The Inner State of Forgiveness
Acts 15:36-41
Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ
On January 26 2002
Introduction:
I. Divorced Life – Contributed by: Sermon Central Pro
A. Divorced life is not being there when your little girl is crying from a bad dream and wants her daddy but you’re not there because that night was not your parenting night.
B. Divorced life is not having any idea what your children are doing right now because they are at their mom’s
C. Divorced life is waking up at 10am on Christmas morning because your children were not there to wake you up early because this year they are spending Christmas morning at mom’s and you will not see them until noon.
D. Divorced life is sitting having dinner at a table of four but only having one place setting.
E. Divorced life is saying to yourself why…oh, why did I not say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” when God asked me but instead I allowed my fear or pride to get in the way and chose my own way.
F. Divorced life is saying, “Can we have a second chance?” and there is no one to hear you.
G. Divorced life is watching your children drive off in mom’s car and knowing that you will not see or hear from them until weekend after next.
H. Divorced life is explaining to your children why you don’t live together anymore when they ask you why mommy and daddy can’t be married
I. Divorce is hearing your children call you by their step-dad’s name instead of calling you daddy because they spend more time with their step-dad than you.
II. It is true that we need to learn to forgive each other, and as a group of spouse’s or potential spouses we need to forgive more often.
A. God is against divorce. Why because he loves you and doesn’t want to see you get hurt.
B. Divorce today is an escape from forgiveness, but when we find that forgiving is that path to be taken, fewer problems will occur.
C. Without totally getting into the subject of divorce, let me say that God gave reasons for divorce and rightfully so.
D. But many who divorce today, divorce without even try to reconcile to each other or see if it is acceptable with God.
E. With the no fault law of Delaware and many other states, a spouse can do absolutely nothing wrong and a couple can get divorced.
F. We in the church can tell ourselves, that divorce does not affect us, but you will see that divorce is not even uncommon in the church.
III. It is like the story of a boy who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he was in his Grandma’s backyard one day, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. “The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes. What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally would whisper when he objected. So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you , I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.” He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of the accuser.
IV. Is it possible for Christians to freely forgive or just forgive?
A. Our marital relationships need forgiveness, often
B. Our relationships with family need forgiveness, often
C. Our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ need forgiveness, often
Body:
I. A Fine Disagreement (Acts 15:36-38)
A. “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.” 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.”
B. Barnabas let’s go back and visit everyone that we have met over our previous journey. [Personal time between friends]
1. You know with the Lord giving the increase we have been able to do a lot of good.
2. I am afraid that some are wavering in the faith and may need some assistance in their walk with Christ.
3. Barnabas replies, “Of course, let us return but I would like to take John Mark along.”
4. No offense Barnabas, but John Mark.
C. Are you kidding? He is probably the last person on my list of reliable men in the brotherhood. [Starting to get angry]
1. He deserted us in Pamphylia and you want to bring him with us.
2. [A forgiving spirit] Barnabas returns in kind, “Of course, our God is a God of second chances and he will be able to come again, because I don’t want to give up on him.
3. Paul he has changed since he left us Pamphylia, just wait until you see him again.
4. He has a renewed vigor for the work, and is biting at the bit to get personally involved again.”
D. Barnabas Don’t you remember what happened to us when he left
II. Don’t You Remember (Acts 13:5-13)
A. “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "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? Now 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." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.”
B. Mark was a coward of the highest order, Barnabas. [Angry]
1. When I stood up for the Lord and had to do something very difficult to do. Where is Mark?
2. Before I know it he is running scared, or if nothing else holding a grudge against me, because of what I had to do.
3. Don’t you remember the boat ride to Pamphylia, where John just ignored us held up in his little hole?
4. Quiet and not speaking, something was really burdening him, and if he couldn’t hold it together than there is now way he could handle it now.
C. Well Paul, you are very selfish. [Getting Angry himself]
1. Do you think that a person can never a mistake and then change?
2. Of course you do, but don’t you remember the mercy shown to you by Jesus Christ.
3. Ananias and Sapphira were taken for less.
4. I mean you got to see Him personally, and still you do this to John Mark
5. Well I am tired of your attitude, the holier than thou attitude
III. The Duo Splits (Acts 15:39-41)
A. “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 brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
B. Well fine, Barnabas I know what will fix our situation.
1. You obviously don’t want to have anything to do with me; and I don’t want to be around you.
2. So go your way and I will go mine
3. I am going to take someone of trustworthiness with me, and you can take that poor excuse of a missionary.
4. Silas let’s go.
C. Paul you know you’re wrong and I will prove you to be.
1. So Paul and Barnabas went different routes.
2. Luke followed Paul and records the major events to follow before Paul was held in prison in Rome.
3. Whereas, we here nothing of Mark and Barnabas except for a few passages later written by none other than Paul. [Move from narrative to sermonizing]
IV. Paul and Barnabas Reunite (1 Cor. 9:6)
A. “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?”
B. In the midst of a church having problems, Paul says by it being written later than the events that occurred in Acts.
1. Simply Paul and Barnabas had reunited.
2. They reconciled with one another. We don’t know the words that were said, but we do know they worked out the misunderstanding or problem.
C. The Issue was with John Mark, and if he worked out the problem with Barnabas only two things could happen
1. The first, Paul was right and John Mark panned out to be a horrible missionary.
2. The second, Barnabas was right and John Mark turned into a good missionary.
V. John Mark is Commended (2 Tim. 4:11; Phm 24; Col. 4:10)
A. Scriptures
1. 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.”
2. Philemon 24 “And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.”
3. Colossians 4:10 “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)”
B. Well, as we can see, Paul even realizes the great work performed by John Mark.
1. In a subtle and humble way, Paul commends Mark’s effort in the kingdom.
2. It is good for us to see that even though, Paul and Barnabas disagreed on a matter as close to home as the competence of Mark.
3. We see that if two individuals work on forgiving one another and seek reconciliation it is possible to return back to a good and healthy relationship.
4. The power of forgiveness: According to history
a. John Mark wrote the gospel carrying his name
b. He planted a church in Alexandria, Egypt
c. He became a productive and faithful disciple of Christ
Conclusion:
I. The inner state of forgiveness occurs when you confront your problems and not hide them.
A. Paul and Barnabas were able to forgive one another and reconcile, because they confronted the problem.
1. Whether through Mark performing or not, they were able to deal with restoring their partnership in the ministry.
2. And because Barnabas forgave freely as God would, Mark is even able to establish a restored relationship with Paul
B. The answer to finding forgiveness is not running but confronting.
II. We have discussed over the past month about many aspects of finding forgiveness and arriving and the destination we desire.
A. Our motivation and memories are very important in the process.
B. We even found out some items to steer clear of in the process.
C. Today, I pray we have learned that the problem must be confronted in order to find the inner state of forgiveness we desire.
III. Our God gives second chances…
A. Do you give second chances in kind?
1. Do you have a brother in Christ who has hurt you, and you still hold onto the bitterness of unforgiveness?
2. It is time you let it go and choose forgiveness
3. Instead of bitterness shape your life, let the love of God shape your existence
B. God has show His great love and free forgiveness
1. “While were still sinners Christ died for the ungodly.” – Paul
2. While we were sinners Christ died for us.
3. While you were still a sinner Christ died for you.
C. He has given a pattern of obedience to which we at this time are to follow.
