May 25, 2025 • 23 mins
Ever found yourself at a crossroads, unsure of God's direction? Acts 15 offers something extraordinary – a blueprint for navigating life's toughest decisions when the way forward seems unclear.
The Jerusalem Council marks a pivotal moment in church history. Christianity stood at a crossroads: would Gentile converts need to become Jewish first to be saved? The answer would shape the future of the faith forever. What unfolds is a masterclass in spiritual discernment that remains profoundly relevant today.
Within this ancient controversy, we discover three powerful anchors for finding God's will. First, the early believers didn't isolate themselves but conferred together across cultural divides. While our individualistic culture often prizes autonomy and inner searching, the early church recognized the wisdom found in community. When facing significant decisions, they listened to diverse perspectives and sought consensus. Second, they grounded themselves in Scripture, with James declaring "as it is written" before quoting the prophets. Even when addressing questions not explicitly answered in the Bible, they found guiding principles in God's word. Finally, they paid careful attention to the Spirit's movement, recognizing God's favor where lives were being transformed.
The results were remarkable: "It was the Holy Spirit's decision and ours," they wrote, leading to a resolution that brought joy, unity and strengthening to the church. This three-fold approach—seeking wisdom from God's people, God's Word, and God's Spirit—creates a spiritual foundation for discernment that works not just for churches but for our personal lives too. Whether you're facing major life decisions or trying to navigate our complex cultural moment, this ancient wisdom offers a path forward. Together, these three anchors can guide us toward truth, even when the answers aren't immediately clear.
Want more confidence in discerning God's will? Subscribe now to explore how ancient wisdom meets modern challenges. How might this three-fold approach transform your next big decision?
© Bentley Baptist Church Inc.
www.bentleybaptist.org
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Acts, chapter 15, verse 1.
So men came down from Judea toAntioch and began to teach the
brothers unless you arecircumcised according to the
custom prescribed by Moses, youcannot be saved.
After Paul and Barnabas hadengaged them in serious argument
and debate, paul and Barnabasand some others were appointed
(00:22):
to go up to the apostles andelders in Jerusalem about this
issue.
Pretty heavy start, isn't it?
You know, every believer hasthe Holy Spirit dwelling in us
to give us guidance and to helpus live a godly life.
But sometimes really bigdecisions or really challenging
situations like that that facedAntioch, confront us and we're
(00:48):
not quite sure what God's willis.
How is it that we can discernGod's will when we're facing big
decisions, big challenges, bigcontroversies?
In its first few years,christianity was basically seen
as a Jewish sector, a branch ofwhat we now call Judaism.
But as the gospel spread aroundthe Roman world and started to
(01:12):
include Gentiles and not justthe God-fearing Gentiles that
the Jews were halfwaycomfortable with, but full-on
pagans hearing the gospel andgetting saved it inevitably
meant change for the growingchurch and some big questions.
And let me ask any parents outhere how do we know, how many of
(01:33):
us know, that a growing childneeding new clothes, to new
challenges in how to disciplinea child from the inquisitive why
of a toddler to that sort ofdefiant, why should I of a
(01:59):
teenager?
No different in the church, andat first the presence of
gentiles probably flew under theradar.
They, these first gentileconverts, already hung out at
synagogue and knew thescriptures, even if they hadn't
made the full leap to becomejews.
But as more pagan gentilesresponded to the gen, to the
(02:20):
gospel, things got messy and thejewish believers now had to
wrestle with.
What does church look like withthese Gentile converts in here?
And they needed discipling ineverything, from the way we
worship, and that starts tochange.
We read in the scriptures todiscipling them in godly sexual
(02:42):
ethics out of a very promiscuousbackground.
And finally a group ofChristians in Jerusalem, which
was the birthplace ofChristianity, had had enough.
The Gentiles and the disruptionthey brought couldn't be
ignored anymore, and so forthese guys the solution seemed
quite simple Christianity was aJewish religion, and so the
(03:05):
Gentiles needed to become Jewsin order to be saved and become
Christians, and for the men thatmeant circumcision and the
church at Antioch in Syria,which was sort of the base of
the global mission of the churchbristled at this suggestion
because Antioch had led the waywith Gentile mission.
(03:27):
This was a threat to theiridentity as a multicultural
missionary church.
And so the question was who wasright?
What was God's will forGentiles and Christians in
general?
