When Good People Differ

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 “But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas   Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 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 Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. "  [Acts 15:35-41]

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When Good People Differ

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch at this time, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. The time had come to begin the Second Missionary Journey. Paul broached the subject to Barnabas, suggesting that they revisit the cities where they had previously preached the word. When Barnabas insisted that his cousin,  Mark, accompany them, Paul strongly opposed the plan. Paul remembered vividly how Mark had departed from them in Pamphylia, and doubtless feared he would do it again. The contention between Barnabas and Paul became so sharp that these two honored servants of the Lord parted from one another.

Good people differ. Through we all might be filled with the same Holy Spirit, we see things through different eyes. Part of this is because we are different people, and part of this is because we grow in different ways.

In this passage, Paul, a visionary apostle, was interested in maximum mileage with minimum distraction. But Barnabas, a builder of people, saw great potential in Mark and didn’t want him left on the side of the road as wreckage.  Who was right? They both were. Barnabas dropped out of the story and out of the limelight. But he continued to do what he knew he should do—build up other people. Paul moved on to plant churches and open new regions for the gospel. At the end of his life, Paul looked back with gratitude for the work Barnabas did with Mark.  Later we learned that Mark was one of the few people Paul could count on after almost everyone else had deserted him.  Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

Next time you find yourself disagreeing with another Christian, consider a new possibility: you both might be right.
If you whole-heartedly want to glorify God, you can’t go wrong!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” [Romans 8:28]



Paul's Helpful Minister

 “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”  [2 Timothy 4:9-11]

Bring Mark with you, he is helpful in ministry




Sinful Condition - "The Ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib..."

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 “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel?"  [Isaiah 1:4-5]

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Sinful Condition

Sometimes when people are especially sinful we speak of them as behaving like animals. Isaiah said, in effect, “I wish I could say Israel was acting like animals.” At least animals have the instincts to do what is best for themselves. But sin causes human beings to act against their own best interests –even when they’re trying to be selfish!

The people of Israel were God’s chosen ones, his children. He cared and provided for them and protected them. Most important he loved them.  But they were like ungrateful children, rebellious against his authority, as well as his commands to maintain a just society and to worship only him.

The Lord does not accept ignorance as an excuse. Even ignorant animals knew better than God’s people. Their ignorant rebellion hurt them.

Later in his prophecy, Isaiah warned of judgment, and then he promised deliverance, including the coming of Christ. But first, he made a case for the seriousness of sin for how hurtful it is. We should listen too; we’re just as sinful as the Israelites, and we still need a Savior.




"The Ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib..."

 “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.  The ox knows its owner,
    and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know,     my people do not understand.””  [Isaiah 1:2-3]

Ox and Donkey




...AND THE IRON DID FLOAT

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 “As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe-head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" ...Elisha cut a stick and threw it there...    "  [2 Kings 6:5-6]

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...AND THE IRON DID FLOAT

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”

And he said, “Go.”

Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

“I will,” Elisha replied.  And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.  As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe-head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”

The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.  “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

The axe-head seemed hopelessly lost, and as it was borrowed, the honor of the prophetic band was likely to be imperiled, and so the name of their God to be compromised. Contrary to all expectation, the iron was made to mount from the depth of the stream and to float; for things impossible with man are possible with God. 

Beloved reader, what is your desperate case? What heavy matter you have in hand? Bring it here. The God of the prophets lives, and lives to help his saints. Believe thou in the Lord of hosts! Approach him pleading the name of Jesus, and the iron shall float; you too shall see the finger of God working marvels for his people. According to your faith shall it be unto you, and yet again the iron shall float. 




IRON FLOATS

 “The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.”  [2 Kings 6:6]

Floating Axe-Head




 

A King Demanded - Samuel Anointed Saul

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 “So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ... “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.  As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.  Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” "  [1  Samuel 8:4-9, 19-20]

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A King Demanded

God called Israel out from the nations around them to  be holy, separate, and unique. He did it because he loved them and wanted them to survive. But the Israelites were tired of being different, of serving a God nobody could see. They wanted a human monarch to rule the nation, even though only God could cause them to flourish in the hostile land of Canaan.

