“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.’ 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.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. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 16 Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.“
Acts 15:36-16:5

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35-39

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MARCH 3, 2025

I have had the opportunity to listen to several people share why they have walked away from the Church and their faith in Christ. And I think, from what I’ve heard, it often comes down to losing confidence in Jesus’ power. If Jesus is powerful, why did my child die? If Jesus is powerful, why can’t I win the battle with pornography? If Jesus is powerful, why doesn’t he end the war? If Jesus is powerful, why does he allow corrupt politicians to remain in power? Why do the rich continue to win and the poor continue to suffer abuse? And little by little, drop by drop, trial after trial, faith goes trickling down the drain until it is bone dry.

Our world is beyond exhausted. When I look around at the world around me and see vast and endless mountains of human tragedy and pain, I feel helpless. Power-less. I think many people feel powerless, and that may be why anxiety in this country is at a catastrophic level. We are losing our confidence in Jesus’ power because the circumstances around us are so painful and grim.

This week, we will spend some time reading Acts 15 and 16. As we read about the wild adventures of the early Church, I want us to pay careful attention to where we see Jesus’ power and what it actually looks like.

Today, I want us to reflect on a little phrase that has been popping up in various forms in the story of Acts. It’s the phrase, “and they increased in numbers daily.” This may be an easy phrase to overlook, but we mustn’t! This phrase holds so much truth to the power of Jesus Christ! I want to remind you that they were not increasing in number because they had power, wealth, status, talent, and giftedness. They were not growing in numbers because their life circumstances were just perfect! They were not increasing in numbers because they had the full support and love of the government and the people and cultures around them. They were not growing in numbers because they were all physically fit and without any bodily pain or discomfort. We see in our passage that Paul and Barnabas had a strong disagreement and chose to separate and complete different ministry tasks. At the same time, there was a struggle in the churches, with some Jewish believers having a hard time accepting Gentile believers into the faith and wanting them to become more Jewish to be a part of their family. Even with disagreements, divisions, and opposing opinions within the church itself…………….. Against all odds, they were increasing in numbers!

That is power! That is the power of Jesus Christ alone! Church, can’t we see that God cannot be thwarted!?

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • What first comes to mind when you think of Jesus Christ’s power?
  • Has anyone ever misled you regarding how Jesus’ power works?
  • Most of the time when you pray, you call upon Jesus’ power. What is it that you want Jesus’ power to do?

 

Church Reading Plan: Exodus 14; Luke 17