First Missionary Journey Continues Acts 13:14-52

Let's begin this morning's service by a brief word of prayer.

I praise you above all for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray this morning that the Holy Spirit would descend mightily and speak to every man, woman, and child, not only here physically present, but whomever may be hearing this message, and that you would speak specifically according to the needs and to the purpose of each individual.

We pray that we would leave this place more encouraged, hopeful, joyful.

We pray in the name of the beloved Lord Jesus Christ and all His people said Amen.

You may have noticed this morning that the reading covered 40 verses.

We will do our very very best to do with justice and you can't blink because you're going to potentially miss something.

There's a lot of stuff happening in these 40 verses.

It's transition in leadership and it's a time of transition with regards to the people who are going to be hearing the message.

A mission is an undertaking, a pursuit, an endeavor with a specific purpose and goal.

This mission is an offshoot of the Great Commission that the Lord Jesus Christ left to all of his leaders, his apostles.

Now we have 3 individuals who figure prominently in this story.

Not to be confused with John the Baptist or the Apostle John, but it's John also known as Mark.

And he goes from being known as John to becoming Mark.

There's another guy whose name, original name was Joseph.

So we have John Mark, we have Joseph the Levite who becomes Barnabas, and finally we have a character who was known previously as Saul, and now he becomes Paul.

And the transition is that previous to this passage this morning it used to be Barnabas and Saul and from this moment on it's Paul and his companions and it causes an issue We'll see that it causes problems.

And we have our friend John Mark who we find out is not always reliable.

As a matter of fact, he's quite the opposite of that.

But he goes on to write the Gospel of Mark.

And if we can just quickly take a look at a map and if you were here last week, if you were here last week we had Doug Virgent introduce the first mission.

I'm bringing up this map so that you can visualize because also the names are a source of confusion here.

That mission starts from Antioch in Syria where it's marked the starting point.

We're heading southwest to Cyprus, which is the beginning point of the mission, and it was the object of last week's message.

And then, Paul and his companions get on a ship and they head northwest to Perga, which is modern-day Turkey.

And as if things were not complicated to begin with, the ultimate objective is another Antioch.

It's not Antioch from Syria, but Antioch-Pisidian, and it's a straight climb by some estimates between 3, 600 and 4, 000 feet heading there.

And they end up in a synagogue where they're invited to speak.

And of importance, the last line where we see the path that John Mark, John Mark returns to Israel.

So John Mark starts off with all of these characters.

But somehow something happens on the ship.

There's heated discussion in the ship so by the time they get to Perga we read and it's easy to just miss it But we read that John Mark does what?

So he gets to Perga and then he gets on a ship going back to Jerusalem.

So we know that there it starts off with 3 people at least and we're down to 2 because of an argument and we'll talk about potential reasons that caused that argument and 1 of the lessons that I want to convey today is that believers are far from being perfect.

These are the superstars of the Christian gospel of that time and there's infighting and bickering and division.

There were a million reasons for this whole thing to fail.

We're not talking about a couple of guys starting a mega company in a garage.

There's no advanced team, there's no human resources, there's no finance, there's no security, there's no rule of law There's opposition and adversity and enemies on every single side This thing should have failed, it should have failed, it didn't have a chance The odds were all stacked against it.

I'm standing here and I'm going to speak to you about the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of Christianity today.

Now I know a lot of you may be discouraged because you look in Quebec and you get the feeling that nothing is happening.

And yes indeed it's tough slugging in Quebec.

It's tough slugging in the rest of Canada and it's difficult in the rest of North America.

But I want to assure you this morning that the gospel is moving forward and powerfully throughout the whole world.

It started in Jerusalem and it's just like throwing a rock into a body of water and you have these concentric circles that keep spreading and spreading and spreading and spreading and it's growing mightily in South America and Central America.

The gospel is moving forward mightily in Africa, in Asia, everywhere.

