know that Silas, also called Silvanus, 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.379 as elsewhere in the New Testament, 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:31.219 became a faithful brother that accompanied him 00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:32.639 through much of his mission's work. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.299 Not only that, when he gets to Lystra in chapter 16, 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:39.419 Paul identifies another promising young man named Timothy 00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:41.940 to accompany him on his missionary journey. 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:44.919 So that with the loss of Barnabas and Mark, 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:47.139 new leaders are raised up and equipped, 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.779 and more churches, therefore, can be planted. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.599 It's also not hard to imagine the kind of humbling effect 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:58.240 that this disagreement would have had on everyone involved. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:03.559 Paul's tough love probably humbled Mark 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.740 and helped him realize just how serious it is 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:09.319 for him to abandon fellow missionaries. 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:13.980 After seeing how seriously Paul took what he did, 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:17.539 I'd venture to say that Mark probably never did that again. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:23.839 Not only that, Barnabas' graciousness toward Mark 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.460 probably made him more grateful for the privilege and mercy 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:29.379 of being called to the ministry of the gospel, 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:34.059 knowing that it's a grace, not an entitlement. 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:38.980 Likewise, Paul's emphasis on steadfast commitment 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:41.440 likely made Barnabas more watchful 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:44.220 and perhaps less indulgent of Mark his cousin. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:47.240 And Barnabas' emphasis on grace 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:49.460 could have probably made Paul more patient 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:51.200 and compassionate toward others, 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.620 perhaps later in his ministry. 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:56.140 I say all of that to demonstrate the truth 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:58.980 of Joseph's observation in Genesis 50, verse 20. 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.720 You meant evil against me, 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.140 but God meant it for good. 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:08.360 Even what the devil means for evil against us, 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:10.680 God means it for our good. 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:13.180 Notice it doesn't say, 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.900 what you meant for evil, 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.539 God used for good, 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.620 or God turned into good. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.279 It doesn't say that. 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.460 It says, 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.620 what you meant for evil, 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.920 God meant for good. 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:27.480 God is not a grand chess master 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.519 who can only control his side of the chessboard. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:32.360 Imagine you're playing a game 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:34.259 against a world-class grand chess master 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.799 like Magnus Carlsen. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.180 It doesn't even have to be Magnus Carlsen. 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.259 You could probably play against someone like Daniel Yuan. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.799 You probably won't win a single game. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.039 Because there are so many steps ahead of you, 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.359 it doesn't matter what you do. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.980 You're just going to lose. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.220 Every single time, 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:56.220 the outcome is going to be exactly the same. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:22:02.579 But even someone like Magnus Carlsen 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:04.180 is only responding to 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:06.100 what other people are doing. 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:07.880 He can't, 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.039 doesn't have control, 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.779 any control, 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.559 doesn't have any idea 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.299 what the person sitting across from him will do. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.759 He can only control, 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.220 he can only respond to it. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.980 But God's not like that. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.279 God doesn't merely play with us 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.980 on the chessboard. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.720 He created the chessboard. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.440 He made all the chess pieces. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.799 He made you. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:31.720 We're not equal players and actors 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.819 with God in this world. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:35.700 God works out his sovereign will, 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.319 not in spite of what you do, 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:39.920 but in and through everything you do. 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.700 In other words, 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.339 even the sins we commit, 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.079 even the evils that we do, 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.740 the mistakes that we make, 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:49.000 even what the devil or our enemies 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.019 mean for evil against us, 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:54.019 God means that very thing 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:56.339 for his glory and for our good. 00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:01.700 That's a kind of transcendence 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.359 and sovereignty 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:04.240 that goes far beyond 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.559 our logic and imagination. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.559 So we proclaim the gospel, 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.539 and as we do that, 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.519 we discern God's will 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.180 through conflicts 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.180 that inevitably occur, 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:16.359 and we trust God to work through. 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:19.960 Not only disagreements 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.599 and conflicts, 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.839 but we will also inevitably 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.279 face controversy in ministry. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.700 It says in 16, 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.740 verses 1 to 2, 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.460 Paul came also to Derbe 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.039 and to Lystra. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.180 A disciple was there 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:30.880 named Timothy, 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.259 son of a Jewish woman 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.900 who was a believer. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.400 His father was a Greek. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.059 He was well spoken of 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.740 by the brothers 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.940 at Lystra and Iconium. 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.740 This is where we're first 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.680 introduced to Timothy 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.559 in the book of Acts. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.500 Timothy was Paul's son 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.960 in the faith. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.339 He accompanied Paul 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.579 on many of his missionary journeys 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.799 and became a trusted minister 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.379 of the gospel. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:50.299 Paul heaps high praises 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.500 on him in Philippians 2, 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.399 19 to 20. 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.939 And we learn from 00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:55.139 2 Timothy 3, 15 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:56.139 that Timothy's mother, 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.720 Eunice, 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.439 and his grandmother, 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:57.919 Lois, 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.599 were Jews 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.779 who passed on 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.299 their knowledge 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.119 of the Old Testament 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.919 to Timothy. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.839 They had come to believe 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.299 in Jesus at some point, 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.279 probably, 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.980 maybe during Paul's 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.779 previous ministry 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.220 in Lystra, 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.599 two years or so ago. 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.939 And Timothy had been 00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:13.839 absorbing everything 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.559 like a sponge. 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.219 He's been growing 00:24:16.219 --> 00:24:16.919 and maturing 00:24:16.919 --> 00:24:18.539 so that he was well spoken of 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.959 by the brothers 00:24:19.959 --> 00:24:22.039 at Lystra and Iconium. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.039 Now, 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.879 do you guys remember 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.759 what happened in Lystra 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.539 when Paul was there? 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.139 This is helpful to remember. 00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:32.039 Last time Paul was there, 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.079 he was stoned. 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.659 He left in shame. 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:39.779 This is why 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.640 we can't judge 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.279 the success 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.940 of our ministry 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.700 by the external 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.940 appearance of things. 00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:47.220 Paul's mission's work 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.180 in Lystra, 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:50.540 by all metrics, 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.940 was a spectacular failure. 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.860 Who would have known 00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:59.660 that a gem of a man 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.560 like Timothy 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.759 would emerge 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.660 from that rubble? 00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.759 Paul's missionary team 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.840 was already shorthanded 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.279 with the loss 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.040 of Barnabas and Mark, 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.900 so this was really 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:11.040 golden opportunity 00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:11.740 and discovery 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.700 to find such 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.700 a promising young man. 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.880 But despite 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:17.360 Timothy's sterling reputation, 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:19.120 his ethnic background 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:19.680 was a matter 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.480 of controversy. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.080 And Paul addresses 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:23.060 this in verse 3. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.480 Paul wanted Timothy 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.580 to accompany him 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.779 and he took him 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.680 and circumcised him 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.279 because of the Jews 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.480 who were in those places 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.740 where they all knew 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.580 that his father 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.320 was a Greek. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:35.819 Now this might seem 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.619 like a compromise. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.519 After all, 00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.379 wasn't Paul 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.639 just at Jerusalem 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.859 council in chapter 15 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.759 strongly contending 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.619 that Gentiles 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:45.339 need not be circumcised 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.159 and become Jewish 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:46.960 in order to be saved? 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:49.539 But this is not 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.079 a compromise. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.659 Luke takes care 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:52.859 to note in verse 4 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.259 that as they went 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.759 on their way 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.279 through the cities, 00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.220 they delivered to them 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.859 for observance 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.399 the decisions 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.439 that had been reached 00:25:58.439 --> 00:25:59.179 by the apostles 00:25:59.179 --> 00:25:59.720 and elders 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.779 who were in Jerusalem. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:03.059 The Greek word 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.779 translated decisions 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.579 is where we get 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.819 the English word dogma. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.980 It refers to 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.940 a formal decision 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.519 rendered by 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.639 the appropriate authorities. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.460 It can be translated 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.980 decree. 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.720 So that Paul 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.519 is going around 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.259 with his team 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.319 promulgating 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.859 the decree 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.740 that the apostles 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.759 handed to them 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.200 from the Jerusalem council. 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.980 They're telling 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.019 everybody about it. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.720 And they're doing this 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.759 not only in the cities 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.460 that were specifically 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.339 addressed in that 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.240 apostolic letter 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.000 but in other places 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.480 as well. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.940 in Lystra and Iconium 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.420 which shows 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.079 that they believe 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.700 that the letter, 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.799 the content of the letter 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:36.720 had universal validity 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.900 for all the churches. 