Do we need to be circumcised,essentially to become Jews to be
(03:48):
saved?
Might seem obvious to us now,but in that moment the future of
the gospel hung in the balance.
But again, in our own lives,how do we make complex decisions
when there's no, perhaps clearanswers?
How do we determine God's will?
Well, let's look at how thechurch handled it in verse 6.
(04:09):
The apostles and the eldersgathered to consider this matter
in Jerusalem, and after therehad been much debate, peter
stood up and said to them nowPeter is the chief apostle.
Brothers, you are aware that inthe early days, god made a
choice among you that, by mymouth, the Gentiles would hear
the gospel message and believe,and God, who knows the heart,
(04:31):
will witness to them by givingthem the Holy Spirit, just as he
also did to us.
He made no distinction betweenus and them, cleansing their
hearts by faith.
Now then, why are you testingGod by putting a yoke on the
disciples' necks that neitherour ancestors nor we have been
(04:51):
able to bear.
On the contrary, we believethat we are saved through the
grace of the Lord Jesus in thesame way they are.
And the whole assembly becamesilent and listened to Barnabas
and Paul describe all the signsand wonders God had done through
them among the Gentiles.
You know, I feel like I'm goingto have to go back and preach a
(05:13):
couple of these chapters againbecause there's so much in here.
But today we're looking atdecision-making and the will of
God.
The first thing the church didwas to come together to confer.
You know, the church at Antiochcould have just told these
Judaizers to naff off.
(05:34):
That probably would have setthe church up for a church split
maybe between Jerusalem andAntioch, who knows and that
would have been a disaster forthis burgeoning church and it
would have stood againsteverything that the gospel
represents.
You know, our culture is highlyindividualistic and it
(05:58):
encourages autonomy.
You're not the boss of me.
You know we're told to go foran inner search.
The answers are within.
In fact, as Baptists, webelieve strongly in freedom of
conscience.
Do you know?
The first treaties on religiousfreedom was written by a
Baptist, arguing that Muslimsshould have religious freedom.
(06:22):
So that's how strongly it is inthe Baptist DNA.
But when the church in Antiochcame up against this major
challenge, what did they do?
Well, antioch submitted toJerusalem, they took it to
Jerusalem, and Jerusalem, themother church, listened to
(06:44):
Antioch.
So when it comes to the bigquestions, it's not just a
matter of well, what do I thinkyour opinion doesn't matter.
Quite the opposite, we need toask.
So what does the body of Christhave to say?
Now, there are layers to this.
(07:04):
As individuals, we don't go tothe whole church necessarily to
seek advice, but we do want togo to individual believers and
seek the counsel of wise, godlyChristians.
We don't have to do a journeyinwards, or at least not alone.
(07:26):
Not only we need to look forothers as well, but as a church,
sometimes there are questionswe have that we need to come
together to discern God's mind.
Sometimes, pardon me, we evenneed to ask other churches,
other church leaders, ourdenominational leaders, for
advice, and we confer togetheras churches.
(07:49):
In fact, throughout history, theChurch of God has held councils
about the big issues ofdoctrine and practice.
Now, there have been manycouncils through history and
various branches of the churchhold these more or less.
Some is authoritative, some isnot, but still today Christians
(08:12):
often hold these councils.
So you might be aware of sortof the Catholic big councils
Vatican, vatican II you mighthave heard of, and those things
are binding on the CatholicChurch.
But did you know that we, asProtestants and evangelical
Christians, we have councils too?
They're not binding on thechurch but they are a bunch of,
(08:33):
you know, usually prettysignificant Christian leaders
coming together seeking the mindof God and certainly giving
advice for Christians.
There's been ones on mission,there's been ones on sexuality,
there's been ones on the placeof the Bible, all sorts of
things.
And although they're notbinding to us, we do well to
listen to their wisdom and theadvice that's in there.
(08:57):
And again, none of thesehistorical or contemporary
councils are binding on us, butwe still need to listen to godly
wisdom.
We need to listen to oneanother, to spirit-led,
like-minded churches andapostolic leaders, and I think
(09:21):
the challenge for us in the Westis we need to listen across the
cultural boundaries as well.
I think you know the Westernvoice.
Christianity sort of started inthe East, in Israel, but it
grew to dominance in the Westand it's our voice that has been
very loud over the pastcenturies and as the balance has
shifted to places like Africaand South America and Asia, we
(09:45):
do well to listen to whatbelievers in those places are
saying into our culture, notalways advice we want to hear.
