Christian History & Missions | Lecture 6 : BC201-CH&M-20260826

Praise the Lord. Good morning everyone >> and welcome to the class on uh revivals, visitation and the moves of God. So um we are looking at the third major division in the book of acts uh the last 20 years that's talking about whom? Paul, right? Okay. So, we will uh continue looking at Paul's uh missionary journey, the first one, and if you have time, we'll look at the second one as well. Okay. Um so, before we do that, let's pause for a word of prayer. Can one of you lead us in prayer, please? Anyone? Okay. >> Heavenly Father Jesus Christ, we thank you for giving us this wonderful day. Father, Lord, we give the pastor, the teacher in your hands. Father, we give all the students both online and offline into your hands. Father, lead us and guide us. Father, open our hearts. Open our minds. Father, open our eyes and open our ears. Father, pour out your spirit in each one of us. Father, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Lord, Lord lead us and thank you for everything Lord in Jesus mighty name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. So um how long did the first missionary journey uh take for Paul or how long did it last? >> Two years. Okay. Thank God one of them remembers. How many miles did they travel? It's not necessary to know. 1,200 miles. Okay. Okay. So if you look at your um you know if those of you are connected to the online class uh the PowerPoint there okay it shows how they travel from uh uh Antioch in Syria they moved all the way to uh Salucia okay which is a seapport town that is the sea there okay and then from there moving to Cyprus uh which is uh they sailed by sea because it's not land there, it's sea. And then you can see they go to Salamis on the Cypress um island. Okay. And then from there going all the way to um you know Pergia um and uh Pampilia and from Pamilia moving right up to Antioch in Pacidia. Okay, the map shows that. Then from there they move to Iconium. Okay. From Iconium Paul goes and Paul and Barnabas goes to they go to uh Lististra. Okay. So Lististra and uh Perga uh Picidia, Antioch, um Iconium, Lististra, Derby all travel by land. Okay. So if you look at the map it very clearly shows there and uh we see that um they minister over there and then they um we stop at um sorry. Yeah. So for Iconium they travel 18 miles go all the way to Lististra. Uh okay and then at Lististra they heal a crippled man who was crippled by birth. And what do they say that Paul and Barnabas are? What do they call? They are gods. Okay, they name Barnabas as Zeus, one of their gods and Paul as Hermes. Okay, and Paul restrains them from stops them from doing it. And also he preaches the word to them. And then the Jews, can you see the map there? The Jews from Antioch and Iconium which they had gone earlier. Okay. Um um you know um they come all the way to Lististra, right? And um what happens? They stir up the Jews in Lististra. Okay. So there's two cities there. We can see uh Antioch and Iconium. The Jews travel all the way come to Lististra because they hear that Paul is there. They stir up the Jews in Lististra and they stone Paul almost to death. Drag him outside the city and leave him as good as dead. But what does Paul do? >> He gets up gets up, goes back into the city. See how bold Paul is? He's not afraid. Okay. Um he goes back into the same city that he's walking not even on a stretcher. Nobody's carrying him. And the next day what he does? >> Huh? >> From Yes. From Lististra they travel to Derby which is another 20 miles by land right by foot. Can you imagine somebody who's stoned to death even if we get a small fever the next day we are not able to function to our fullest. Right? or if you have a stomach pain or a headache the previous day the next day we are still we still trying to get over it but here what is Paul doing he's almost good as dead you know but he gets up the next morning and he travels all the way by foot to Derby so look at your maps there 20 miles by land okay and Iconium listra derby are in the same uh their cities in the region of Galatia okay and um it is possible that during this time Paul was attacked by some sickness that he writes about later in Galatians 4:3- uh 14. Okay. Um but what do we learn from this? We learn that God's power confirms confirms the gospel, right? So maybe those who beat up Paul, left him, you know, almost to death, they would have been shocked. How can this man, you know, walk back into the city and next day travel to another uh you know uh uh city? Yeah. 20 miles and preach the gospel. Okay. We also see Paul's humility and pointing people to God. He says this is not, you know, when he heals the the man who was crippled, he says it's not us, but it is God. So, we see his humility and pointing people uh which is very essential in revival ministry. Sometimes in revive when revival happens we think it's happening all because of us but we need to point people to God and also we see that revival fire persists in spite