But Samuel warned them that having a king wouldn’t make all their problems go away. He would reign over them and force their sons and daughters into servitude. Still, they begged. In reality, they were rejecting God as their leader. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s ultimate leadership, they would have thrived beyond their expectations. Instead, they set themselves up for disaster.

When the people persisted in their demand, despite the warning, the Lord again told Samuel to do as they asked and make them a king. The prophet then sent the people home. Soon they would have their king.

Often, we let others’ values and actions dictate our behavior. When we pay lip service to God and Sunday but continue to live by the world’s standards, we’ll blend into our culture too much. Faith in God must permeate every area of our lives. We need to stand out and worship God alone. We live under his kingship.




Samuel Anointed Saul

 “Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over his inheritance?”  [1 Samuel 10:1]

Prophet Samuel anoints Saul




 

The Fruit of the Spirit

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 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  [Galatians 5:16-21]

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Walk by the Spirit

Notice two words in this passage: deeds and fruit. Operating from the part of us not connected to Christ, we do deeds. Our deeds may be religious, but in the end, they will stink. Fruit, however, arrives a different way. You can’t “do” fruit; you can only grow fruit. For fruit to grow, it must be connected to the tree. Without roots, there is no fruit.

But how is this fruit produced? Is it by man’s effort? Not at all. It is produced as Christians live in communion with the Lord. As they gaze upon the Savior in loving devotion, and obey Him in daily life, the Holy Spirit works a wonderful miracle. He transforms them into the likeness of Christ. They become like Him by beholding Him.

Many frustrated people will go around trying to do deeds of love, joy, peace, patience, and so on. But this is not how fruit is grown. Fruit is grown by our connection to the Spirit of Christ.

We walk by the Spirit when we invite him in. And whenever something gets in the way, we need to keep inviting the Spirit in. When we lack love, joy, peace, or patience, we need the Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit transform will transform our lives.



The Fruit of the Spirit

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  [Galatians 5:22-24]

Fruits




...AND THE CHAINS FELL OFF

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 “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. "  [Acts 12:6-7]

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...AND THE CHAINS FELL OFF

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.   Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.  They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.  Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.  When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”  But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.  Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.  After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
The key here is "but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Earnest prayer brings great deliverance.


ANGEL RESCUES PETER

 “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches..”  [Acts 12:11]

Angel Rescues Peter




Israelites Walked on Dry Ground

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 “By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea."  [Exodus 15:8]

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Israelites Walked on Dry Ground

When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 15:19
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot--come, let us rejoice in him [Psalm 66:6].

The LORD directed the children of Israel southward to Pi Hahiroth, somewhere west of the Red Sea. This made escape from pharaoh seem impossible, but made the miracle of dividing the Red Sea more  marvelous.  Pharaoh thought they were trapped and set out after them with his army. When the children of Israel raised their eyes and saw the Egyptian army marching after them they were naturally petrified, but wisely cried out to the LORD.  Yet, quickly complained to Moses, saying it would have been better for them to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. This was sheer unbelief on their part. Moses told them to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.

One of the greatest miracles in all history was about to occur:
The LORD instructed Moses, ..."Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

The Angel of God took His place as a pillar of cloud at the rear of the host of Israel, protecting them from the Egyptians. The pillar of cloud provided light for the Israelites and darkness for the Egyptians. At Moses' bidding the Red Sea parted, forming two walls of water with a path of dry land between. The Israelites passed through safely, but when Pharaoh's army tried to follow, the LORD.. troubled them and disabled their chariots so that they drove them with difficulty. Before they could retreat, the sea closed in on them at Moses' command.

The same faith that opened up the Read Sea enables us to do the impossible when we are moving forward in the will of God. May God help us to walk in faith.



The LORD divides the Red Sea

 “But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. ”  [Exodus 14:29]

 Israelites walked on Dry Ground




God Disciplines His Children

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 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,  and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.  [Hebrews 12:5-8]

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God Disciplines His Children

The passage distinctly states that God’s discipline is a proof of His love, and no son of His escapes chastisement. By remaining submissive to the chastening of God, we permit His discipline to m old us into His image. If we try to short-circuit His dealings with us, He may have to teach us over a longer period of time, using more instructive and consequently, more difficult methods. There are grades in the school of God, and promotion comes only when we have learned our lessons.