Well, after various weightyvoices have been heard at the
Jerusalem Council, james thebrother of Jesus gets up and
(10:06):
speaks.
So there's two Jamesesmentioned in Acts.
One of them was martyred, waskilled earlier.
It's James the apostle.
This is James the brother ofJesus getting up.
After they stopped speaking,james responded Brothers, listen
to me.
Simeon has reported how Godfirst intervened to take from
the Gentiles a people for hisname, and the words of the
(10:27):
prophets agree with this as itis written.
After these things, I willreturn and rebuild David's
fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins andset it up again so that the rest
of humanity may seek the Lord,even all the Gentiles who are
called by my name, declares theLord, who makes these things
known from long ago.
(10:48):
So, quoting the prophets, hecontinues.
Therefore, in my judgment, weshould not cause difficulty for
those among the Gentiles whoturn to God, but instead we
should write to them to abstainfrom things polluted, to idols,
from sexual immorality, fromeating anything that has been
strangled and from blood, and Ithink we'd better come back at a
(11:08):
later date and unpack all that.
For since ancient times Moseshas had those who proclaimed him
in every city and even everySabbath day he is read aloud in
the synagogues.
Now again, james wasn't justanyone as he's saying in.
He's saying, in my opinion, inmy judgment, this was Jesus'
brother.
(11:28):
He wrote a New Testament letter, the letter to James.
He was, or from James.
He was recognized as a pillarof the church and while he also
undoubtedly spoke by the Spirit,he also stood on the Word of
God.
He said, as it is written Nowat BBC we believe in the divine
(11:51):
inspiration and authority of theBible.
It's our final arbiter inmatters of faith and Christian
living.
There are issues, of course,that the Bible's not clear about
.
There are issues at Silenon.
Should humans colonise Mars?
I don't know.
(12:13):
But you know, sometimes thingsare a little closer to home.
So we as Baptists believe incongregational government.
Ultimately, although our churchis run by the council and the
leaders, ultimately theauthority of the church resides
in the membership and in themembers' meeting Churches, and
(12:33):
we believe that, because of theBible, but churches of Christ
have an elder-led church.
The authority of the churchresides with the elders and they
also believe that because ofthe bible.
So sometimes it's not crystalclear, but even with less clear
issues, the bible often gives usbroad principles we can work
(12:54):
with.
So, for example, the bible isalmost I don't know I hope this
isn't too controversial thismorning in this place although
it is in society.
The Bible is almost silent onthe issue of abortion, but the
church has always maintainedthat abortion is wrong because
of the things the Bible is clearabout.
So the Bible is clear about thesanctity of human life.
(13:18):
We're made in God's image.
It's clear that God foreknew us, that children are a gift from
God, that Jesus pronouncedjudgment on anyone who causes a
child to stumble.
The Bible commands us not tokill, and we put all these
things together.
(13:40):
Very often, in fact, the thingsthat churches argue over are not
because the Bible isn't clearor doesn't point pretty clearly
in a direction.
It's because we don't like whatit says, and so we do well to
remember what the first questionin the Bible was.
Do you know what the firstquestion in the Bible was?
It's when the serpent spoke toEve.
(14:02):
Did God really say?
Discerning the voice of Godinvolves listening to each other
, and it involves listening tothe word of God and submitting
to that.
But there is one more voice wedo need to listen to, a voice
that we've been hearing allthrough this passage, and that's
(14:24):
the voice of the Spirit.
Verse 22,.
Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided
to select men who were amongthem and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas.
Judas called Basavis and Silas,both leading men among the
brothers, and they wrote fromthe apostles and the elders,
your brothers, to the brothersand sisters among the Gentiles
(14:45):
in Antioch, syria and CiliciaGreetings.
Since we have heard that some,without our authorization, went
out from us and troubled youwith their words and unsettled
your hearts, it's a bit of astinging rebuke against that
group.
We have unanimously decided toselect men and send them to you,
(15:06):
along with our dearly lovedBarnabas and Paul, who have
risked their lives for the nameof our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we have sent Judasand Silas, who will personally
report the same things by wordof mouth, for it was the Holy
Spirit's decision and ours notto place further burdens on you
(15:29):
beyond these requirements thatyou abstain from food offered to
idols, from blood, from eatinganything that has been strangled
and from sexual immorality.
