https://youtu.be/WZ2TBRRoV1Q

Exposed

Acts 15:36-41 - Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas [a]was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being [b]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Recap Paul came up with the idea to go back to the cities they had preached Barnabas was “determined” – (having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it)Paul “insisted” (demand something forcefully, not accepting refusal)There was “contention” (heated disagreement.)They “parted” (move away from each other, separate)

Here Paul is saying, John Mark is no good because of what He did

Paul is justified – he is dude that go stoned, killed and has no room for deserters

But what happened to extending the same grace that was extended to Paul

Acts 9:26-27 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

See, its easy to receive grace, to think that we got it all together, to come to a place where life throws us a test and our inner most parts are exposed

Its easy to point fingers at Paul, but I wonder when testing comes in our lives and we are exposed, what is seen in us

No one is immune – Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

If Paul could follow his fresh – I believe we too are not immune

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

It is easy for us to be doing great things for God, yet we are not intentional about relationship that we have with each other. We push our own desires and this brings division.

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church]

Division does not come screaming, “I am division”

It’s different when we are attacking a common enemy, we are all in, but what happens when division creeps inside the church, with our brothers and sisters

We have to learn quick to identify those things that make us walk away from what God is calling us. That make us interfere with God’s plan- that leads us to not get used by God.

Are you ready to be Tested?

Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The heart is deceitful above all things, And [a]desperately wicked; Who can know it?I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the [a]mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings

Testing has to occur at some point

John 1:2-4 My brethren,