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.299 All that to say 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.839 Paul's not backtracking here. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.579 He's continuing 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.759 to stand his ground 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.980 and insist that 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.519 Gentiles will be saved 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.579 by grace 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.579 through faith 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.920 in Jesus Christ 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.640 not by their good works 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:54.039 and not by becoming 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.660 circumcised 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.480 and becoming a Jew. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.759 The difference here 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.880 is that Timothy 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:00.720 had a Jewish mother 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.680 rendering his ethnic status 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.180 ambiguous. 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.060 Some Jews 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:08.280 were deeply offended 00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:08.920 that Timothy 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.740 who had at least 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.420 some Jewish heritage 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:13.480 was not circumcised. 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.040 It's not hard 00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:15.560 to imagine 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.260 the controversy. 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:16.920 Timothy 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.800 whom everyone knew 00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:18.800 had a Greek father 00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:20.220 was still active 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.820 in the synagogue 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:22.020 along with his mother 00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:22.940 and Jewish mother 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.360 Eunice 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.280 and grandmother Lois. 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.279 he studied like a Jew 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.299 talked like a Jew 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.299 ate foods 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.559 along with the Jews 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:31.299 in every way 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:31.799 he seemed 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:33.000 a cultural Jew 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.220 but he was not 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.259 circumcised 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.740 which was 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.980 enough not to Jews. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.180 So Paul 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.359 takes decisive action 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.339 and circumcises 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.599 Timothy 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.799 before taking him along 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.859 on this missionary journey. 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.299 In 1 Corinthians 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.579 9 20 to 21 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.599 Paul writes this 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.279 to the Jews 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:52.059 I became as a Jew 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.599 in order to win Jews. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.000 To those under the law 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.940 I became as one 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.599 under the law 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.879 though not being myself 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:59.220 under the law 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.220 that I might win 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.180 those under the law. 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.960 To those outside the law 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.740 I became as one 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.500 outside the law 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.259 not being outside 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.019 the law of God 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.200 but under the law of Christ 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.500 that I might win 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:10.099 those outside the law. 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:12.000 We're seeing that 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.960 missionary principle 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.619 at work here 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.339 in Acts 16. 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.440 To the Jews 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.839 Paul became like the Jew 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:18.440 in order to win Jews. 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.799 While Paul consistently 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.480 objected to Gentile believers 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.059 being circumcised 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.259 he never objected 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.980 to Jews 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.240 being circumcised. 00:28:27.840 --> 00:28:28.440 Paul was not 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.160 conceding that 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.840 Timothy needed 00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.680 to be circumcised 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.640 in order to be saved 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:33.759 but that Timothy 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.820 needed to be circumcised 00:28:34.820 --> 00:28:35.580 in order to be accepted 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.320 by the Jews 00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:37.140 as a Jew. 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.940 It was a cultural reason 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:41.820 not a soteriological one 00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:43.019 a salvation reason. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.640 It was so that 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.640 Timothy wouldn't cause 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.840 offense at every 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.740 single synagogue 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.579 that they visit. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.000 It was so that 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.480 they might be able 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.500 to get a fair hearing 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.059 for the gospel 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.159 from among the Jews. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.919 It was for the sake 00:28:56.919 --> 00:28:57.480 of the gospel. 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.019 But to Gentiles 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.679 Paul became 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.699 as a Gentile 00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:02.500 in order to win 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.699 Gentiles. 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.899 So in Galatians 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.480 chapter 2 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.399 verse 1 to 5 00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.259 Paul recounts 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.119 that when he traveled 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.759 to Jerusalem 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.619 with Titus 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:12.459 he did not 00:29:12.459 --> 00:29:13.480 circumcise Titus 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.480 though he was 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.059 a Greek. 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:17.759 And when Judaizers 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.579 took issue 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.019 with this 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.619 and insisted 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.220 on Titus' 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.960 circumcision 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.099 Paul says this 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.899 we did not 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.960 yield in submission 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.220 even for a moment 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.919 so that the truth 00:29:26.919 --> 00:29:27.659 of the gospel 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.559 might be preserved 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.339 for you. 