You will do well if you keepyourselves from these things.
Farewell Council wrote it wasthe Holy Spirit's decision and
ours.
(15:50):
And do you notice how Peterargued that God had given the
Spirit to the Gentiles, just ashe had the Jews at Pentecost and
Barnabas?
And Paul's testimony was reallyabout the work of the Holy
Spirit among the Gentiles, whichJames then picked up on.
So how do we hear the Spirit'svoice corporately?
(16:13):
Learning to hear the voice ofthe Spirit is something you can
do.
If you're not sure, that's atopic for another time.
But I want to encourage you totune in.
What is the Spirit saying to you?
But how do we know when theSpirit is speaking to us
corporately?
Well, first we need to look forwhat the Spirit is doing in the
(16:35):
world and in our presence, inour midst.
Where do we see God's favourresting?
The apostles saw the favour ofGod resting on the Gentiles.
That said something about God'sview on this matter.
Are people coming to faith?
Are lives being transformed bythe power of God?
(16:56):
Is supernatural love abounding?
Is holiness evident?
And they looked at what washappening among the Gentiles and
, as we read in the rest of theNew Testament, it was pretty
messy, but yes, those thingswere happening.
Second, what are the prophetssaying?
So what do godly leaders andprophetically gifted individuals
(17:19):
discern?
And you learn who those voicesare.
The council at Jerusalem writesa letter and you hear that some
brothers went out without ourauthority.
Don't listen to them.
Then you've got these otherpeople, like Paul and Barnabas,
(17:39):
who are sort of the focus ofthis controversy because they're
leading the mission to theGentiles and it's like they've
risked their lives.
You see the fruit of the Spiriton their lives.
These are the men that arecommended.
Now we do need to practicediscernment when we're listening
for the voice of the Spirit andwho we listen to.
Not everyone who says Lord,lord, is from Jesus.
(18:03):
Jesus said to beware of falseprophets.
Demons can counterfeit the workof God.
Paul, interestingly, in theletter to 1 Corinthians he's
lamenting divisions in thechurch, but he says it is
necessary that there be factionsamong you so that those who are
approved may be recognizedamong you.
(18:24):
So how do we recognize thoseapproved?
Well, jesus said you'd knowthem by their fruit, godly
character, gracious speech, acommitment to God's word, the
power of the Spirit doing thestuff, putting their lives and
reputations on the live line forthe gospel.
(18:49):
How do we know the council madethe right call in the end?
Well, it was because of thefruit, verse 30.
So they were sent off and wentdown to Antioch and after
gathering the assembly, theydelivered the letter and when
they read it they rejoicedbecause of its encouragement.
They rejoiced.
Both Judas and Silas, who werealso prophets themselves,
encouraged the brothers andsisters and strengthened them
(19:12):
with a long message.
And after spending some timethere, they were sent back in
peace by the brothers andsisters to those who had sent
them.
The church was strengthened andunified.
The message was affirmed byother prophets.
It was a good result.
(19:34):
So how do we discern God's will?
Well, simply the church of Godor other Christians if it's the
church of God or otherChristians if it's individual.
The word of God and the spiritof God, and together these lead
us into the truth of God.
(19:55):
You know we are living in aworld that is throwing up all
sorts of novel challenges at usthat people of previous
generations, let alone Bibletimes, couldn't even imagine.
Consider AI Who'd have thoughtback before computers?
Certainly that people arestarting to ask can a computer
have a soul?
How do we respond to that?
(20:19):
How do we respond just to thepractical challenges of
something that's probably biggerthan the industrial revolution
or the printing press?
Medical technologies raise deepquestions about gender identity
and what it means to be human.
Churches have torn themselvesapart with arguments about how
to respond to that.
How can we know God's will inthe face of such big challenges
(20:45):
that the Bible just couldn'thave addressed not directly?
Well, church and Acts cametogether to listen across
cultural divides.
They came to listen to theSpirit.
They discerned where he was atwork through what he had to say
(21:05):
and through what he had to saythrough prophets and leaders,
and they listened to theunchanging, authoritative word
of god, which may not speakdirectly into these situations
but gives us a lot to work with.
You know, this doesn't justapply to the big decisions we
have to make.
But, as I said, what about yourlife?
(21:25):
How do you make decisions?