of the physical danger that we go through and also the opposition. Okay. Then from Derby Paul actually goes back to the cities that he had visited. So if you look at your map he goes back to Lististra Iconium. He goes to Antioch. If it was me, I was thinking I would never go back to this iconia man Antioch because already people are waiting to kill me. But look at his boldness, right? He goes back to the same cities. Why? To strengthen the churches to appoint leaders in the local church in Lististra, Iconium and Tech. And then he comes all the way back the same way to Pergia in Pamilia. Okay. And then all the way to Cucia and um then he goes back to his home in Antioch in Syria where he starts his first missionary journey. He goes back and we read about this in Acts chapter 14 21- 28. Okay. So what do we learn from this first missionary journey? What are some of the things that we can learn about revival? >> Revival requires boldness. Okay. It brings boldness in people. Okay. What else? >> No. No. Keep the same. Yeah. >> Whatever the situation is, God gives us the grace, enables us, empowers us to preach the gospel. Okay. No one can stop. >> Yeah. No one can stop the move, the revival of God, the fire of God. Okay. Good. Yeah. Revival is not just about excitement, but it also requires what? What does revival require? It's not just sitting and enjoying the presence of God. But what is it also? >> Huh? >> There's persecution. Yes. >> Opposition. Huh? What else does it require of people? You just sit down and enjoy God's presence. More of you, God. More of you and just sit down. >> Yeah. It brings about transformation in your life. You need to take that steps to allow God to correct you to transform your life. Yes. What else? What else is revival? What did we see all these days in the first division and the second division in the book of Acts? What did we see? Revival was aboutity. >> Unity. Okay. What else? What did apostles do when the revival broke out? >> Yeah, they preached and they discipled others, right? And they preached the gospel. And what did those who heard and were discipled? What did they do? What did they do? Those who heard the gospel, those who were ministered to, what did they do? >> They went and Yeah. They added more. They went and they discipled. What was the hallmark of the revival that happened in Antioch in Syria? I told you Antioch and Syria. What was the important feature of their revival in that church? Whom did they raise up? >> Leaders. Yes. So revival is not just about excitement. Oh, what is God doing today? Yesterday, you know, all of those things. Yes, that is there. It's not just pursuing the presence of God, the power of God, but it also requires disciplehip, leadership, mentoring, developing, follow up and taking the revival fire across communities, cities, nation, and nations of the world. All of you able to understand? So that is what we are actually seeing here in all of these three divisions in the book of Acts. Okay. Um so what did God do during Paul's first missionary journey uh in the hearts and lives of people? What did God do? He opened the hearts of people. Many Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believed in cities across Cyprus and Asia Minor. Also we see that God confirmed confirmed his word with signs and miracles. Right? We saw Sergis Paulus Elmius the sorcerer Jewish sorcerer was blinded or we saw Paul healing the crippled uh man in um in Lististra. Okay. So there was great mighty signs and powers that God u revealed. Uh what else do we see in this missionary journey of Paul? Other than preaching the gospel, Jews, God-fearing uh Gentiles believed uh >> churches were planted. >> Several churches were planted. Yes. What else? Huh? That is before he started the missionary journey. During his missionary journey, what happens? What are some of things God did? >> Yes. God healed him and gave him supernatural strength. Yes. Supernatural healing, supernatural strength. Very good. Also, he protected his servants, right? They suffered stoning, opposition, threats from the enemy. And also, communities were planted, churches were built, and elders were appointed. So, we see all of this God did as a result of the first missionary journey. What are some things that we can learn for ourselves today from Paul's first missionary journey? What can we learn? Come on. What can some of things we can learn? >> Okay. any circumstances, difficulties, persecutions, hardships come, it should it will not stop the revival fire and it should not stop us. God gives us the boldness and courage. Very good. What else for Paul and Barnabas to go on that mission trip? What did it require? Huh? What did it require? obedience right to God's call right the church at Antioch they fasted and prayed and God said set apart Barnabas and Paul for the work of the ministry so the leaders did their job and Paul and Barnabas also were obedient to the Holy Spirit's direction okay what else we learned >> huh >> sorry loudly please >> finish the race