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.159 Titus 00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:32.200 unlike Timothy 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.059 did not have 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.500 an ambiguous 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.359 ethnic status. 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.779 He was a Gentile 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.919 through and through 00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:38.720 and to circumcise him 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.539 would have been 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.419 a disastrous 00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.440 concession 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.740 that undermines 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.660 the gospel itself 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.900 because it would 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.940 suggest that Gentiles 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.740 do need to be 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.279 circumcised 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.980 and become Jewish 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.880 in order to be saved. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.759 So Paul is actually 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.900 being very consistent 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.200 here. 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:53.559 The concern 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.480 that drives Paul 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.660 in both of those 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.559 cases is the 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.000 preservation 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.339 and proclamation 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.420 of the gospel. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.700 When we are 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.299 ministering 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.180 to others 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:04.660 especially 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:06.500 in cross-cultural 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.480 missionary contexts 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.720 we will face 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.319 many 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.880 controversial 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.359 issues. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.439 contextualization 00:30:13.439 --> 00:30:13.959 issues 00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:15.219 that require 00:30:15.219 --> 00:30:16.139 careful discernment 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.759 of God's will. 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.219 And in those 00:30:18.219 --> 00:30:18.699 situations 00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.179 we need to 00:30:19.179 --> 00:30:19.579 distinguish 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.299 carefully 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.959 between 00:30:20.959 --> 00:30:22.179 contextualization 00:30:22.179 --> 00:30:23.579 and compromise. 00:30:25.459 --> 00:30:26.219 Are we 00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:26.839 compromising 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.299 the truth 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:27.839 of the gospel 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.299 itself? 00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.279 Are we 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.879 marring the 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.459 picture of the 00:30:30.459 --> 00:30:30.759 gospel? 00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:33.199 Or are we 00:30:33.199 --> 00:30:33.659 faithfully 00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:34.399 applying the 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.000 gospel to a 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.579 different cultural 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.099 context? 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.819 In this case 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.719 Paul wisely 00:30:39.719 --> 00:30:40.519 navigated this 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.039 controversy 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.500 regarding 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:41.960 Timothy's 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.279 ambiguous 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.839 status 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.259 and in 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.700 doing so 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.240 faithfully 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.779 preserved the 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.039 gospel. 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.059 And the 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.619 result was 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:48.980 this in 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.460 verse 5. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.079 So the 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.680 churches were 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.680 strengthened in 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.299 the faith and 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.139 they increased 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:53.899 in numbers 00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.420 daily. 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.460 As we 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.039 proclaim the 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.539 gospel we 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.099 must discern 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.700 God's will 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.379 through conflicts 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.240 and controversies 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.139 and trust God 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.700 to work through 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:01.920 them. 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.879 In ministry 00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.480 we will also 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.359 inevitably face 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.119 closed doors. 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.039 Read 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.920 verses 6-8 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.700 chapter 16 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.099 with me. 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.460 And they 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.940 went through 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.440 the region 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:13.960 of Phrygia 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.619 and Galatia 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.420 having been 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.440 forbidden by 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.159 the Holy Spirit 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.759 to speak the 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.319 word in Asia. 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.579 And when they 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.159 had come up to 00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:20.659 Mysia they 00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:21.099 attempted to 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.399 go into 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.039 Bithynia but 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.680 the Spirit of 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.279 Jesus did 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.980 not allow them. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.259 So passing 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.119 by Mysia they 00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.740 went down to 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.159 Troas. 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.599 Paul wanted 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:28.980 to go to 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.440 Asia Minor 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.940 to proclaim 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:31.079 the gospel but 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.680 he was forbidden 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.579 by the Holy 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.159 Spirit from 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:33.659 doing so. 