How do you determine what God'swill for your life is?
Again, you can seek the counselof other believers, you can seek
the mind of the Spirit and youcan seek the Word of God for
guidance.
The answers may not always beclear and, frankly, we often
(21:48):
disagree.
But I want to say this as longas we are anchored in God's
people, in God's Spirit and inGod's Word, we're going to be on
pretty sound foundation.
Let's pray as we move fromthese thoughts into communion.
(22:10):
Father, we thank you that wehave an anchor In fact, we've
just been talking about threeanchors that we don't just have
to figure things out with ourown wisdom.
We don't just have to seek thetruth in our own hearts, as the
(22:30):
world so often encourages us.
I don't know about others, butI get lost in there.
But, father, that you give usguidance in there, but, father,
that you give us guidance.
And as we come now to communion, we see the cross and what you
(22:53):
have communicated to us on that.
In Jesus' name.
Acts, chapter 15, verse 1.
So men came down from Judea toAntioch and began to teach the
brothers unless you arecircumcised according to the
custom prescribed by Moses, youcannot be saved.
After Paul and Barnabas hadengaged them in serious argument
and debate, paul and Barnabasand some others were appointed
(00:22):
to go up to the apostles andelders in Jerusalem about this
issue.
Pretty heavy start, isn't it?
You know, every believer hasthe Holy Spirit dwelling in us
to give us guidance and to helpus live a godly life.
But sometimes really bigdecisions or really challenging
situations like that that facedAntioch, confront us and we're
(00:48):
not quite sure what God's willis.
How is it that we can discernGod's will when we're facing big
decisions, big challenges, bigcontroversies?
In its first few years,christianity was basically seen
as a Jewish sector, a branch ofwhat we now call Judaism.
But as the gospel spread aroundthe Roman world and started to
(01:12):
include Gentiles and not justthe God-fearing Gentiles that
the Jews were halfwaycomfortable with, but full-on
pagans hearing the gospel andgetting saved it inevitably
meant change for the growingchurch and some big questions.
And let me ask any parents outhere how do we know, how many of
(01:33):
us know, that a growing childneeding new clothes, to new
challenges in how to disciplinea child from the inquisitive why
of a toddler to that sort ofdefiant, why should I of a
(01:59):
teenager?
No different in the church, andat first the presence of
gentiles probably flew under theradar.
They, these first gentileconverts, already hung out at
synagogue and knew thescriptures, even if they hadn't
made the full leap to becomejews.
But as more pagan gentilesresponded to the gen, to the
(02:20):
gospel, things got messy and thejewish believers now had to
wrestle with.
What does church look like withthese Gentile converts in here?
And they needed discipling ineverything, from the way we
worship, and that starts tochange.
We read in the scriptures todiscipling them in godly sexual
(02:42):
ethics out of a very promiscuousbackground.
And finally a group ofChristians in Jerusalem, which
was the birthplace ofChristianity, had had enough.
The Gentiles and the disruptionthey brought couldn't be
ignored anymore, and so forthese guys the solution seemed
quite simple Christianity was aJewish religion, and so the
(03:05):
Gentiles needed to become Jewsin order to be saved and become
Christians, and for the men thatmeant circumcision and the
church at Antioch in Syria,which was sort of the base of
the global mission of the churchbristled at this suggestion
because Antioch had led the waywith Gentile mission.
(03:27):
This was a threat to theiridentity as a multicultural
missionary church.
And so the question was who wasright?
What was God's will forGentiles and Christians in
general?
Do we need to be circumcised,essentially to become Jews to be
(03:48):
saved?
Might seem obvious to us now,but in that moment the future of
the gospel hung in the balance.
But again, in our own lives,how do we make complex decisions
when there's no, perhaps clearanswers?
How do we determine God's will?
Well, let's look at how thechurch handled it in verse 6.
(04:09):
The apostles and the eldersgathered to consider this matter
in Jerusalem, and after therehad been much debate, peter
stood up and said to them nowPeter is the chief apostle.
Brothers, you are aware that inthe early days, god made a
choice among you that, by mymouth, the Gentiles would hear
the gospel message and believe,and God, who knows the heart,
(04:31):
will witness to them by givingthem the Holy Spirit, just as he
also did to us.
He made no distinction betweenus and them, cleansing their
hearts by faith.