faithfully. >> Finish the race faithfully. Yes. Let's not give up in between they in spite of the hardships what could they have done chal baba you know let's run let's run from here right bhago you know they didn't run but what did they do they went back to the same places and they strengthened the churches there okay so some of you online and e-learning students I spoke in Hindi which is our u national language so please excuse me I just got very excited okay uh Yes. So, you know, they didn't run away, but they went back to the cities and strengthened the churches. Okay. What else? >> Jesus doesn't mean that easy. >> Following Jesus and revival doesn't mean everything is going to be easy. Yes. >> Stay humble. Yes. Stay humble. Uh point people to Jesus. Don't take all the glory. Paul could have said, "Yes, I'm homies." You know, and the Bible said Zas and all they could have worshiped him. They said no. They pointed to Jesus. We should be very careful. Yes. >> Huh. >> Be willing to do beyond. Yes. Or grow beyond your position. Yes. >> God will open. >> If you open Yeah. If you take those steps of faith, God will open doors. Yes. Good. We also see that miracle signs uh were demonstrated that confirm the the power and the presence of God. Okay. And we also see that why do Barnabas and Paul go back to all the cities that they had started off? Where did they go back? >> To strengthen them. Yes. So we see that believers must be nurtured, equipped and continually strengthened. Okay. And they should also be equipped to carry the revival fire. Okay. Also we see that God calls us and sends us where it's not very easy and not very comfortable. Okay. So um we see that Paul and his team minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. They did signs, miracles, and wonders. The gospel was preached. They ministered not only to the Gentiles but also to the Jews. They also had opportunity to speak to the people in government and they raised up and established local communities of believers and appointed elders and encouraged them to press on in the Lord. Okay. Okay. So after they journey through everything, where do they come back to? After two years journeying all these places, where do they come back to? Paul and Barnabas. Antioch. >> Yeah. They come back to Antioch um of Syria. Okay. They come back to their home church. And there they stay for around 3 years before they go back on their second missionary journey. And during this time, you can put slide three. During this time, Paul led a young man named Titus, okay, to the Lord. Okay. Now who is Titus? Um Titus was a gentile, a Greek by birth and he was living in Antioch of Syria. Uh we do not know um what we do not know is that Titus uh uh you know um when he how did he connect with Paul? Okay. And details of how he first believed we do not have those details. But what we do know is Titus became a faithful uh disciple and an active part in the church at Antioch. And later on he becomes one of Paul's most trusted co-workers in the ministry. Where does Paul leave Titus? Any idea? Any idea where Paul leaves Titus? He writes the book of Titus, right? So where does he leave him? >> Antioch. Okay. The island of Cree where Paul and Titus go, but he leaves uh you know him there. Also Paul uh Paul initially asked him to look over I think oversee the churches at Corenth. Okay. So he's becomes one of Paul's most trusted co-workers in the ministry. Now when Paul and Barnabas uh come back and they are three years here in Antioch uh they go up to Jerusalem also and uh Titus goes with them and Paul mentions about this in Galatians chapter 2:es 1-3. Now we need to notice something very important here. Why am I mentioning about Titus? Because Titus is a gentile believer and as a believer he was not circumcised because he was not a Jew and the apostles in uh Jerusalem did not compel him to undergo circumcision. Now this was a big problem in the early church. Okay. If the Gentiles were becoming Jews joining Judaism, then the Jews made it very mandatory that the Gentiles had to be circumcised. Now when the Jews and the Gentiles were becoming believers in Jesus Christ were becoming Christians, the Jews also made it a mandatory that the Gentiles who were in the church had to be circumcised. Okay. So we see that you know uh but Paul and Barnabas do not force Titus to circ you know go through circumcision and also the apostles in Jerusalem did not compel him to undergo circumcision. Okay. So this was a powerful confirmation of the gospel that Paul was preaching. What is a confirmation of the gospel that Paul was preaching? that salvation is by how salvation >> by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not through the works of the law and not keeping the sign of the covenant which is circumcision. Okay? Though the Jews were bringing this into the church, Paul was very specifically telling them, hey, it is not by works but it is by grace through faith. Okay? So you see that even in the time of revival doctrines can become a major issue. Right