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:34.960 After that 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.359 door was 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.960 closed Paul 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.840 attempted to 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.120 go into 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.819 Bithynia but 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.440 once again 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.299 the Spirit of 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.440 Jesus did 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:40.880 not allow 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.100 them. 00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:42.799 We are not 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.860 told why 00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.660 the Holy Spirit 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.579 prevented Paul 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:45.779 and his 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.340 companions from 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.740 going into 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.120 those two 00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:48.180 areas but 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.759 we are told 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.600 twice that 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.140 it was the 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:50.799 Holy Spirit 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.420 himself who 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.120 closed those 00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:53.120 doors and 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:53.460 that's an 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.140 important point. 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.340 The rare 00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:59.160 phrase Spirit 00:31:59.160 --> 00:31:59.680 of Jesus 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.360 used there 00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.819 teaches us 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.400 two things. 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.039 One that 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:03.299 Jesus also 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.799 sends the 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.039 Spirit. 00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.500 He is. 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:05.879 It's 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.279 Jesus' 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:06.779 Spirit. 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.159 Not only 00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.539 the Father 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:11.480 Spirit which 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.039 is an 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.539 unmistakable 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:12.940 statement of 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.139 Jesus' 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:13.539 deity. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.779 Secondly it 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.099 shows us 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.559 that Jesus 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.059 is still 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.519 himself 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.200 personally 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.779 involved in 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.159 the missionary 00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:18.539 work of 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.000 his apostles. 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.159 Remember at 00:32:20.159 --> 00:32:20.460 the Great 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:20.960 Commission in 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.559 Matthew 28 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.339 Jesus promised 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.079 his disciples 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:24.220 surely I 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.639 will be with 00:32:24.639 --> 00:32:25.180 you always 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.599 to the very 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.059 end of the 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.399 age. 00:32:27.139 --> 00:32:27.759 This is how 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.379 he's fulfilling 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:28.899 that promise 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.700 through the 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.220 Spirit of 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.180 Jesus accompanying 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:32.319 and directing 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.960 their mission. 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:36.839 So we 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.359 as a 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:37.920 church are 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.119 in the 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:38.759 process of 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.559 training and 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:41.019 sending out 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.879 missionaries and 00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:42.799 as we make 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.519 our plans we 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.839 have to 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.379 remember that 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.180 it's God 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.960 who ultimately 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.059 directs our 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.379 missionary 00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:47.839 efforts. 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.079 I've said 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.420 this many 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.200 times but 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.859 successful 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.519 Christian 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.299 missions work 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.859 is never 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.259 a calculable 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.200 result of 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.859 man's 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.359 ingenious 00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.299 methods and 00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.859 man's 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.379 meticulous 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:00.819 plans. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.940 Never. 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:03.059 It is 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:04.019 always the 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.039 sovereign work 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.519 of the 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.019 Spirit of 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.279 God. 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.960 To be on 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.779 mission is to 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.519 be submitted to 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.180 the orders of 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.620 our general. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.559 To be guided 00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.240 by the Spirit 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.660 of Jesus. 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.360 Paul is not 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.500 so rigidly 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.080 attached to 00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:18.759 his own 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.660 plan that he 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.860 just barges 00:33:20.860 --> 00:33:21.660 into Phrygia 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.559 and Galatia 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.259 anyway after 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.779 being forbidden 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:24.259 by the Holy 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.700 Spirit from 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.180 doing so. 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.980 Well God I 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.660 can't do that. 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:29.620 It's part of 00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:30.100 my plan. 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.279 My 10 year 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.600 plan. 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.480 Have it all 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.920 figured out. 00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.940 Paul remained 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.559 pliable to 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:40.940 the will of 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.380 his master 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:42.580 and that's 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.059 what Christian 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:43.660 laborers should 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.279 see themselves 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:44.640 as. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:45.920 Completely 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.620 disposed to 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.019 the will of 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.259 God. 00:33:47.600 --> 00:33:48.039 Totally 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.980 expendable 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.160 and therefore 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:51.360 ever attentive 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.059 to the voice 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:52.620 of the Spirit. 00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.580 But this 00:33:55.580 --> 00:33:56.019 doesn't mean 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.299 that we 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.940 humans should 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.420 take no 00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:57.820 initiative. 00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.860 Notice that 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.519 Paul doesn't 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.100 just throw 00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:01.600 his hand up 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.019 in the air 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.899 and sit 00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.339 around when 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:03.839 God closes 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.279 doors. 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.399 When God 00:34:06.399 --> 00:34:06.919 closes the 00:34:06.919 --> 00:34:07.259 door to 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.679 Phrygia and 00:34:07.679 --> 00:34:08.000 Galatia, 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.420 look at what 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:08.880 Paul does. 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.159 He just 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.719 goes right to 00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.400 Mysia and 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:10.960 then tries to 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.219 go into 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:11.659 Bithynia. 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.400 So God 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.639 has to 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:12.980 close that 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.480 door too. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:15.039 And then 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.440 he goes to 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.960 Troas. 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.299 Troas was the 00:34:17.299 --> 00:34:18.219 primary Asian 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:18.779 harbor for 00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.619 ships destined 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.599 for Macedonia. 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.239 It's possible 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:22.699 that Paul was 00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:23.319 planning that 00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:23.699 and that the 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.079 Spirit of God 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.739 confirmed that 00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.219 in his vision. 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.539 If we wait 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.219 around for the 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:29.959 hand of God 00:34:29.959 --> 00:34:30.539 to appear 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.299 and then 00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:32.239 write on the 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:32.919 wall exactly 00:34:32.919 --> 00:34:33.779 what he wants 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.299 you to do, 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.199 we likely 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.699 won't get 00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.179 much work 00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.479 done. 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.519 Because God 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.339 often does not 00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:40.959 speak with that 00:34:40.959 --> 00:34:41.579 kind of clarity. 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.619 So we need to 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.219 learn to discern 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.699 God's will 00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:45.559 through closed 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.619 doors and 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.479 trust God to 00:34:47.479 --> 00:34:47.859 work through 00:34:47.859 --> 00:34:48.079 them. 00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:51.099 Paul doesn't 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.779 know exactly 00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.479 which city he 00:34:52.479 --> 00:34:53.039 should travel to 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.940 next, but he 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.659 does know that 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:55.119 God has 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:56.000 commanded him 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.539 to preach the 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.219 gospel to all 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:57.599 nations. 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:58.900 So when God 00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.679 closes one door, 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.239 he just goes to 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:01.259 another place in 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:01.820 an attempt to 00:35:01.820 --> 00:35:02.440 share the gospel 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:02.739 there. 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.639 Likewise for us, 00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:06.880 we do not need 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.800 to wait around 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:08.360 for the writing 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:08.920 on the wall. 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.460 You do know 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.059 that God has 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.019 called you to 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.739 be fishers of 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.000 men. 00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:14.900 You do know 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.519 that God has 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.440 commanded you to 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.079 share the gospel 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.779 with your neighbors. 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.300 You do know 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:19.980 that God has 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.039 called the church 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:22.340 to make disciples 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.700 of all nations. 00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:26.000 So the question 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.640 to ask is, 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.660 how can I be 00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:28.340 involved with 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:28.700 that? 00:35:30.720 --> 00:35:31.620 Everyone can be 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.200 involved with that 00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:33.019 in some way. 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.640 So we use our 00:35:34.640 --> 00:35:35.539 best discernment 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.280 and start working, 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.880 trusting that God 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.760 will close some 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:40.740 doors and redirect 00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:41.700 us as necessary. 00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.400 And when God 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.220 closes a door, 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.120 it means either 00:35:47.120 --> 00:35:47.940 that the work 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.500 we're currently 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.280 engaged in is 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:50.660 still not over, 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.440 or that he's 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.079 about to open 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.659 another one. 00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:54.820 He says in 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.840 verses 9 to 10, 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.079 and a vision 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.960 appeared to Paul 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.519 in the night. 