Now then, why are you testingGod by putting a yoke on the
disciples' necks that neitherour ancestors nor we have been
(04:51):
able to bear.
On the contrary, we believethat we are saved through the
grace of the Lord Jesus in thesame way they are.
And the whole assembly becamesilent and listened to Barnabas
and Paul describe all the signsand wonders God had done through
them among the Gentiles.
You know, I feel like I'm goingto have to go back and preach a
(05:13):
couple of these chapters againbecause there's so much in here.
But today we're looking atdecision-making and the will of
God.
The first thing the church didwas to come together to confer.
You know, the church at Antiochcould have just told these
Judaizers to naff off.
(05:34):
That probably would have setthe church up for a church split
maybe between Jerusalem andAntioch, who knows and that
would have been a disaster forthis burgeoning church and it
would have stood againsteverything that the gospel
represents.
You know, our culture is highlyindividualistic and it
(05:58):
encourages autonomy.
You're not the boss of me.
You know we're told to go foran inner search.
The answers are within.
In fact, as Baptists, webelieve strongly in freedom of
conscience.
Do you know?
The first treaties on religiousfreedom was written by a
Baptist, arguing that Muslimsshould have religious freedom.
(06:22):
So that's how strongly it is inthe Baptist DNA.
But when the church in Antiochcame up against this major
challenge, what did they do?
Well, antioch submitted toJerusalem, they took it to
Jerusalem, and Jerusalem, themother church, listened to
(06:44):
Antioch.
So when it comes to the bigquestions, it's not just a
matter of well, what do I thinkyour opinion doesn't matter.
Quite the opposite, we need toask.
So what does the body of Christhave to say?
Now, there are layers to this.
(07:04):
As individuals, we don't go tothe whole church necessarily to
seek advice, but we do want togo to individual believers and
seek the counsel of wise, godlyChristians.
We don't have to do a journeyinwards, or at least not alone.
(07:26):
Not only we need to look forothers as well, but as a church,
sometimes there are questionswe have that we need to come
together to discern God's mind.
Sometimes, pardon me, we evenneed to ask other churches,
other church leaders, ourdenominational leaders, for
advice, and we confer togetheras churches.
(07:49):
In fact, throughout history, theChurch of God has held councils
about the big issues ofdoctrine and practice.
Now, there have been manycouncils through history and
various branches of the churchhold these more or less.
Some is authoritative, some isnot, but still today Christians
(08:12):
often hold these councils.
So you might be aware of sortof the Catholic big councils
Vatican, vatican II you mighthave heard of, and those things
are binding on the CatholicChurch.
But did you know that we, asProtestants and evangelical
Christians, we have councils too?
They're not binding on thechurch but they are a bunch of,
(08:33):
you know, usually prettysignificant Christian leaders
coming together seeking the mindof God and certainly giving
advice for Christians.
There's been ones on mission,there's been ones on sexuality,
there's been ones on the placeof the Bible, all sorts of
things.
And although they're notbinding to us, we do well to
listen to their wisdom and theadvice that's in there.
(08:57):
And again, none of thesehistorical or contemporary
councils are binding on us, butwe still need to listen to godly
wisdom.
We need to listen to oneanother, to spirit-led,
like-minded churches andapostolic leaders, and I think
(09:21):
the challenge for us in the Westis we need to listen across the
cultural boundaries as well.
I think you know the Westernvoice.
Christianity sort of started inthe East, in Israel, but it
grew to dominance in the Westand it's our voice that has been
very loud over the pastcenturies and as the balance has
shifted to places like Africaand South America and Asia, we
(09:45):
do well to listen to whatbelievers in those places are
saying into our culture, notalways advice we want to hear.
Well, after various weightyvoices have been heard at the
Jerusalem Council, james thebrother of Jesus gets up and
(10:06):
speaks.
So there's two Jamesesmentioned in Acts.
One of them was martyred, waskilled earlier.
It's James the apostle.
This is James the brother ofJesus getting up.
After they stopped speaking,james responded Brothers, listen
to me.
Simeon has reported how Godfirst intervened to take from
the Gentiles a people for hisname, and the words of the
(10:27):
prophets agree with this as itis written.
After these things, I willreturn and rebuild David's
fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins andset it up again so that the rest
of humanity may seek the Lord,even all the Gentiles who are
called by my name, declares theLord, who makes these things
known from long ago.
(10:48):
So, quoting the prophets, hecontinues.