here there was a doctrine of is salvation by works or salvation by grace through faith or is salvation both works and salvation is also through grace through faith. So we see that there was a major problem here. And what do Paul and Barnabas do? Go to slide four. they go to Jerusalem. Okay. Uh the main reason Paul and Barnabas and others went to Jerusalem was to settle the question, do Gentiles need to be circumcised to be saved? Okay. Do Gentiles need to be circumcised to be saved? So, Acts 15:E 1 and 2 talks about this. Okay? Can somebody read that? Acts 15:es 1 and 2. Why was it this a problem? Acts 15:1 and2. >> And certain men came down from Judah and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small no small decision, >> dissension >> dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostle and lead leaders about this question >> leaders about this question. Okay. So here what is happening here? Certain men from Judea come where? Where did they come? >> To Antioch. Yes. Antioch in Syria. And what is the big problem here? What are they saying? >> Unless you are circumcised, >> you cannot be saved. So if you have to be saved, you have to be circumcised. And what do Paul and Barnabas do? They don't have a small disagreement or dispute. It becomes a major disagreement and dispute. And then Paul and Barnabas and certain other leaders, you know, we talked about the leaders in the church at Antioch, right? Yes or no? Yes. So they said that they have to go back go to Jerusalem and go to the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem that is Peter and all the other disciples of Jesus and question them about this. Okay. So slide five. Um so this teaching of circumcision was necessary for salvation because it was causing a lot of confusion and disagreement in the in the Antioch church. Okay. Now, Jews in the Antioch church would have said, "No, we need to be circumcised. If they have Gentiles have to be circumcised, then only they can be fully saved." But Paul and Barnabas were teaching, "No, salvation is only by grace through faith." So Paul and Barnabas stood firmly against it. But instead of pushing their own authority or using their own authority, they wisely decide to go to Jerusalem to have a council meeting with the elders, the apostles in Jerusalem and finalize on the matter. Okay. So go to slide six. Um now why do Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem? It's not because they doubt Paul doubted the truth about the gospel. No, he knew what the gospel said. He was very firm. They had no doubt. They had no questions. But why do you think they go to Jerusalem? Why do you think they go to Jerusalem to discuss this matter when they already know what scripture says, what Jesus has done and this doctrine? Why do they go to Jerusalem? Oh, are they going to s the Pharisees or they going to the apostles, Jesus's disciples to discuss this? They're going to discuss it with the apostles and elders and the the basically Jesus's disciples. Okay. Why are they doing that? Why can't they say no Antioch church this is the you know this is what Jesus has done. And we are saved not by the law or not by the sign of the covenant that is circumcision. But we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Period. Stop. Full stop. No discussion on that. Why couldn't they just exercise their authority and said that? Why do you think they went to Jerusalem? Did Paul doubt the truth of the gospel? Did he have any confusion about this doctrine? Then why do you think he goes to Jerusalem? Come on, think. Why does he go to Jerusalem? Accountability, right? He's accountable to whom? The leaders. Who are the basic leaders first? It's not Paul. Who are the first leaders in the church? >> Apostles. Yes. Also to have unity and oneness. Paul could have said, "Hey, I am just telling you follow it. Who are the apostles?" Right? But no accountability, unity and also clarity in the wider body of Christ to bring about a clarity in the wider body of Christ. Okay. Uh go to side slide seven. So Paul, Barnabas and Titus they reach Jerusalem. They met with the apostles and the elders and they discussed the problem and after much discussion what is the decision they came up. Look everyone please turn to very important everyone turn to Acts chapter 15 verse 28 and read it read it by yourself there was much discussion but what is the decision they made Acts 15:28 what did they finally decide what does Acts 15:28 say >> it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. Now, this is an important statement in the book of Acts, right? What does it tell us? How do the leaders make the decision? Ah, the Holy Spirit, they simply did not make it to their human reasoning or debate. Right? Because most of the apostles were whom were they Gentiles or Jews? Jews, they could have said, "No, no, no. We should have circumcision. You know, God gave it. We cannot do without it." There could have been a debate and discussion. But what did they do? They sought the guidance of the >> Holy