The apostles did not hold a church office but a position and function based on specific gifts. Elders were appointed to lead and manage the local church. In this meeting, the apostles submitted to the judgment of an elder—James, Jesus’ half brother.
A representative from the Jewish believers and one from the Gentile believers were appointed as delegates to go with Paul and Barnabas to deliver the council’s decision to Antioch of Syria and the surrounding churches. Judas was a Jew; Silas was a Greek. Their presence together would give credence to the council’s ruling.
Later, Silas would accompany Paul on the second missionary journey in place of Barnabas, who would visit different cities with John Mark. Peter referred to Silas as the coauthor of 1 Peter, but it is not known when he joined Peter.
This letter concisely summarized the findings of the Jerusalem council. It would serve to validate the verbal report that Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas would be delivering to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
In this letter, the Jerusalem church disassociated itself from those men who had troubled the Gentile converts regarding circumcision. They had received no such instructions from the apostles and had been acting without their approval. They were not to be regarded as spokesmen for the church. Rather, the men bringing the letter (Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas) had been chosen as representatives of the church, with authority to speak on behalf of the elders and apostles.
Two of the council’s requirements involved issues of morality (avoiding idolatry and sexual immorality), and two involved issues of food. The dietary restrictions were because the early church often shared common meals (similar to modern-day church potluck dinners). Sometimes called “love feasts” and held in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper, these meals would bring Jews and Gentiles together.
In such settings, a Gentile might horrify the Jewish Christians by eating meat that was not kosher. In this compromise agreement, legalistic Jews no longer insisted that the Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved, and the Gentiles accepted a change in their eating habits. These decisions should not be regarded as divine ordinances but rather as stipulations for fellowship between the two parties.
Luke painted a picture of a teachable, eager church in Antioch. Whereas the false teaching of the legalists had been burdensome and a source of great confusion, the divine wisdom behind the ruling of James and the elders resulted in a joyful, encouraged congregation. The law obligates; the gospel liberates.
The end result of the potential crisis was great joy. It’s easy to see why. First, a wise and careful approach to conflict resolution had been followed. Second, the leaders had ruled only after lengthy discussion and leading by the Spirit. Third, the members of the church had submitted to their God-appointed leadership. Churches today would be much happier and more peaceful if they followed these principles when handling conflict.
Judas and Silas remained in Antioch and used their prophetic gifts encouraging and strengthening the believers’ faith. They then returned to Jerusalem. The length of Paul and Barnabas’s stay in Antioch is not known. The fact, however, that many others were teaching and preaching there opened up the opportunity for Paul to attempt another missionary endeavor.
When the time came for a second missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul had a sharp disagreement concerning John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take this young man, his nephew, but Paul refused, citing John Mark’s desertion during the first evangelistic endeavor. This incident demonstrates the sovereignty of God as two missionary teams were formed: Paul and Silas, and Barnabas and Mark.
Even though no further word is given regarding the results of Barnabas and Mark’s evangelistic efforts, we see Kingdom messengers departing Antioch in two directions. Paul wanted to take another trip, primarily to revisit the churches that had been established on the first missionary journey. Evangelism would prove to be a major component of Paul’s mission, but establishing and equipping the new believers were his primary objectives. This teamwork demonstrated the church’s unity after the decision at the Jerusalem council.
SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)
In today's passage we see the importance of spiritually mature leaders in God's church. Men and women who are grounded in God's word. Men and women who have proven themselves in the ministry. men and women who know how to stand when others fall. Men and women who refuse to quit or be derailed from the mission God has given.
How easy is to look at the exterior of a life, when God looks at the heart of a man and requires us to do the same.
"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.' " 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
Lord, raise up men and women who have deep roots. Men and women who will not compromise your values. Men and women who have character and integrity. Men and women who will say no, although say yes. I have been asked through the years - "What does spirtual maturity look like?" Here's what it looks like;
God says maturity is attitude. Attitude is what makes the difference. It's your character. D. L. Moody said, "Character is what you are in the dark." Recognition is what people say about you, character is what God says about you. God says it's your attitude that determines whether you're mature or not. God wants you to grow up and have Christlike attitudes.
How do you measure spiritual maturity? Not by comparing yourself to other people but by comparing yourself to the word of God. In the book of James we have a manual on maturity. The word "mature" in Greek is the word "teleaos" -- it's translated mature, complete, perfect. James uses this word five times in five chapters. James is a manual on how to be mature. James gives us four marks of maturity.
#1. A MATURE PERSON IS POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE
James 1:2-4 says "Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything."
The first test of maturity is how do you react to problems? How do you handle trials? Do they blow you away? Do you get nervous, uptight, negative? Do you grumble and gripe? How do you handle problems?
#2. A MATURE PERSON IS SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE
James 2:8 says, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, `Love your neighbor as yourself' you are doing right." A mature person is sensitive to people. He doesn't just see his own needs, he sees other people's needs.
#3. A MATURE PERSON HAS MASTERED HIS MOUTH
James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." If I've memorized a hundred thousand verses and been through every Bible study in the book and go to church and never miss a service, but if I'm a gossip, my religion is worthless. If I spread rumors, it's worthless. If I'm always saying things that are not always accurate or exaggerate or speak impulsively, it's worthless.
#4. A MATURE PERSON IS PATIENT AND PRAYERFUL
James 5:7,11 says "Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming... As you know, we consider blessed those who persevere." v. 16 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." God says the mark of a mature person is, he is patient and prayerful.
Just like a farmer has to wait, sometimes we have to wait. We have to wait on God in answer to prayer. We have to wait on God for a miracle. We have to wait on God to work in our lives. We have to wait. The only way you learn patience is by waiting.
No comments:
Post a Comment