[Strengthening of the Holy Spirit]
Acts 15:36-41
With the help of the Holy Spirits decision, Antioch Church, an early church, tided over the crisis that almost split into Jewish and Gentile churches over circumcision and law issues. After that, there was a big conflict waiting, but the conflict rather strengthens the church and our saints. Today, we will think about the strengthening of the Holy Spirit.
1. Strengthening of the Holy Spirit means a constant care of brotherhood.
The Antioch Church, which sent missionaries for the first time in the world, evangelized many strangers and established several churches, was shaken from the basics by the attacks of the Jewish legalists. Strengthen in verse 41 of todays text originally means in Hebrew fix the shaking thing so that it cannot move. The Antioch Church was shaken dangerously by the issue of Gentiles circumcision, but the support that stopped it was the words of comfort and encouragement of the Jerusalem Church, delivered by Judah and Scylla. Long before Paul returned to the Antioch Church, he proposed to visit the brothers again he had delivered the Word during Pauls first missionary journey ,and it is indicating that Paul continued to focus on Gods work without rest. . Pauls second missionary journey began with such simple thoughts. Paul was eager to bring letters from the Church of Jerusalem to the churches in Antioch, Lucidia and Iconium, which were tested by the persecution of Jews. Paul, such a successful missionary, always tries to look back on his brothers, focusing on salvation. This sense of brotherhood strengthens people. This visit proposed by Paul was decided by the Holy Spirit and it symbolizes Pauls representative applying on behalf of the church to turn back from the sins that some self- zealous Jews tried to harass strangers, and to open the door of their hearts wide to strangers again.
2. Strengthening of the Holy Spirit keeps you from relying on people
Barnabas tries to take John, also called Mark on his second missionary journey who gives up crossing together the rugged Taurus Mountains in Pamphylia, Perga on his first mission trip and back to Jerusalem. However, Paul opposes his company, saying that he betrayed not only them but also Gentiles missionary task.
However, if you look at the original meaning of 'taking him with them,' it means that Paul regarded it as a continuous act for his mission, but Barnabas interpreted it as a one-time temporary act and continued to insist to take him with them. This means that his attention was focused on the humanistic feeling of wanting to give his nephew John, also called Mark one more chance. Barnabas persistently demanded that Mark be taken with him, putting more importance on his face, but you can read that Paul wanted to avoid the burden of repeatedly bumping into someone without trust. The conflict between the two, who served in the foreign missionary team, already began with the conflict between Jews and Gentiles. In Galatians 2:13, Paul said that Peter, who came to Antioch, was eating with the Gentiles and when some Jews arrived, pretended not to get along with the Gentiles because he was afraid of the circumcision group, and also Barnabas was also tempted by their hypocrisy. And in Galatians 2:20, Paul said, ' I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me..' With this faith and love for the Lord, Paul was able to blame Peter, and Barnabas, who went to missionary work together, must have had no direct reproach, but felt uncomfortable. In terms of salvation history, the incident of this quarrel was especially necessary for Paul, who has to continue this mission, to prevent him from relying on people at all. Because of Barnabas, Paul was able to enter the Church of Jerusalem, and because he was able to do the Antioch Church ministry and the first missionary trip, naturally Paul must have leaned on Barnabas. However Barnabas limitation of the character and weakness was revealed when Barnabas, who was praised and respected for his good character but seemed to have no serious sin, chose his relatives and hometown instead of his mission to take care of foreigners church, and left for his hometown, Cyprus with his nephew Mark. With this incident, Barnabas and Paul returned the heart of relying on men, forcing them to rely solely on God. It is the strengthening of the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit strengthens to be unable to rely on men
3. Strengthening of the Holy Spirit means relying on the grace of the Lord.
Rather, the fight between Paul and Barnabasmade the early churchesmore solidand it became a worldwide strengthening and let their missionary worksmove on to the world. The author of the Acts of the Apostle, 'Luke' recorded Paul is the one who the brothers asked for the grace of the Lord. And after this incident, Barnabas disappeared from the Acts of the Apostle, revealing that Pauls decision was right. Like this, salvation and human nature confront each other every day. Barnabas, who is weak in affection, moves emotionally, after quarreling with Paul and taking his nephew, Mark away without any asking and not going on a mission trip. Barnabas was used as the ministry of Calling to help Paul up to here, and Barnabas and Peter were not able to be put in Pauls bowl, so I think God made it happen by themselves. Meanwhile, on the way to Antioch Church with a letter from the Church of Jerusalem, Silas seems to have been greatly indebted to Paul. Therefore, a Roman citizen and recognized leader of the Church of Jerusalem, he puts down his stable position and accompanies Paul. Paul cant handle the mission alone, so he chooses Silas for the place Barnabas left. As such, the Lord prepares and allows men if they do as God wishes.
The strengthening of the Holy Spirit is
the constant care with a sense of brotherhood, which prevents us from relying on men, and depends solely on Gods grace. Just as the conflicts between Paul and Barnabas proveto be a global mission due to the solidity of the Holy Spirit, I hope you stay calm no matter what happens and have a week to believe that many conflicts and splits are meant to strengthen us with the Holy Spirit.