Spirit and submitted to his leading. Very important. That is what happens in a revival. You know sometimes you know you'll you will you study the various revival in in some of the revivals the revival fire was stopped or the revival fire was quenched because there was no unity they were fighting about the doctrines that is so sad right God starts a revival it's growing mightily but the revival fire you know people put water on that revival fire how do they what is that water the water is they arguing about or debating about doctrines and there is no unity. But you see here how Paul and Barnabas are maintaining that sense of unity and accountability. And you see how the Holy Spirit works, right? The Holy Spirit works to maintain unity for God. What is very important? How do we know that? John chapter 17 Jesus in his high pri high priestly prayer prays and says father let them be one as we are one right even when you see in the godhead father son and holy spirit work in perfect unity. So unity is very important. So if if revival has to you want revival to start there has to be unity whether the people who are praying the church or the body of Christ there has to be unity and after revival breaks through if there is no unity can quench the revival fire. Okay so that is very very important. So how did they all make the decision? What was the basis for them making the decision? the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Okay. So they had a divine revelation. Um you know human wisdom alone could not solve this problem but the leaders actively sought and it's important not only they sought but they also submitted to the Holy Spirit. Very very important. Okay. So here we see that the early church was facing a new and important question. What is the question? Never before the Gentiles had come to faith in such great large numbers. But if they were the Gentiles were converting to Judaism, they had to undergo circumcision. But now with the Gentiles coming to faith in Christ Jesus, was circumcision still necessary? So this was not a question that human wisdom could solve? The answer had to come from God himself. others that could have bought a major decision and divided the church. Don't you think so? Yes or no? Yes. And the Holy Spirit made it very clear that the Gentiles do not need to be circumcised to be saved. And salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Amen. Okay. Okay. I think there is a question from Samuel. Sam, I think yesterday also he posted that question and I missed it. Are there any books to know about the cultural social background about these cities? Yes, if you look at um uh you know uh you you can even Google it and you know you will find a lot of cultural and social background about these cities uh given in um uh you know Google also if you look at some of the commentaries they would um write extensively on uh some of these cities and what is the culture and social background yes okay if Paul became there's another question. If Paul became the greatest missionary after being the greatest persecutor, does God intentionally choose broken people to accomplish his greatest purposes? Was Paul a unique exception? Okay. After being the greatest, does God intentionally choose broken people to accomplish his greatest? I don't think um Paul was a broken person. He was when you know he was persecuting the church he was a very zealous zealous person well educated he was um uh a leader you know important Pharisee so I don't think he was uh you know God chose him because he was a broken person and uh it's not that God chooses broken people to accomplish his greatest purposes uh no But um maybe I think I don't know it's not given the Bible but I'm using my own reason. Why would it why do you think po God chose Paul even though he was a greatest persecutor that time? Why do you think God chose Paul? >> He was highly educated knowledgeable. >> He would have been the right person to spread the gospel. Okay. Why? >> Yes, that is one factor. Highly educated. >> He was knowing the Old Testament laws. Okay. So, he could communicate better, reason better with the Jews. Okay. Share the gospel. What else? >> Sorry. >> He can also debate. Okay. What do you think is the main reason? Think >> his boldness. Okay. Yeah. Maybe his boldness, his courage to do that. >> A testimony >> to the Gentiles. Okay, good. I think one of the main reasons could could be he was very zealous for his faith. He was so zealous for his Jewish faith that no one should, you know, come against his Jewish faith. And so I think God saw his zeal and his passion for his own faith his religion said man if this person encounters me comes to faith in me how zealous he will be for me don't you think so I'm just thinking and reasoning okay so I I don't know if I answered your question Rajie but um yeah broken people God would Not God would take broken people and you know make them whole so that he can pour out his anointing. If not broken people can be a hindrance from the anointing to flow because