Not always Smooth, Be Strong

	Today's Reading: Lev. 7-9; Acts 15
	Dealing with dissension- Acts 15:2 Paul and Barnabas deal with the aftermath of some believers that spread word that all christians must be circumcised and follow all ceremonial Jewish law to be saved...
	Acts 15:2 (ESV)2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. Jeff, notice that the apostles did not endlessly debate or allow this dissension to result in damage to the church but that they brought the matter before the elders at the home church to settle. Similarly, when you encounter disagreements at BCCC you should work to resolve it and if there cannot be agreement as to what my Word says then you should go to the leadership before the matter becomes something separating and impeding fellowship. From the Matthew Henry Commentary- When they should have been making war upon the devil’s kingdom they have much ado to keep the peace in Christ’s kingdom. Yet this occurrence and the record of it are of great use to the church, both for warning to us to expect such unhappy discords among Christians, and direction to us what method to take for accommodating them...Even when things go on very smoothly and pleasantly in a state or in a church, it is folly to be secure, and to think the mountain stands strong and cannot be moved; some uneasiness or other will arise, which is not foreseen, cannot be prevented, but must be prepared for. Henry, M. (1996). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ac 15:1–5). Peabody: Hendrickson. Also know that you must watch over your own actions that you do not put requirements on anyone that are only for you. It might be that you are blessed and find joy in certain disciplines or methods…but be certain that you do not hold others to what is not plain in my Word except as to make suggestion and share what is happening in your life; but without the impression that you have new doctrine or something to add to what I have revealed in my Word. From the Matthew Henry Commentary- Note, There is a strange proneness in us to make our opinion and practice a rule and a law to every body else, to judge of all about us by our standard, and to conclude that because we do well all do wrong that do not just as we do. Henry, M. (1996). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ac 15:1–5). Peabody: Hendrickson.
	Heart issue- Acts 15:8
	Acts 15:8 (ESV)8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, See that I know the heart Jeff. Guard yours and seek to surrender it to me that my Spirit may work in you and that you be a worthy tabernacle- blameless and pure, humble and contrite.
	We are saved as they- Acts 15:10
	Acts 15:10–11 (ESV)10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” All are saved by grace Jeff. See that Peter actually elevates his understanding to accept that my salvation is by grace and therefore the Jews are actually saved in the way that the gentiles are now saved, not the reverse. This acknowledgement by Peter explains how my redemption story has been fulfilled in Jesus and was incomplete prior to the cross. From the Wiersbe Commentary- Note what he says in v. 11: “We [Jews] shall be saved even as they!” It is not, “They should be saved the way we were,” but the reverse. Not only was the law not applicable to the Gentiles, but it was no longer applicable to the Jews! “By grace, through faith” is the message, not “obey Moses and be circumcised.” Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (317). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
	Men like these- Acts 15:25
	Acts 15:25–27 (ESV)25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. Jeff, do you see the example here? Do you see that I use surrendered messengers who live the example of my message rather than merely carry it by word? Your testimony to those around you is not effective if you do not walk in the fullness of my gospel. Be as these men who risk for my gospel, who risk for the lost, who risk for my purpose, not their own. From the Teacher's Bible Commentary- How often on a cowardly course, and running away, have we encountered the living Lord. And he has given us the strength to turn around and go back to face the battle with new courage. God’s gamblers, Paul and Barnabas, who have “hazarded” their lives for the sake of the gospel (v. 26). A gambling term, literally, “bet their lives on the line for Jesus.” The kingdom needs men today willing to put all on the line in the belief that (a) the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who will believe, (b) that love will conquer over hate, (c) that the life in Christ will triumph over death, (d) that all things material are transitory and only the spiritual abides. Paschall, F. H., & Hobbs, H. H. (1972). The teacher's Bible commentary: A concise, thorough interpretation of the entire Bible designed especially for Sunday School teachers (699–700). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.
	Don't stumble my children- Acts 15:29
	Acts 15:29 (ESV)29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” Do not allow yourself freedoms that you now will hurt others Jeff. See that my Spirit directed the church to instruct conformance with some basic ceremonial law in order to not stumble the other believers. So too you should be mindful of those that around you that might struggle with different sin than you. Do not injur or challenge them, rather- be an encourager. Romans 14:21 (ESV)21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
	Disciples, not converts- Acts 15:36
	Acts 15:36 (ESV)36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Know that you have a responsibility to disciple not to merely make converts Jeff. Be certain to provide encouragement and strengthen those that become believers.  It is dangerous to leave them to fend for themselves as you all have the world, the flesh, and the devil to contend with. Remember- help people find Christ…and GROW!
	Still human- Acts 15:39
	Acts 15:39–40 (ESV)39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Application and Prayer: Today I will be mindful that many are kept from certain freedoms because of their history of bondage in that area and this might mean I must refrain from activity that would stumble them Today I will be vigilant to watch for errant teachings and ensure that dissension does not arise without taking it the the BCCC leadership Today I will know that God saves by grace and not by observance of any particular discipline or ritual or religious practice, not matter how right or good or proper or beneficial it might be. Today I will risk for your gospel that, by your grace, I might be counted with those that are available to you Thank you for your Word.  Thank you for saving us apart from our actions or our ceremonies. Please teach me to walk obediently and to watch for dissension that we can maintain sweet fellowship.  Please strengthen my inner man that I might be used in your service.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.