The Lord Jesus is Alive
Paul & Barnabas Preached the Word of the Lord
Welcome to you, to our Book of Acts Bible Study, “The Lord Jesus Promotes Apostle Paul but the Church in Jerusalem Disagrees – Christ!” Today, we shall continue to examine Acts Chapter Fifteen, Acts 15:36 – 41, part three of three.
“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they do,” Acts 15:36.
However, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, Acts 15:37. Paul, however, disagreed vehemently and “thought” it “not good” to take him with them because he did not complete the first missionary journey, Acts 15:38.
The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas “was so sharp” they separated from each other and went separate routes. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus; and “Paul chose Silas” and departed to Syria and Cilicia “confirming the Churches,” Acts15:41.
The Holy Ghost commissioned and sent both Apostle Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary Journey. They have completed that assignment but now Apostle Paul has a desire to revisit each Church and confirm it in the faith. Apostle Barnabas felt the same way too. This was not the will of the Lord He wanted them to separate.
The Lord Jesus is sovereign in every situation. The Lord had promoted Apostle Paul over Apostle Barnabas. Apostle Barnabas has been a Christian longer than Paul has; the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
The Lord Called them – “Paul and Barnabas”
The Apostles of the Church in Jerusalem knew and continued to refer to them as “Barnabas and Paul” instead of “Paul and Barnabas” as the Lord does. Matter of fact, in a letter, the Church in Jerusalem referred to them as “our beloved Barnabas and Paul,” indicating whom they thought was senior but that was not the Lord’s choice, Acts15:25. The Apostles in Jerusalem, by referring to them as such were openly, expressing their preference of Apostle Barnabas over Paul.
In Acts chapter fifteen the Holy Ghost references the two-man team of Paul and Barnabas, in that order, Acts 15:2, 22 & 35. Whenever others spoke about them, they reversed the order of the Holy Ghost by mentioning Barnabas before Paul, Acts 15:12 & 25.
This strained situation between Paul and Barnabas had the potential to damage more than these two apostles, therefore, the Lord allowed the separation of Paul from Barnabas for Him to continue accomplish His purpose through Paul. The Lord showed He’s still in control!
In closing, the Lord Jesus saved Paul and gave him a name change from Saul to Paul. Then he told him of his purpose in the Kingdom of Heaven and promoted him over Barnabas. The Apostles in Jerusalem and Barnabas were disturbed over it because Paul was a persecutor of the Church. The Holy Ghost allowed Paul and Barnabas to separate from each other to continue His work and fulfill His purpose through both. In everything, the Lord is sovereign!
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Evangelist Murl Spinks
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Thank you Evangelist Spinks for you time and interest in my two cents worth for the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I’m yet to do a “Missionary Bible Study”. As soon as it’s done I will sent it to you. Blessings in the name of Jesus.
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