broken people are not emotionally mentally stable and they can waver and you know the anointing can be wasted. So yes he takes broken people takes the foolish people of the world to shame the wise. uh he takes the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Uh but I think he works with them before he basically um you know launches them out. Yeah, I hope that helped. Rene says, "Ma'am, if there had been no Paul, would Christianity still exist in the same way?" Didn't Paul play a very Okay, that first question. Did if there was no Paul, would Christianity still exist in the same way? What do you all think? >> Yes. >> Yeah. God has many polls to raise. We do not we know only of Paul but God would have God uses so many of them. We do not know so many or used by God. So that is um yes he can still spread his kingdom. He did spread even if you look at church history which we'll be looking at thousand years of um silent period in church history but God raised up Martin Luther you know uh everyone uh Zwingi and all of them to bring about reformation and so many missionaries and men and women of God uh to bring about revival. Yes. So many people. Yes. So didn't Paul play a very big role in shaping its foundations? Yes, he did play. Yes. That is why non-Christian often say Paul was the founder of Christianity. Oh, I don't think uh I I I've not heard that. Sorry. I don't think non-Christians say that Paul is a founder of Christianity. They say Jesus is the founder of Christianity, not Paul. Maybe. I think Rene you are um you would be um uh you would be talking about the Catholic denomination because they do believe in the apostles greatly give emphasis to apostles rather than to Jesus. So they might say yes they might replace the truth by saying Paul would have been the founder of Christianity but those who really know I think the non-Christians would say it is Jesus because Christianity is Christ right? Yeah. Yeah. Uh sorry ma'am because uh muslim always say like that ma'am. >> Oh >> yes yes yes I can. Yeah >> when did >> oh >> Muslims but Muslims know that m okay >> yeah they they said that uh Paul was the founder of Christianity. >> Okay. Oh. Uh, but I know many uh Muslims and they they know that Christianity is Christ. So maybe some of them may say but I don't know but I think I've not heard so far. Maybe some of them you've encountered would say that but uh I don't know about the others. What is your uh feedback? Muslims >> ah they say he's a prophet. Yeah. >> Yeah. And because of him Christianity came. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I think I'll need to delete this part in the cuz going on YouTube we should be very careful what we say. Okay. Yes. I hope you had helped Rene and Rajie. Okay. Who's Rajie? You Rajie you are here in the class. Okay. Okay. Okay. So we'll move on. Um uh slide nine. So when Paul and Barnabas hear this, they return to Antioch. They share the decision with uh the church at Jerusalem and Gentiles believers were greatly encouraged. Look at what happens when they share the news. Acts 15:30-31. What happens? They rejoiced and they were greatly encouraged. Okay? So imagine how relieved these gentile believers and joyful they must have been. Now they know that they are fully accepted by Jesus or the church because of their faith in Christ Jesus and they did not have to become Jews or take on the whole Jewish law in order to be God's people. Okay. Um so the decision was not physical circumcision. It was more about the heart of the gospel. What is the heart of the gospel? Faith and believe in Jesus Christ. And you receive it by grace. Okay. So if if they said circumcision was necessary for salvation, then salvation would depend partly on what people did. But the decision of the apostles confirmed that salvation was by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Okay. So this was a very important moment in the early church because they made the gospel very clear that the gospel is for everyone Jews and Gentiles alike and sal and you receive salvation by grace through faith. Okay. Uh so um let's look at what we can learn from this whole you know three years that Paul was in Antioch. Okay, slide 10. uh Paul and Barnabas could have you know simply argued their position. They could have sent they could have told sent the message to the church at anti Antioch that what they think what they saying are right. But instead what do we see? They personally go to Jerusalem discuss the matters with the apostles and the leaders. So what does it teach us? What does it teach us about Paul and Barnabas? This whole this whole incident what does it teach us? >> Accountability towards leaders. >> Accountability towards leaders. Yes. Very good. That even if you're a very strong spiritful leader, you should be willing to seek counsel from other godly leaders. Yes. And also like you said uh you know being accountable to others is not a sign of weakness but spiritual wisdom right and when elders or leaders seem to separate themselves and they