So there may be dry spots but we are not to be discouraged or feel defeated because let me tell you something categorically and unequivocally God Categorically and unequivocally, God cannot be defeated.

And sometimes we may have reason to be discouraged.

Because what happened 2, 000 years ago about this infighting happens today.

And it happens among people who should know better and yet and yet God chooses to use weak and fallible people who love him to achieve his greater goal and his greater purpose.

People fight and are wrong and they fight over turf.

It's not only money, but they fight over turf and territory and influence.

And in spite of us, despite us, the gospel moves forward.

And we'll see that when John Mark turns tail and heads back to Jerusalem, this thing should have failed.

I don't know if you've ever been in a group of people in a project, whether it's at school, at work, and you all start off with these wonderful ideas and ideals and purpose and object and you're going to do a great thing and somehow in the group there's always 1 person who's a troublemaker, who's an agitator.

There's always someone who's saying, well I would be better at doing this or so-and-so is not pulling their weight or so-and-so should be doing more or should be doing things differently.

This happens again and we'll look into it.

I need you to remember those words because we're going to come back to them at the very end.

But this message, this message, this transition, 1 of the transitions is all about anyone, every individual.

So I'll keep you guessing and we'll revisit those 3 words afterwards.

This is the first time we find out about him.

He's introduced in Acts chapter 12 verse 12 when he realized this.

He, this being Peter, went to the house of Mary as if we don't have enough Marys in Scripture.

The mother of John whose other name was Mark.

Where many were gathered together and were praying.

So this is the first time we hear about John Mark.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

When they arrived in Salamis, and you may have noticed that Salamis was in Cyprus when they left Antioch, they proclaimed the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and they had John to assist them.

Now Paul and his companions in Acts 13.13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga.

Remember when they took the ship and they're heading towards Turkey?

And they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

How come halfway during the trip, this guy, the helper, who's been brought on to the team, gets up and leaves?

And by the way, do you notice something else in Acts chapter 13 verses 13 with regards to the appellation and designation of the team now it's no longer Barnabas and Saul it's Paul and his companions set sail there's a transition here there's a transition The new leader or the top guy or at least the face of the mission is a guy named Paul who used to be known as Saul.

Paul is a Greek name that the Gentiles would recognize.

Just in case you weren't aware, Barnabas and John Mark are relatives.

So in the secular world, in the business world, In the criminal world, people are often fighting over territory, turf.

Because whoever controls the territory and the turf controls the money.

And they also control something else that's not money.

It's who decides what we do, when we do it, and how we do it.

So when there's a change of leadership here, The influence of Paul is on the ascent and Barnabas is not necessarily a guy who's been cast out but the front man because if you were here last week the guy who got up and challenged the sorcerer was who?

He was the guy who got up and had the chutzpah To challenge everyone and to speak truth to them.

So something is happening here and there's speculation as to why Mark went back to Jerusalem.

It may have been an argument over territory and leadership and power.

By the way, he may very well be the guy also in Mark chapter 14, who's there when Jesus is arrested.

And he's got dressed in a hurry and he was just wearing linen.

And when they came to arrest Jesus, he decided to run away as well.

And he was left in a very embarrassing state, if you remember the story, when he had to escape.

Someone latched onto him and he was in such a hurry to take off that he wasn't wearing anything.

So there's not a very good history here for John Mark.

There's 1 word that's underlined that refers to John Mark.

Barnabas wanted to take, subsequent to our passage, there was another mission.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them.

But Paul did not think it wise to take him because he had deserted them in Panthila and had not continued with them in the work.

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

Barnabas took Mark and Sale for Cyprus and Paul ended up taking Silas with him.

Brothers and sisters, this is dysfunctional.

When people say they had a sharp disagreement, that is a very polite way of saying that there was a major role.

And I want to ask you inside of yourselves, who was right?

Was Paul right in saying, listen here Barney, this guy, When things get tough and the rubber hits the road, what does he do?

