Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart. Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  In this world we are in some ways under a yoke of some kind—whether it be the yoke of Government, the yoke of work, family, finances, health or even our own fleshly desires.  Yet, Jesus bids us to take his yoke upon us that we might find rest.  How is the Yoke of Jesus different and not the same as the Old Testament law?  And how does His yoke provide us rest from all the other yokes that bind us?

In Acts 15, there rises a new challenge for the early church.  There were many who spread a doctrine regarding the believers needing to all be circumcised and brought under the Mosaic law in order to be saved.  There arose such an uproar among the believers in the church of Antioch that Paul and Barnabas were sent to the elders and Apostles in Jerusalem to secure an answer.  Paul and Barnabas had stood for the truth of salvation through grace alone by faith alone; but their words were being drowned out by the crowds who questioned their authority in the matter.  So, they returned to speak to the council in Jerusalem.

There in Jerusalem the council met.  The Holy Spirit evidently strongly fixed within the council, filling every member with wisdom and truth to respond.

The Yoke of Jesus Not the Yoke of the Law

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Think of this.  Paul and Barnabas on their first Missionary Journey to spread the news of the gospel.  There was no doubt as to the call of the Holy Spirit on their lives.  They could have comfortably remained teaching and preaching in Antioch. Afterall, they were leaders in that church.  Already having faced the opposition, the church was flourishing.  Surely that was God would allow them to remain, growing that church and teaching them in the faith.  But instead God called them to leave that church and go out into the world.  They surrendered fully to the calling of the Holy Spirit.  No hesitation!  No questions asked! Off they went, embarking on a treacherous journey and leaving the familiar behind.  What gave them the strength to persist in faith and missions, regardless of what treacherous trials they might face?

What if God calls you out of your comfort zone into lands unknown? Perhaps it is merely a new job He has called you to (or even has shoved you into by it being the only open door).  It may not have been what you wanted or what you had planned.  Yet, it is where God’s Sovereign Hand had placed you.  Remember there are no “oops” in God’s plan for your life.  Have you landed in a place where you feel silenced? “Surely God does not mean for me to be a witness here!”, you think.  Still this is where He placed you.  Or perhaps you see the need for ministry but feel yourself to be the wrong person for the task.  You want to; but you feel your faith is not big enough.  How do you persist in faith and missions, when you see your own failures looming?

Paul and Barnabas Persist in Faith and Missions

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As we continue through the book of Acts, it becomes clearly apparent that we must make God first in all we do.  Paul and Barnabas, called by the Spirit, began their missionary journey.  Every step of that journey was met with hardships; yet, there were the joys along the way.  The great joy known by Paul and Barnabas was knowing that many came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  The mission, they knew was God’s mission, not their own.  Therefore, when people revolted against them, they did not plead or beg with them.  Instead, they would shake the dust off their feet and move on.  This was a symbol that they (Paul and Barnabas) were not responsible for them nor their salvation.  But the question then comes, “Are you ever Responsible for another’s salvation?”

You are called to tell them of the truth of the gospel. But if they walk away and even close the door of communication with you, you must know how to walk away yourself.  Oh, yes keep them in your prayers that the seed you left will flourish one day.  But that will be left in God’s hands and their choice.  In fact, Paul after preaching a beautiful sermon to the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia, knew some were saved.  Yet, then there were those who denied Christ, particularly after Paul preached also to the Gentiles who eagerly accepted the gospel truth.

Acts 13: 45-48

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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).  Whenever you step forward for God, Satan attacks. He uses whomever is in their own minds are easily manipulated by the lies whispered to them.    Paul knew this all too well.  Indeed, there was a time that he was used by Satan to persecute the early church.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins Colossians 1:13-14.

 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled. And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven (Colossians 1: 19,21,22,23)

Paul understood that whenever he stepped forward to preach the truth of the gospel, attacks came.  Satan attacks through people and circumstances. Even some people whom Satan uses think themselves well meaning. They may even be part of the body who are carnal and weak in their knowledge of the truth.

When You Step Forward for God and Satan Attacks

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The church of God made up of all believers began in Jerusalem (Acts 2).  All who professed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord were baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Church (Acts 11:16), sealed for eternity as God’s Child. (Ephesians 1:13). The spreading of the Gospel from Jerusalem occurred through persecution forcing the people out of Jerusalem.  Ultimately it did spread to the Samaritans and ultimately about 10 years later to the Gentiles (although along the way a few Gentiles were saved).  The Church met with great opposition in Jerusalem as the Jewish leaders banned with the Roman Governors, desiring to destroy the church.  Meanwhile, an unlikely church grew in Antioch, a metropolitan multi-cultural city laden with sin. Antioch would become the epicenter of the church.  From there God called out Barnabas and Paul to begin His Missionary work of spreading the gospel to the nations.

What were the characteristics of this first Missionary Church? The church at Antioch was a very devoted, Spirit led church made up of a diverse, yet spiritually united group of people.  As chapter 13 begins, we truly get a flavor for their diversity.  It was made up of certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger (Black), Lucias of Cyrene (Africa), Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).  Therefore, the leaders of this church were black, white, poor, wealthy, Jew and Gentile.  No discrimination of persons lay within this church.  Afterall, note how even the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, who beheaded John the Baptist.  Hence, he grew up in the household of Herod the Great who murdered the babies in Bethlehem and Herod his Grandson who had just murdered the Apostle James.     Then there was Saul.

Characteristics of the Missionary Church

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