Copyright © S P Townsend
WCF - THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Study Number 27: Acts 15 v 36 - 16 v 5
8 Oct 1989
Two weeks ago we considered two vital principles of mission that were
in the forefront of outreach from the Antioch church, namely
partnership and prayer.
Today we will consider further principles, and follow up on one aspect
of prayer that we need to grasp more fully.
Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch for a long period of time, where they with others continued to teach and preach the word of the Lord. Eventually they believed it was right to return again to the places they had visited previously, in Cyprus and Galatia, to strengthen the new churches that had been established. There was a dispute about personnel, and eventually Barnabas and John Mark revisited Cyprus, while Paul and Silas (who had been sent to Antioch from the Jerusalem church) went through Syria and Cilicia, and eventually to the towns of Derbe, Lystra and Iconium. They took with them copies of the letter from the leaders at Jerusalem concerning the Jewish faith and the keeping of the law of Moses, and were able to encourage the disciples in each place they visited. At Lystra (remember the superstition at this city, and the great miracles the Lord demonstrated there) a young man named Timothy joined Paul's group and travelled with them. The churches in the whole area were strengthened and grew daily in numbers.
Furlough is a traditional period of leave of absence from mission work during which time missionaries are refreshed and are able to visit their home church, and other supporting groups and churches. Paul and Barnabas also took a break from their missionary journeys. How was this time used?
Acts 14 v 27,28. The purpose being to share what God had done through them, as well as to be encouraged and strengthened through renewed fellowship. This wasn't just one or two meetings; they stayed a long time!
Suppose you were to report back to another Christian group that you know, encouraging them with all the things God is doing. What would you tell them? Prayers that have been answered? People becoming disciples? Your own Christian growth? Breakthroughs in difficult areas? New doors opening? Perseverance in the face of difficulty and opposition? Why not plan now to write a report/prayer letter of your own to be sent out with your Christmas cards this Christmas?
Acts 15:2-4. The purpose being to visit other groups to encourage them with the news of all that God had been doing, and to carry out essential inter-church communication. It is this last point that is so often lacking in the way modern Western missions are structured. So often churches are visited by missionaries representing a particular society, and the links between the churches and the society are strengthened, but those between the churches themselves are not! Think about a few missionaries you know that have been home on deputation work for their society; do you know anything at all about the churches they visited whilst doing their deputation work? In the Acts of the Apostles mission and deputation work was church-based, not society-based. God does bless the work of para-church organisations and societies, but it is essential that these support and enhance church-based mission, and don't become a substitute for it.
Acts 15:35. The length of time that the missionaries remained with their home church meant that they could develop individual gifts and ministries to the benefit of the whole church. Such service was part of their overall missionary call.
Not what we usually call follow-up, but a return visit to the churches that had been established in order to
Acts 15:36. So that prayer and other forms of encouragement would be relevant.
Acts 15:4. Communication is a two-way process. The missionaries acted as channels of communication between churches, thus forging strong bonds of love and support between them.
Acts 15:41, 16:5. Exercising those gifts that had been developed and matured in Antioch, bringing strengthening, encouragement and growth.
The pattern used repeatedly by the Holy Spirit in the early church was that of growth by division. However this division was not always planned by the people involved. The early spread of the gospel from Jerusalem was accomplished by division arising from persecution. Like seed scattered in the wind, the word of God took root everywhere. The mission outreach from Antioch was accomplished through a division of the leadership, performed willingly and yet sacrificially as the leaders became aware of the Holy Spirit's direction. And now two missionary groups are sent from Antioch rather than one, arising out of disunity between Barnabas and Paul. This is not to commend either persecution or disharmony as a means of accomplishing God's purpose, but rather to praise the grace of God, Who is able to make all things work together for good for the sake of the gospel.
Moses (Ex 34:28),
Israelites (1 Sa 7:6),
Elijah (1 Kings 19:8),
Ezra (Ezra 10:6),
Esther (Est 4:16),
David (2 Sam 12:16,17),
Daniel (Da 10:3),
Ninevah (Jonah 3:6-10),
Anna (Lu 2:37),
Jesus (Lu 4:1,2),
Paul (Acts 9:9),
Church leaders (Acts 13:2,3),
Paul & Barnabas (Acts 14:23).
Commanded to the Israelites (Lev 23:27); expected of the repentant (Joel 2:12); assumed by Jesus (Matt 6:16-18); expected by Jesus (Matt 9:14,15); practised by the first Christians (Acts 13:2,3).
Can be merely outward show (Matt 6:16); is meaningless if not accompanied by obedience (Isa 58).
To worship God more devotedly (Lu 2:37, Acts 13:2);
to express repentance more convincingly (Joel 2:12, Acts 9:9);
to battle more victoriously (Lu 4:1,2);
to intercede more humbly (Ps 35:13);
to listen more sensitively (Acts 13:2).
Copyright © S P Townsend