Being a Barnabas Person
Acts chapter 5:29-39
Introduction- my time away in Wisconsin
I want to talk to you about being a Barnabas or being a part of a church that has a Barnabas mentality.
Most people today wither they admit it or not have a selfish attitude about things that they have. (Tight fisted)
They do not give, not because they do not want too, but because they don’t take the time to see a need and do not make the time that is needed to help someone.
Could you imagine what this community would look like if people took time for each other?
If they actually cared for someone enough to stop for a moment what they were doing to help one another.
Most think, that’s right, if people would do for me… if that was your first thought, then you have bought into the system yourself. It should be how can I help someone? What do I have that could be a blessing to someone else? What could I do to be a blessing?
The government has this Robin Hood mentality that you should take from the evil rich and give to the poor, but in God’s kingdom, whatever you have you should want to not have to give back to God’s kingdom and God’s people.
Acts 5:29-39 Read from Bible
I love the book of Acts.
There is a lot of shaking up going on in the life of the people of God and the life of the newly formed church. The Sanhedrin questioning the disciples by what power that they are doing these amazing and perplexing things and Peter saying it is God’s Holy Spirit empowering and working through them.
It becomes personal.
The church has been accused of being outdated in its approach to people. It used to be the minister opened the doors of the church and people came in. Today that will not happen they are not as quick to just come in. “Because it is good for you, your parents come here, because someone stands up front and lectures is not enough.” The people of today need to see “what” the difference is as well as hear about it. If the church of Christ was on fire, nobody would have to convince others to come, they would see it.
Maybe the church of Christ needs to live what they are preaching?
Churches are being tormented, but they are not being persecuted here in the USA. The third world countries are seeing God moved because in spite of the persecution they have a hunger for God.
We need the hunger of God.
Acts 4:29-
“Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and perform miracles, signs, wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
After that prayer, they began to see God use them to make an impact where God had placed them.
Believers stopped only thinking about themselves and began to look at people in need.
One of the ones that began to see people needs was Barnabas.
Barnabas sold his house and possessions and gave all his money to the disciples. How would that go over at your house? How was your day? Fine. Oh by the way, I sold the house and all of our possessions.
I am not saying that you have to do that this morning, unless the Lord is telling you to do it.
Acts chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphire wanted to do the same thing. There is a problem.
They like the attention of people thinking that they gave all, but they held back some money and lied about it.
No big deal right? Wrong. No where did they have to give all their money. They could have given any amount, including not giving any at all. They lied. They were trying to be something they were not. They were pretenders.
The bible says that great fear seized the church after they heard of this event. I bet they did some soul searching, they were asking God for forgiveness of things that they lied to God about.
Here is the foundation of where this is going this morning
If God’s people are praying, the place where they are meeting will be shaken and people will be drawn to God.
God will move people to get out of their comfort zone. (not all)
The church where God’s anointing is present, people will be running toward it or away from it.
A dead church will have nothing happening. It will be same old same old.
Barnabas would be a kind of person that most would be drawn too.
Friendly
Encourager, not one to drain the life out of you but energize you.
Person you could trust, and count on.
Positive reputation.
Someone who loves most everyone. Even the ones that wouldn’t love him.
I would go as far to say that Barnabas would inspire us to go farther than we thought possible.
The DNA of Barnabas would be a giver not a taker. His hand open and not tight-fist.
Barnabas churches would see potential in everyone. They would see what a person could be instead of what they were at the moment.
How many would like to attend a church like that?
Shake things up! Make an impact. Not settling for anything less than what God wants.
They were persecuted, they were told to stop preaching, not everyone agreed with them, but they loved them and stood their ground. They were put in jail for their faith.
“Go stand in the temple courts, and tell people the full message of this new life.” (5:20)
God doesn’t say easy, he says Go!
Barnabas people and Barnabas churches bring Jesus before the unsaved and give them an opportunity to know their savior. They are willing to use their resources and their time.
5:28
“We gave you strict orders not to tech in his name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Barnabas people and Barnabas churches are going to let people know what is happening in their church because they are excited what God is doing and want other people to experience it.
This morning I have a one point message that expands into several areas of each one of our lives.
A Barnabas person will allow the Holy Spirit excess to every part of his/her life.
This would include their finances, possessions, time, talents, and priorities in their life.
They would realize that if they are going to do anything for the kingdom of God it has to be in the strength of the Holy Spirit along side of their own personal talents and strengths.
They understand that a church filled with Barnabas’s doing things in the strength of the Lord would be impossible to stop.
There are only two things that would stop that from happening. (1) Fear (2) complacency. Which one holds you back?
A lot of great things happening at Rosedale, but it will take each one of us playing our part.
The church of God is not the church until we get behind it with everything we have. It becomes a cause instead of a place to just come when you feel like it. It is something that you believe in and are will to die for.
The early church understood it, and so must the church of the 21st century.
Let me read from the text this morning. Opposition of the church
(38) “Let them go, for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God.”
Let that sink in a minute.
If it from man, they will lose interest and they will run out of strength, but if it is from God, you will be fighting against God.
Theudas appeared with 400 followers, he died, followers dispersed.
Judas the Galilean led a revolt, he died, followers scattered. Let them be, if God is not involved, it will not last. It will have no strength.
Jesus understood the ministry that he had, it was to seek and save the lost and we are to do the same.
Barnabas church are built on purpose, the purpose is Jesus Christ.
They join in on the cause, and the cause is seeing that people meet Jesus not only through our words but because we are actively in their lives.
A church on fire is endued with the power of God. The pastor, the people going and doing what God called them to do. A church on fire is not only the pastor. It is not only his messages, his illustrations, his commitment, it is a whole church being an encourager to the people they come into contact with.
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
I have been in dead churches and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I surely don’t want to pastor one.
Which one do you want to go too? Which one do you want to be a part of?
God is not looking for perfection; He is looking for willing people to be used to build His kingdom. Jesus was a servant and He is looking for servants.
Don’t mistake what we can do in ourselves and what we can do in His power.
Illustration
Jesus tells us what and where we need to go. I drive this bus, but I cannot do it alone. There has to be a full bus to get it done.
Closing,
I want to challenge you this morning. What part do you play? If you say none, I pray that will change; it will take all of us.
Great opportunities disguise itself in a small task.
Do little things right will make big things
There will always be people willing to do great things for God, but they never get started.
Can you be an encourager to someone? That means that you must get involved in their life.
The greatest ability is dependability.