Therefore, in my judgment, weshould not cause difficulty for
those among the Gentiles whoturn to God, but instead we
should write to them to abstainfrom things polluted, to idols,
from sexual immorality, fromeating anything that has been
strangled and from blood, and Ithink we'd better come back at a
(11:08):
later date and unpack all that.
For since ancient times Moseshas had those who proclaimed him
in every city and even everySabbath day he is read aloud in
the synagogues.
Now again, james wasn't justanyone as he's saying in.
He's saying, in my opinion, inmy judgment, this was Jesus'
brother.
(11:28):
He wrote a New Testament letter, the letter to James.
He was, or from James.
He was recognized as a pillarof the church and while he also
undoubtedly spoke by the Spirit,he also stood on the Word of
God.
He said, as it is written Nowat BBC we believe in the divine
(11:51):
inspiration and authority of theBible.
It's our final arbiter inmatters of faith and Christian
living.
There are issues, of course,that the Bible's not clear about
.
There are issues at Silenon.
Should humans colonise Mars?
I don't know.
(12:13):
But you know, sometimes thingsare a little closer to home.
So we as Baptists believe incongregational government.
Ultimately, although our churchis run by the council and the
leaders, ultimately theauthority of the church resides
in the membership and in themembers' meeting Churches, and
(12:33):
we believe that, because of theBible, but churches of Christ
have an elder-led church.
The authority of the churchresides with the elders and they
also believe that because ofthe bible.
So sometimes it's not crystalclear, but even with less clear
issues, the bible often gives usbroad principles we can work
(12:54):
with.
So, for example, the bible isalmost I don't know I hope this
isn't too controversial thismorning in this place although
it is in society.
The Bible is almost silent onthe issue of abortion, but the
church has always maintainedthat abortion is wrong because
of the things the Bible is clearabout.
So the Bible is clear about thesanctity of human life.
(13:18):
We're made in God's image.
It's clear that God foreknew us, that children are a gift from
God, that Jesus pronouncedjudgment on anyone who causes a
child to stumble.
The Bible commands us not tokill, and we put all these
things together.
(13:40):
Very often, in fact, the thingsthat churches argue over are not
because the Bible isn't clearor doesn't point pretty clearly
in a direction.
It's because we don't like whatit says, and so we do well to
remember what the first questionin the Bible was.
Do you know what the firstquestion in the Bible was?
It's when the serpent spoke toEve.
(14:02):
Did God really say?
Discerning the voice of Godinvolves listening to each other
, and it involves listening tothe word of God and submitting
to that.
But there is one more voice wedo need to listen to, a voice
that we've been hearing allthrough this passage, and that's
(14:24):
the voice of the Spirit.
Verse 22,.
Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided
to select men who were amongthem and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas.
Judas called Basavis and Silas,both leading men among the
brothers, and they wrote fromthe apostles and the elders,
your brothers, to the brothersand sisters among the Gentiles
(14:45):
in Antioch, syria and CiliciaGreetings.
Since we have heard that some,without our authorization, went
out from us and troubled youwith their words and unsettled
your hearts, it's a bit of astinging rebuke against that
group.
We have unanimously decided toselect men and send them to you,
(15:06):
along with our dearly lovedBarnabas and Paul, who have
risked their lives for the nameof our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we have sent Judasand Silas, who will personally
report the same things by wordof mouth, for it was the Holy
Spirit's decision and ours notto place further burdens on you
(15:29):
beyond these requirements thatyou abstain from food offered to
idols, from blood, from eatinganything that has been strangled
and from sexual immorality.
You will do well if you keepyourselves from these things.
Farewell Council wrote it wasthe Holy Spirit's decision and
ours.
(15:50):
And do you notice how Peterargued that God had given the
Spirit to the Gentiles, just ashe had the Jews at Pentecost and
Barnabas?
And Paul's testimony was reallyabout the work of the Holy
Spirit among the Gentiles, whichJames then picked up on.
So how do we hear the Spirit'svoice corporately?
(16:13):
Learning to hear the voice ofthe Spirit is something you can
do.
If you're not sure, that's atopic for another time.
But I want to encourage you totune in.
What is the Spirit saying to you?
But how do we know when theSpirit is speaking to us
corporately?
Well, first we need to look forwhat the Spirit is doing in the
(16:35):
world and in our presence, inour midst.