So when testing comes to us, we should realize that God is treating us as sons. In any normal father-son relationship, the father trains his son because he loves him and wants the best for him. God loves us too much to let us develop naturally.

In the spiritual realm, those who do not experience God’s discipline are illegitimate children, not true sons. After all, a gardener does not prune thistles, but does prune grapevines. As in the natural, so it is the same in the spiritual.

Most of us have experienced discipline from our human fathers. We did not interpret this as sign that they hated us. We realized that they were interested in our welfare, and we paid them respect.

How much more should we respect the training of the Father of spirits and live! God is the Father(or source) of all beings that are spirit or that have a spirit. Man is a spirit dwelling in a human body. By being subject to God we enjoy life in its truest sense.  God’s discipline is always perfect. His love is infinite and His wisdom is infallible.


A Father Disciplines His Child

 A father disciplines his child


 “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ”  [Hebrews 12:9-11]

 

"How shall we escape if we neglect such a GREAT SALVATION?"

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 “ For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,  while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”   [Hebrews 2:2-4]

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"How shall we escape if we neglect such a GREAT SALVATION?"

Jews attached special importance to the ministry of angels in their history. Perhaps the leading instance of this was in the giving of the law when myriads of angelic beings were present (Deut. 33:2). It is true that the law was spoken through angels. It is true that it was valid. It is true that every infraction was punished accordingly.

If those who broke the law were punished, what will be fate of those who neglect the gospel? The law tells men what they must do and they must not do; the gospel tells men what God has done. By the law is the knowledge of sin; by the gospel is the knowledge of salvation.

To neglect so great salvation is more serious than to transgress the law. The law was given by God through angels, to Moses and then to the people. But the gospel was spoken directly by the Lord Jesus Himself. Not only so, it was confirmed to the early Christians by the apostles and by others who heard the Savior.
God Himself authenticated the message by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of all these miracles was to attest to the truth of the gospel, especially to the Jewish people, who traditionally asked for some sign before they would believe.

When the Son of Man returns to reign over the earth, man’s dominion will be restored. Jesus, as Man, will restore what Adam lost, and more besides. So while we do not see everything under man’s control at the present time, we do see Jesus, and in Him we find the key to man’s eventual rule over the earth.

God’s gracious purpose was that Christ might taste death for everyone. The Savior died as our Representative and as our Substitute; that is, He died as man and He died for man. He bore in His body on the cross all God’s judgment against sin so that those who believe on Him will never have to bear it.

Dear friend, do you believe the gospel? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, who died as a Substitute for you?  “…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”




Angel Brings Good News (Gospel)

 Angel brings Good News of Great Joy to all People


 “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news (gospel)  that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  [Luke 2:9-11]

 

Put on the full armor of God

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 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”   [Ephesians 6:13]

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BE STRONG IN THE LORD

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Eph. 6:14-17.

The first preparatory command is that we should be continually strengthened in the Lord and in the boundless resources of His might. God's best soldiers are those who are conscious of their weakness and ineffectiveness, and who rely solely on Him.

The second instruction is concerned with the need for divine armor. The believer must put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil. It is necessary to be completely armed; one or two pieces will not do.

The devil has various stratagems--discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error. He knows our weakest point and aims for it. If he cannot disable us by one method, he will try for another.

The first piece of armor mentioned is the belt of truth. Certainly we must be faithful in holding the truth of God's word. The second piece is the breastplate of righteousness. Every believer is clothed with the righteousness of God, but he must also manifest integrity and uprightness in his personal life. The soldier must have his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We must be ready to go out with the good news of peace, and therefore an invasion into enemy territory.  When we relax in our tents, we are in deadly peril.

In addition, the soldier must take the shield of faith so that when the fiery darts of the wicked one come at him, they will hit the shield and fall harmlessly to the ground. Faith here is firm confidence in the Lord and in His word. The helmet God provides is salvation. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Finally, the soldier takes the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  The classic illustration of this is our Lord's use of this sword in His encounter with Satan.  Three times He quoted the word of God--not just random verses but the appropriate verses which the Holy Spirit gave Him for that occasion.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying. May God give you strength to overcome the devil.



FULL ARMOR OF GOD

 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  [Ephesians 6:11]

 

Roman Soldier