COME ALONG SIDE.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
*MISSION: a task to do, an important assignment, an important task, duty.
*MENTOR: a supporter, to advise, to train, to guide, motivate, model, mold.
*COME ALONGSIDE: to help each other succeed, to be together, close.
In 1968 and 1969 there was strong racial tensions in Springfield, Illinois. Several days we had police with full riot gear in our halls. Some whites and some blacks were rioting at school. When the crowds passed our rooms the teachers dismissed us to run out of the schools to safety. They released us two by two. When it came my time I was paired with an Illinois Martial Arts Champion. He was known city and state wide. No one ever messed with him. He had been the state champion many years. I had great comfort and peace as we walked to safety. I HAD A FRIEND!
WHAT DUTY DO I HAVE? Show me where you spend your:
1 TIME; 2 TALENT; 3 ENERGY --- I will show you what is important to you.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 (MSG) Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
THE ROOT OF CHRISTIAN WORK IS GIVING… giver vs. taker.
Pride, EGO and selfishness: DESTROY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED OF GOD TO DO!
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38 (MSG) Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
DO WE KNOW IN THIS JOURNEY THERE IS MORE? HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED HOW IMPORTANT MENTORING IS?
Barnabas has several good traits. He loved Jesus. He was faithful. He was full of faith and he was full of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:36 (MSG) Joseph, called by the apostles "Barnabas" (which means "Son of Comfort"), a Levite born in Cyprus,
37 sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.
WE LOVE STARS AND HERS. LET US MEET A CHRISTIAN WORKER THAT NEVER GAINED GREAT RECOGNITION…
Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
BARNABAS HAD A UNIQUE CALL ON HIS LIFE… HE WAS CALLED TO MISSIONS… Barnabas never wrote a book in the Bible. Few know him. But those that know him recognize how important he was.
BARNABAS’ ROLE WAS SPONSORSHIP, TO TEACH… MENTOR: WHO WILL LOVE THE NOVICE? Paul was CALLED according to the will of God as an APOSTLE. Paul wrote 14 books of the New Testament. It would have never been possible without a man named Barnabas.
BARNABAS TOOK MANY RISK TO LOVE SAUL. BARNABAS TOOK A CHANCE TO DESTROY HIS POSITION AND HIS REPUTATION TO SUPPORT THIS “GREEN HORN.” LET US GIVE THIS NIGHTMARE A CHANCE… BARNABAS SAW THE POTENTIAL IN SAUL/PAUL. BARNABAS STARTED INVESTING IN SAUL.
Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
MY CALL IS TO BE SENT: SUPPORTER, HELPER…
Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
TO TEACH IS TO LEARN TWICE….
Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
QUITTERS HURT? DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF ARGUING AND DIVIDING OUR ATTITUDE? POURING INTO SOMEONE AND THEN DISAGREEMENT HAS A TENDENCY TO BRING SEPARATION.
Acts 15:36 (MSG) After a few days of this, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit all our friends in each of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let's see how they're doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John along, the John nicknamed Mark. 38 But Paul wouldn't have him; he wasn't about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia. 39 Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways: Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus;
PAUL WAS NOT WILLING TO INVEST IN A QUITTER. PAUL ADMITS HE WAS WRONG…
1 Corinthians 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
2 Timothy 4:11 (MSG) Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he'll be my right-hand man
I AM A SIDE LINER. JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS CALLED TO A SUPPORTIVE ROLE… I AM THE PREPARER!
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30 (MSG) This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
JOHN IS IN PRISON, SELF DOUBT WAS SMOTHERING…
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
CONCLUSION:
Many years ago I was traveling playing music in eastern Kentucky. We had a wonderful service. At the end of the service the pastor asked: Does anyone have a word to say? There was an old cripple lady stood up. She had a brown paper bag. She made her way to the front. You could hear the sigh of the crowd: OH, NO! The lady sat on the altar and pulled a washboard out of the brown bag. She sang AMAZING GRACE. She took a spoon and ran the spoon up and down the board. I started crying. The lady sang out of key, but there was just something about her singing that deeply touched my heart.
We loaded up our equipment. I was still crying. I asked the pastor about the lady. Her husband had been a circuit preacher traveling from town to town on his horse. He would come home mid-week for a few days. She would wash his bibbed overalls and white shirts and he would leave back on the circuit. She felt it was her ministry to cook, wash and starch his clothes.
He died. She felt her ministry was over. Why didn’t the Lord call her home? She was praying late one night. She felt like an angel visited her. The angel told her that she still had a work to do. She got out that well-worn washboard and grabbed his favorite spoon and started singing and playing the washboard. Some 55 years later I remember with tears her ministry to the Lord.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