Where do we see God's favourresting?
The apostles saw the favour ofGod resting on the Gentiles.
That said something about God'sview on this matter.
Are people coming to faith?
Are lives being transformed bythe power of God?
(16:56):
Is supernatural love abounding?
Is holiness evident?
And they looked at what washappening among the Gentiles and
, as we read in the rest of theNew Testament, it was pretty
messy, but yes, those thingswere happening.
Second, what are the prophetssaying?
So what do godly leaders andprophetically gifted individuals
(17:19):
discern?
And you learn who those voicesare.
The council at Jerusalem writesa letter and you hear that some
brothers went out without ourauthority.
Don't listen to them.
Then you've got these otherpeople, like Paul and Barnabas,
(17:39):
who are sort of the focus ofthis controversy because they're
leading the mission to theGentiles and it's like they've
risked their lives.
You see the fruit of the Spiriton their lives.
These are the men that arecommended.
Now we do need to practicediscernment when we're listening
for the voice of the Spirit andwho we listen to.
Not everyone who says Lord,lord, is from Jesus.
(18:03):
Jesus said to beware of falseprophets.
Demons can counterfeit the workof God.
Paul, interestingly, in theletter to 1 Corinthians he's
lamenting divisions in thechurch, but he says it is
necessary that there be factionsamong you so that those who are
approved may be recognizedamong you.
(18:24):
So how do we recognize thoseapproved?
Well, jesus said you'd knowthem by their fruit, godly
character, gracious speech, acommitment to God's word, the
power of the Spirit doing thestuff, putting their lives and
reputations on the live line forthe gospel.
(18:49):
How do we know the council madethe right call in the end?
Well, it was because of thefruit, verse 30.
So they were sent off and wentdown to Antioch and after
gathering the assembly, theydelivered the letter and when
they read it they rejoicedbecause of its encouragement.
They rejoiced.
Both Judas and Silas, who werealso prophets themselves,
encouraged the brothers andsisters and strengthened them
(19:12):
with a long message.
And after spending some timethere, they were sent back in
peace by the brothers andsisters to those who had sent
them.
The church was strengthened andunified.
The message was affirmed byother prophets.
It was a good result.
(19:34):
So how do we discern God's will?
Well, simply the church of Godor other Christians if it's the
church of God or otherChristians if it's individual.
The word of God and the spiritof God, and together these lead
us into the truth of God.
(19:55):
You know we are living in aworld that is throwing up all
sorts of novel challenges at usthat people of previous
generations, let alone Bibletimes, couldn't even imagine.
Consider AI Who'd have thoughtback before computers?
Certainly that people arestarting to ask can a computer
have a soul?
How do we respond to that?
(20:19):
How do we respond just to thepractical challenges of
something that's probably biggerthan the industrial revolution
or the printing press?
Medical technologies raise deepquestions about gender identity
and what it means to be human.
Churches have torn themselvesapart with arguments about how
to respond to that.
How can we know God's will inthe face of such big challenges
(20:45):
that the Bible just couldn'thave addressed not directly?
Well, church and Acts cametogether to listen across
cultural divides.
They came to listen to theSpirit.
They discerned where he was atwork through what he had to say
(21:05):
and through what he had to saythrough prophets and leaders,
and they listened to theunchanging, authoritative word
of god, which may not speakdirectly into these situations
but gives us a lot to work with.
You know, this doesn't justapply to the big decisions we
have to make.
But, as I said, what about yourlife?
(21:25):
How do you make decisions?
How do you determine what God'swill for your life is?
Again, you can seek the counselof other believers, you can seek
the mind of the Spirit and youcan seek the Word of God for
guidance.
The answers may not always beclear and, frankly, we often
(21:48):
disagree.
But I want to say this as longas we are anchored in God's
people, in God's Spirit and inGod's Word, we're going to be on
pretty sound foundation.
Let's pray as we move fromthese thoughts into communion.
(22:10):
Father, we thank you that wehave an anchor In fact, we've
just been talking about threeanchors that we don't just have
to figure things out with ourown wisdom.
We don't just have to seek thetruth in our own hearts, as the
(22:30):
world so often encourages us.
I don't know about others, butI get lost in there.
But, father, that you give usguidance in there, but, father,
that you give us guidance.
And as we come now to communion, we see the cross and what you
(22:53):
have communicated to us on that.
In Jesus' name.
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