Eph 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of Peace.

Every conflict drains the heart and spirit of a person and Church.

Acts 15:36-40 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but 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. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark
Acts 13:5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas had very different personalities

Barnabas: Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
Paul: Acts 13:9-11 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Disagreements are inevitable with different personalities.

• Unity requires God's Spirit and our humility because even godly people will disagree.
• Paul and Barnabas were two men in spiritual battle. And Satan does not want us to be unified.

Acts 13:1-3 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas … and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Pattern in Acts: Spiritual Victory is followed by Attack

Verse 44-45: On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.

Victory: v 30 – People were raised from the grave and many believed (43)

(1) Jealousy

(2) Verbal abuse

Verses 46-50 - Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it ... For this is what the Lord has commanded us ... When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; ...49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

Victory: Word of God Spread and was honored

(3) Jews incited

(4) Persecution stirred up

Verses 51-52 - So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

14:1-2 - At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Victory: Great number believed

(5) Unbelief

(6) Poisoned minds

14:3-5 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them

Victory: Signs and wonders

(7) Division (verse 4)

(8) Mistreated (verse 5)

(9) Stoning (verse 5)

14:8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
Verse 19 - Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

Victory = HEALING

(10) Humiliation - stoned and dragged and thinking he was dead

Verse 21-22 - They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. ... 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

Victory: ‘won a large number of disciples"

(11) Hardships

14:27 - opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
15:1-2 - Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.

Victory: Gospel spread to Gentiles

(12) Sharp Dispute and Debate

This pattern becomes fertile soil for trouble in a relationship.
It doesn't take a big issue to split healthy relationships.

• Barnabas = model of Compassion.
• Paul = man of Conviction and Commitment.

Verse 39-41 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

LESSONS from Paul and Barnabas' Sharp Dispute:

Seek Reconciliation – not Resolution

2Cor. 5:18 God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

Emotions must be Sanctified

Eph. 4:26-27: In your anger do not sin, Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Audio File: 

2010-05-16.mp3

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