How can we possibly, how can we possibly do this again?

We've seen this movie and we know the way it ends.

He's a good guy and all, but he's not someone we can rely on.

Who's the guy who came out and brought you on board?

Who's the 1 who brought you in the fold when you were a pariah.

Oh by the way I'm fast-forwarding here but further on there's a happy ending.

I think we got that a happy ending too soon But Luke alone is with me.

Luke alone, by the way, the same guy who wrote this letter, he's the only guy with me.

Get Mark, he's no longer John, he's Mark, and bring him with you.

So the same guy who wanted to turf, this is Paul writing.

We don't want to have anything to do with John, aka Mark.

And here we are several epistles later and says, oh by the way I'm all alone with Luke.

This is where we have the introduction of Joseph.

Joseph who was also called by the Apostles Barnabas.

Why do people give other people alternate names?

Because that alternate name says something about them it's descriptive of their character especially when everyone's got the same name in this church I'm John the Italian we have Johnny the drummer we have Johnny from the Philippines We have another guy whose last name is John, Joe Ash John from India.

So we're looking for ways to distinguish 1 person from the other.

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples.

He wants to be friends with the apostles.

How are the other people feeling about him?

By the way, we're going to call a spade a spade.

He's a bad, bad, or at least he was a very bad man.

If We go back to Acts chapter 7 when we were first introduced to him and beginning in the first verse of chapter 8 we find out that Saul was the number 1 cheerleader in this hunt against the Christians.

For they did not believe that he was a disciple.

As a matter of fact, He was so wise in the ways of manipulation that many believed that He pretended to be a Christian so He could get closer to them so He could take more of them out.

But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen, he being Saul, had seen the Lord who spoke to him and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

So when we got Barnabas he's taking a huge risk.

He's putting literally his arm around Saul and he's saying he's 1 of us now you can trust him he took him and brought him this Barnabas guy is pretty special he may no longer be the face of the ministry he's a very special guy next verse The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

When he came and saw the grace of God he was glad and he exhorted them.

He's not only positive, he's an encourager.

Every church needs half a dozen Barnabases, okay.

When everyone's down in the dumps, This is the guy who lifts everyone's spirits and says, you know what?

Sent Barnabas to Antioch when he came and he said, all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose for he was what he was a good man full of what full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and the great many people were added to the Lord so Barnabas what does he do He goes to Tarsus and who's in Tarsus?

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people.

And in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.

This is how all of that group starts off with the first mission as they sail Cyprus.

So if there's no, if God is not using Barnabas to vouch for Saul, if he's not using Barnabas to look at Tarsus, because if you look at our map, Tarsus is pretty much along the coast of the Mediterranean, but to the northwest.

It was a huge trip to go and get this character and bring him back to Antioch.

All of this is very interesting and very nice and we all feel good.

What's the application as they're embarking on this important mission?

We know in this story, when Pat read the passage, that there's serious stuff going on afterwards.

Because Paul and his companions are becoming way too popular.

In the space of a week the whole city, the whole city is following them and what does that create?

Some other people are losing their influence.

Some other people are losing their power.

This guy is a bit too powerful for his own good.

Here we are and we're at Antioch, Pisidian.

If you study the book of Acts you will notice that whether it's Stephen or Peter, they address the children of Israel.

The address always starts with men of Israel, children of Abraham.

But transition number 2 takes place here.

Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and listen this is a pretty bold thing.

When people put up their hands, what does that mean?

The manner in which Paul addresses his audience.

In the past, they would have been fellow Israelites.

It's fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!

This is another version, you who fear God.

My version specifically calls out you Gentiles.

Because right now in essence what He's saying is that this is not only reserved.

This good news, this message of peace and reconciliation, This message of Jesus is not only for the Jews and for the men of Israel.

In pop culture, in modern culture today, people like to use the words diversity and inclusion as if they invented something new let me tell you before the people today came up with inclusion and diversity Inclusion and diversity existed 2, 000 years ago.