refuse correction or advice they can easily make mistakes become proud division and also teach wrong doctrine. So you need to be very careful. Some of you want to be leaders, pastors, uh ministers of God. You will not want to associate yourself with other pastors, men and women of God in your city, in the in the nation. You'll say, "Why should I listen to him or her?" But it's good to be accountable to learn, to share, to receive uh godly counsel and advice. Otherwise, if you tend to isolate yourself, the enemy can use that to bring in pride. uh and then you know you can make mistakes and you can also create division and teach wrong doctrine which is has been a case in so many leaders. Okay. And we also learned that good leaders if you want to be a good leader you need to be willing to listen to discuss and seek godly counsel. Very very important. Right. Is this slide 10? Yeah. The next one. First one is accountability. What is the second one? We learn unity strengthens the church. Okay. Now we see the church at Antioch was already strong and a growing church. But Paul and Barnabas understood that Antioch was not even though Antioch as a church went through revival. Paul and Barnabas understood that Antioch as a church was not just an independent church that can do its own things, but they were part of the larger body of Christ. So that is why even though they had revivals, even though God was moving in Antioch church, they had leaders, everything was functioning well, they understood they are not independent. They're part of the larger body of Christ. So by going to Jerusalem, they helped make sure that the gospel is being preached in different churches remains the same. They united in what they preach, their doctrines and what they believe. So unity does not mean that every church must have same style, same methods or same way of doing things. Unity means that we agree on the important truths of the or the essential truths of the gospel and work together for God's purpose. So some of us establish our own churches. We think I don't have anything to do with other churches, you know, other mainline churches, other churches in the city. No, that's a wrong attitude that we have. We need to discuss come together be united so that God can work powerfully in the city. What is the third one? Collaboration. Working together helps to protect the church from error. Right? So all the wrong teachings it just helps protects the church. Now think about what could have happened if every church made its own decisions regarding important matters. What do you think would have happened? >> Chaos. confusion, misleading, disagreement, division and even false teaching and people will be confused are what to believe, who to believe, right? So Paul and Barn Bar Barnabas by bringing this issue to the apostles and elders they did it so that you know it can be discussed carefully resolved together and everybody are united on the same thing because it was not only the problem in Jerusalem the churches in Jerusalem not only the problem in the churches at Syria Antioch but also all over and now Paul has gone and started all of these churches in Perga in Pampilia in uh you know in in in um in in Derby, Lististra, Iconium, all of the churches, they also will be confused new churches. So there has to be some sense of unity and oneness. Okay? And so they also help protect the church and ensure that the gospel was clear and faithfully communi communicated to the gentile believers. Other the gentile believers will say, "Hey, we don't want to come right to if I have to become a Christian, why should I be circumcised?" And all of these things, leave it out. they will just be comfortable staying in their own religion. Right? Okay. So, working together, seeking a wise counsel can help protect the church from error. Okay. Also, we see that spiritual authorities honored not feared. Paul and Barnabas when they go to Jerusalem, it does not mean that the leadership at Antioch was weak. So, they had to go and check with the leaders at Jerusalem. No, it showed that they had respect and they were you know submitted to one another among as leadership in the church. Okay. And also seeking advice from other leaders does not make a leader or you as a leader less capable or less spiritual. Okay. In fact, a leader can become stronger when he or she is willing to listen to others, receive counsel, make decisions in agreement with God's word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Very important, right? Here we see even the council that when they made a decision, it was on the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, what do we learn from this that healthy spiritual leadership is not about proving always what is right. It is also seeking God's will to together. Amen. Okay. So, how can we apply it today in our own lives? What can we do? What can we learn? Huh? >> We should also have leaders who are mentors. You know, we can consult them. You know, your young people, all of you, you know, we need it's important