00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:00.159 A man of Macedonia 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.099 was standing there 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.760 urging him, 00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:02.079 saying, 00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:02.980 come over to 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.679 Macedonia and 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.440 help us. 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.500 And when Paul 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.320 had seen the 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:06.579 vision, 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.200 immediately we 00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.720 sought to go 00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:09.340 on into Macedonia, 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.200 concluding that 00:36:10.200 --> 00:36:11.000 God had called 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.940 us to preach 00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.599 the gospel to 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:12.740 them. 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.139 So God shows 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.280 Paul a vision. 00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.659 He recognized 00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:17.599 this figure in 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.400 the vision as 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:18.820 a man of 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:19.240 Macedonia, 00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:19.739 so he must 00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:20.219 have been in 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.819 some kind of 00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:21.259 traditional 00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:21.759 Macedonian 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.639 attire to 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.359 be recognizable. 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.339 And then 00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:25.719 Paul, 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.639 after recognizing 00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:27.779 him, 00:36:27.919 --> 00:36:29.239 the man urges 00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:29.899 Paul to 00:36:29.899 --> 00:36:30.539 come over 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.359 to help 00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:31.639 them. 00:36:32.979 --> 00:36:33.359 And then it 00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:33.659 says in 00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:34.119 verse 10, 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:35.099 that immediately 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.679 we sought 00:36:36.679 --> 00:36:37.179 to go into 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:37.639 Macedonia. 00:36:39.399 --> 00:36:40.099 Notice it 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.559 says we. 00:36:40.939 --> 00:36:41.459 Paul doesn't 00:36:41.459 --> 00:36:42.099 unilaterally 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.859 decide this. 00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:44.299 Paul receives 00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:44.819 the vision from 00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:45.159 the Lord, 00:36:45.299 --> 00:36:46.179 tells his team, 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:47.719 and then we 00:36:47.719 --> 00:36:48.919 immediately sought 00:36:48.919 --> 00:36:49.679 to go on 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.519 into Macedonia. 00:36:52.339 --> 00:36:53.219 Once the team 00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:53.980 concludes that 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.779 Paul's vision is 00:36:54.779 --> 00:36:55.799 indeed directed 00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:56.419 from God, 00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:57.639 there's no debate. 00:36:58.339 --> 00:36:59.059 The time for 00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.819 discerning God's 00:36:59.819 --> 00:37:00.639 will is over. 00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:01.259 It's not time 00:37:01.259 --> 00:37:01.779 for obedience. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.539 And they obey 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.079 promptly, 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.019 immediately. 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.139 Notice their 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.519 laser focus on 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.219 their mission. 00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.599 There's no doubt 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.179 in their mind 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:13.079 what that vision 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:13.480 means. 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.719 They don't ask 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.399 after the vision, 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.579 so what are 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:16.900 we supposed 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.400 to do when 00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:17.780 we get to 00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.280 Macedonia? 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.840 Wait, wait, wait, 00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:20.680 don't go away 00:37:20.680 --> 00:37:21.460 man of Macedonia. 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.400 Tell us what 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.059 exactly you need 00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.680 help with. 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:24.940 You didn't tell us, 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.340 you just said 00:37:25.340 --> 00:37:25.900 help us. 00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:26.260 What do you 00:37:26.260 --> 00:37:26.840 need help with? 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.579 No such 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.200 questions are 00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:29.639 raised. 00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:30.519 Why? 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.039 Because they 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:32.099 know exactly 00:37:32.099 --> 00:37:33.220 what their 00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:34.800 mission is. 00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:37.280 To proclaim 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:37.940 the gospel 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.940 of Jesus Christ. 00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:40.280 They know 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:40.980 that that's 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.559 what the man 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.079 of Macedonia 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.079 needs most 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.960 to be saved. 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:52.840 that's our 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.400 mission too. 00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.260 To proclaim 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.900 the good news 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.579 of Jesus 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:58.300 being led 00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:58.820 by the Holy 00:37:58.820 --> 00:37:59.139 Spirit. 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:00.579 The Christian 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.500 life is all 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.160 about Jesus 00:38:02.160 --> 00:38:03.059 because Jesus 00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:03.780 is the way, 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:04.619 the truth, 00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.619 and the life. 00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:07.160 No one comes 00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:07.599 to the Father 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.420 except through 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:08.880 him because 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:09.380 there is no 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:09.860 other name 00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.340 under heaven 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.039 given to 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.340 mankind 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.079 by which we 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:12.480 must be 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.200 saved than 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:13.719 the name 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.579 of Jesus 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.399 because Jesus 00:38:15.399 --> 00:38:16.359 alone died 00:38:16.359 --> 00:38:17.019 for our sins 00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.699 and was raised 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:18.359 from the dead. 