And who are the people that came up with it?

Through the message of Jesus being the Savior of mankind.

I look up here this morning and all of you people kind of look different.

Not the music you like, not the food you eat, not the stuff that you find funny, you got 1 big thing in common the most important 1 it's the Lord Jesus Christ and your trust in Jesus and calling Him your Savior and your Master that's what you have in common and I look at all of these diverse faces and there's no preferential treatment you're all in It doesn't matter where you come from.

It doesn't matter the language that you speak.

And if you don't read the words carefully, you can easily glance over them.

The message is addressed not only to the children of Israel but it's addressed God-fearing people, to God-fearing Gentiles.

2 times in this passage, in verse 26 again, Paul says, fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles.

It's no longer a guy called Saul with his Jewish name.

But He has, he's using now his Hellenistic name.

The same character, now when people ask me how do you know that God exists?

The same character who was an assassin and whose mission in life, His purpose in life was to kill anything and anyone remotely associated with Jesus.

He does a 180 And now with the same energy, maybe even more, with the same passion, with an incredible purpose, He's willing to lay it all on the line for Jesus.

This thing should have been dead in the water 2, 000 years ago.

When they buried him and they put guards in front of the grave this thing should have been dead in the water.

As a matter of fact, even though you get the impression that in Quebec things are not too good with regard to that, and that may or may not be true because we don't know what God is doing behind the scenes.

I would not propose to put myself in God's shoes and know what He's doing in the hearts and minds of every man, woman, and child.

But let me tell you something that by some conservative estimates, there are 40, 000 people every single day that come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ worldwide.

It's happening in spite of people arguing.

It's happening in spite of God's people being divided at times, and it's happening in spite of the strife and divisiveness.

Because at the end of the day, the Holy Spirit, by the way, Acts is all about the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of Jesus and the Spirit of God is the driver.

So that is why notwithstanding our failings, We're not the ones doing it.

So we would be wise to remember when we think we're doing stuff, that it's the Holy Spirit, it's the actual presence of God.

This thing should have been dead in the water.

Because I know that despite weakness and failing and division and shortcomings of His people and let's call it the way it is The movement known as Christianity, the spreading of the good news The good news being the message of peace and reconciliation with God through His Son Jesus crucified, Redeemer of mankind, who took on my sin and your sin.

So brothers and sisters don't be discouraged this morning.

Even if someone here in the church hurt your feelings don't let it affect your relationship with God I don't know this is a takeaway right now please listen carefully it's a takeaway Why is it when believers who do bad things to other believers and we're disappointed because other believers we have higher expectations they know better they should be nice they should be good they shouldn't be selfish And when believers do bad things to other believers, who do we take it out on?

People inevitably blame God for the weaknesses and shortcomings and failings of other people even if they're believers.

The next time a believer disappoints you it's not God who's disappointing you because most of us say God how can you let this happen these people know better they know you they read scripture the Holy Spirit lives in them why are they doing these bad things why are you surprised it happened 2, 000 years ago this John Mark character his feelings were hurt because his cousin wasn't the lead guy anymore.

And by the way, in the argument between Paul and Barnabas, who's right and who's wrong?

If I had been there at the time I may have cited on the side of Paul because I look at someone's past and history and say you know what he's got a terrible track record.

If you're a Québécois, you know what that means.

And here you have this extraordinary guy, Barnabas, who doesn't even mind being eclipsed.

He doesn't mind that Paul has become the lead guy.

He sees the big picture and he understands the big picture.

So in church politics, in Bible study groups, in meetings, inevitably people will rub people the wrong way.

You need to remember this right now when that happens.

By the way, did any of these people, was it God's fault when all of these 3 guys got into a ruckus?

By the way, these guys are superstars of their time.

In hindsight, they are the superstars of the faith.

See all Rosemount Bible Church Sermons transcripts on Applepodcasts

Rosemount Bible Church