to consult leaders, hear from them, receive from them. any major decisions, any new initiatives, anything on doctrinal issues, you know, should be prayerfully discussed with spiritled leaders and mentors. Okay? We need to be accountable. Okay? Um, keep leaders humble. Accountability is very important. That is what keeps us as leaders or those of you as leaders humble, grounded, and aligned in God's will. Also, it's important that you maintain unity for God. Unity is very very important. If there's no unity, you will not find God's anointing and power flowing in the way that it has to flow. So, unity is very very important. Okay. So, coming back again to the lessons that we can learn today. I think it's the last slide. Okay. Accountability matters. Can you put that last slide? Accountability matters. We should be humble enough like Paul and Barnabas. Seek wisdom confirmation from spiritly spiritled leaders and we should not think that we are above correction and being teachable. Also need to maintain unity in the body of Christ. Okay. Even when local churches have their own leadership, they should all stay connected to the wider body of Christ. So unity protects us from error. Also seek the Holy Spirit's guidance when you're facing new complex issues, situations, you know, doctrines. It's important to ask the Holy Spirit, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal and speak. And we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and humble enough to learn from the Holy Spirit. Okay? And we need to also remember that uh salvation is not by any rituals, not by the law, not by human effort. But salvation is by grace through faith. Some churches still keep salvation as what? Human efforts, right? They'll say even baptism, you can't be baptized. You're only uh now only you have received Jesus Christ, you have to wait so many days. You have to wait so many months. You have to do so many things. You cannot be baptized in the Holy Spirit. You have to do this, this, this. All legalistic rituals. No, you know, we are not saved by the law or rituals or human effort, but by grace through faith. If that person's faith to be baptized now, let that person be baptized. Don't stop them. What is baptism? Is you're just opening yourself to, you know, what is uh in the physical. You're opening yourself to the spiritual, the finished work of the cross. And if they want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, it's their faith. Let them be baptized so that they can move, you know, in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and be a mighty witness in the body of Christ. Don't stop them, right? And don't bring about all these legal things in the church. You should do this, you shouldn't do that, you should be like this, you should worship like that. You know, there there are some, you know, standards that we maintain. I'm not saying we totally be, you know, out of, you know, recluse or something like that. Maintain those standards. But there are some things that we need to be careful about. Also encourage the believers uh just as the gentile Christians, you know, when this verdict was passed that they don't have to be circumcised. They all rejoice. They all rejoice in the freedom they have in the gospel. And also our teaching and our teaching should bring people freedom and encouragement in life and not make it burdensome. Because when people want in the world today, when people want freedom from their sins or you know they want their sins to be washed away, what does the world say? You have to do this, this, this, you have to go here, you have to do that. All the rituals. But when it comes to Jesus, what did Jesus say? There was no rituals. There was no laws. There was no dos and don'ts. There were just put your faith in Christ Jesus. Yeah, of course there are don'ts but you know not dos you know that you can receive salvation by grace through faith. Okay. So Muna says Paul said I die daily. What does this practically mean for a believer today? It what does it mean? It means basically I died daily means I put to death daily the deeds of my flesh. The desires of my flesh the desire the carnal nature. The fleshly desires the carnal mind. Um the things that are not of God you put to death daily and >> sorryh >> yeah yeah yeah affections of the flesh the desires of the flesh the worldly passions worldly desires and you desire to flow in the fruit of the spirit okay I hope that help puna okay so we finished um yeah we finished Paul's first missionary journey uh so please Um we'll do Paul's second missionary journey um next week. So it's very interesting and I like all of you to please read from Acts chapter 15 to Acts chapter uh 18. Okay, nice stories from Acts chapter 15 to Acts chapter 18. If all of you come come uh reading that it will just really help and we can go through quickly. Okay, any questions before we end class? Okay, if not, thank you everyone for joining class. Have a blessed day and I will meet you next week. Thank you. Thank you. My gosh.