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:19.759 Because Jesus 00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.739 alone can offer 00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.759 forgiveness of sins 00:38:21.759 --> 00:38:22.719 because Jesus 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.939 alone promises 00:38:23.939 --> 00:38:24.899 eternal life 00:38:24.899 --> 00:38:25.719 and future 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.299 resurrection 00:38:26.299 --> 00:38:27.279 from the dead. 00:38:30.219 --> 00:38:31.460 Frederick Buechner, 00:38:31.899 --> 00:38:32.419 an American 00:38:32.419 --> 00:38:33.379 novelist and 00:38:33.379 --> 00:38:33.960 theologian, 00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:35.219 once famously 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:35.980 said this, 00:38:36.759 --> 00:38:37.359 the place 00:38:37.359 --> 00:38:38.480 God calls 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.059 you to 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:40.199 is a place 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:40.779 where your 00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:42.179 deep gladness 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:43.379 and the world's 00:38:43.379 --> 00:38:44.539 deep hunger 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:44.919 meet. 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.159 For us 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.439 as Christians, 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:49.939 brothers and 00:38:49.939 --> 00:38:50.219 sisters, 00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:51.500 our deepest 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.139 gladness 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.159 is Jesus 00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:53.679 Christ, 00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.199 our Savior. 00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.599 And the world's 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:59.000 deepest hunger 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:00.179 is for 00:39:00.179 --> 00:39:01.219 Jesus Christ. 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:05.519 proclaiming 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:05.879 Jesus 00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:06.899 is precisely 00:39:06.899 --> 00:39:07.539 where our 00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:08.480 deep gladness 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.259 and the world's 00:39:09.259 --> 00:39:09.919 deep hunger 00:39:09.919 --> 00:39:10.539 meet. 00:39:12.279 --> 00:39:13.539 So how can we 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.639 orient our lives 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.559 around this 00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:15.939 mission? 00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:17.459 Are you willing 00:39:17.459 --> 00:39:18.219 to drop what 00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:18.839 you're doing 00:39:18.839 --> 00:39:20.259 to lose 00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:21.359 what you value 00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.379 in order to 00:39:22.379 --> 00:39:23.379 pursue this 00:39:23.379 --> 00:39:23.759 calling? 00:39:27.959 --> 00:39:28.639 That's the 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:29.299 posture of the 00:39:29.299 --> 00:39:29.980 servants of Christ 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.559 and Paul and his 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.199 missionary companion 00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:32.099 responded with 00:39:32.099 --> 00:39:32.500 that kind of 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:32.839 faith and 00:39:32.839 --> 00:39:33.239 obedience, 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.500 and the result 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.500 quite literally 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:36.179 changed the 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.859 course of human 00:39:36.859 --> 00:39:37.239 history. 00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.579 This is what 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.119 New Testament 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:41.899 scholar Richard 00:39:41.899 --> 00:39:42.419 Longnecker 00:39:42.419 --> 00:39:43.119 says about 00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:43.699 this verse. 00:39:44.899 --> 00:39:45.519 Authentic 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.319 turning points 00:39:46.319 --> 00:39:47.039 in history 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:47.739 are few, 00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:49.339 but surely 00:39:49.339 --> 00:39:49.939 among them 00:39:49.939 --> 00:39:50.500 that of the 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:51.079 Macedonian 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:51.899 vision ranks 00:39:51.899 --> 00:39:52.319 high. 00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:53.879 Because of 00:39:53.879 --> 00:39:54.559 Paul's obedience 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:55.319 at this point, 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:56.119 the gospel 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:57.579 went westward, 00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:58.699 and ultimately 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.799 Europe and 00:39:59.799 --> 00:40:00.299 the western 00:40:00.299 --> 00:40:01.019 world were 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.780 evangelized. 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:03.699 Christian 00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.400 response to 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:04.880 the call of 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.639 God is never 00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.119 a trivial 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:06.519 thing. 00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:07.800 Indeed, 00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:08.460 as in this 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:08.920 instance, 00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:10.019 great issues 00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:11.139 and untold 00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:12.219 blessings may 00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:13.039 depend on 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.239 it. 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:16.199 No 00:40:16.199 --> 00:40:17.000 obedience is 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.820 too small in 00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:18.360 the cause of 00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:18.679 Christ. 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:20.380 So let us 00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:21.159 faithfully 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:22.099 proclaim the 00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:22.420 gospel, 00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.599 discerning God's 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:24.079 will through 00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:24.679 conflicts, 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.619 controversies, 00:40:25.719 --> 00:40:26.039 and closed 00:40:26.039 --> 00:40:26.360 doors, 00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.940 while trusting 00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.420 God to 00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.820 work through 00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.200 them all. 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:30.820 Let's pray. 00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:34.000 God, 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:38.119 increase, 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:39.960 increase our 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:40.760 gladness in 00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:41.099 Jesus, 00:40:42.099 --> 00:40:44.659 and increase 00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:45.420 our awareness 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.740 of the world's 00:40:46.740 --> 00:40:47.480 desperate hunger 00:40:47.480 --> 00:40:47.980 for Jesus. 00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:48.980 God, 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.980 amen. 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.980 Amen. 00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.960 Make us 00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:53.159 more attentive 00:40:53.159 --> 00:40:53.920 to and 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.800 sensitive to 00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.719 the voice 00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:56.019 of your 00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.400 spirit, 00:40:57.260 --> 00:41:00.039 and give 00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.659 us wisdom 00:41:00.659 --> 00:41:03.500 as we make 00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.000 decisions, 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:06.320 as we 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:06.980 trudge along, 00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:10.579 carrying our 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.940 cross and 00:41:11.940 --> 00:41:12.480 following our 00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:12.740 Savior. 00:41:12.739 --> 00:41:16.119 Jesus' name 00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:16.479 we pray. 00:41:16.919 --> 00:41:17.399 Amen.