This is Monday morning, February the 5th, 1973
in Richmond, Virginia.
Minister being given through Brother Stephen Cong.
May we have a word of prayer?
Lord, our hearts do rejoice that we may
gather together unto thyself.
Thou art the joy of our hearts.
Thou art our strength.
Thou art our worship.
Thou art our praise.
How we praise and thank thee that thou
dost condescend thyself to be with us and
to receive the praises and the worship of
our hearts.
We feel privileged that thou would accept it.
It is all because of thy grace, thy
precious blood, thy cross.
Thou hast opened this new and living way
for us.
Oh, how we praise and we thank thee.
Thou art so real, so living, and nothing
can separate us from thy love because it
is thy love for us.
Oh, may thy love inspire us.
That we may love thee.
Lord, because we love thee, we want to
know thee more.
Manifest thyself to us as thou hast promised.
As thy word is given, let us hear
thy voice.
Lord, it is thee thyself that we, that
we desire and nothing else.
May thou have a greater place in our
lives, thy rightful place among us.
We come at this time into thy hands,
trusting thee to perfect the good work which
thou has already begun.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
May we please turn to the book of
Acts.
Acts chapter 9.
We'll read from verse 26, 26 and 27.
And having arrived at Jerusalem, he, that is
Paul, hasteth to join himself to the disciples,
and all were afraid of him, not believing
that he was a disciple.
Thus Barnabas took him and brought him to
the apostles, and related to them how he
hath seen the Lord on the way, and
that he hath spoken to him, and how
in Damascus he hath spoken boldly in the
name of Jesus.
Chapter 11, verse 19.
They then who had been scattered abroad through
the tribulation that took place on the occasion
of Stephen, passed through the country to Phoenicia
and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to
no one but to Jews alone.
But there were certain of them, Cyprians and
Cyrenians, who entering into Antioch spoke to the
Greeks also, announcing the glad tidings of the
Lord Jesus.
On the Lord's hand was Whitman, and a
great number believed and turned to the Lord,
and the report concerning them reached the ears
of the church which was in Jerusalem, and
they sent out Barnabas to go through as
far as Antioch, who having arrived and seeing
the grace of God, rejoiced, and exalted all
with purpose of heart to abide with the
Lord, for he was a good man, and
full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a large crowd of people were added
to the Lord, and he went away to
Tarsus to seek out Saul, and having found
him, he brought him to Antioch.
And so it was with them that for
a whole year they were gathered together in
the assembly and taught a large crowd, and
the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Chapter 13, verse 1.
Now there were in Antioch in the assembly
which was there prophets and teachers, Barnabas and
Simeon, who was called Niger, and Lucius the
Cyrelian, and Manian, who was the brother of
Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
And as they were ministering to the Lord
and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me
now, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to
which I have called them.
That's all we'll read for this morning.
We mentioned before that those formative years of
this new vessel called the body of Christ,
the church, are very, very important years.
Whether this new vessel, the body of Christ,
will be formed according to the heavenly pattern,
thus becoming a vessel fit for the Master's
use, or whether it will degenerate into something
other than God wants, depends very largely upon
those formative years.
As we will find from Acts chapter 6
to Acts chapter 15.
So thank God he raised up certain keen
men, and he used these men to help
in the formation of this body of Christ.
So finally we find God did get what
he wants.
We have mentioned several in the past.
Stephen, Philip, Paul, and Peter.
Now this morning we would like to go
on to Barnabas.
Because Barnabas had a very special place in
the formation of the body of Christ.
He served as a kind of bridge.
In a sense he joined Peter and Paul
together.
So you find he had a very special
ministry in the formation of the body of
Christ.
We see Barnabas first in chapter 4 of
the book of Acts.
You know during that time God was increasing
the number of those who believed in the
Lord.
And all those who believed they were together.
They were of one spirit and one soul.
And they loved one another.
They were delivered from that self-possessiveness.
They were willing to share everything with one
another.
They were really one body.
And it was during that period that some
of the members of the body realized that
there were poor people in their midst.
Those who were in need.
They could not see their brothers and sisters
in need.
And just said may the Lord supply all
your needs.
They felt constrained by the Lord to supply
the needs of those needy things.
So some of them began to sell their
properties.
And they took the proceeds of these sales
at the feet of apostles.
That these will be divided distributed to all
who were in need.
And among them there was one that stood
out.
And the Holy Spirit mentioning him.
Of course he was not the only one
who did that.
But he was the only one we find
the Holy Spirit particularly mentioned him.
As an example.
There was a man by the name of
Joseph.
A Levite.
A Cypriot.
And he sold his property and laid the
proceeds at the feet of the apostles.
And the apostles surnamed him.
Gave him another name.
Barnabas.
Which means son of consolation.
Son of comfort.
Barnabas Jewish name.
Former name was Joseph.
And we know what Joseph means.
It means he will add.
He will add.
God will add.
A-D-D.
Add yes.
So that's the name of Joseph.
But then you'll find he had another name
Barnabas.
Son of consolation.
He was a Levite.
But he was born and reared in Cyprus.
So he was a Hellenistic Jew.
Not a Hebrew Jew.
In him you'll find the combination of not
only the Greek culture but also the Hebrew
culture.
And in that sense he was very much
like Paul.
And he loved the Lord.
Not in words only.
Indeed.
He sold his property and laid the proceeds
at the feet of the apostles.
He did all these not independently.
He did all these in relatedness with the
church.
You know sometimes we can do good deeds.
Sometimes we can do good things.
But we will rather do them independently.
But here you'll find in the early days
of the church.
As they were moved by the Spirit of
God to do certain things.
They never did anything independently.
It's always in relatedness.
In relation with the church.
Everything came out of the church.
And everything was related with the church.
And even in this matter of ministering to
the poor.
It was related to the church.
Now that was really beautiful.
Paul sold after he was converted.
Then he sold again at Jerusalem.
He became famous in Jerusalem.
Famous as the chief persecutor of the church.
He dragged men and women out of houses
and put them into jail.
He was well known in Jerusalem.
Then he went to Damascus.
And he was converted.
After he was converted.
He went to Arabia.
Probably around three years.
And there he was before God.
After three years he came back to Damascus.
He was with the disciples for a time.
And because his witnessing was so effective.
He couldn't stay in Damascus.
He had to flee.
You know how he fled?
In a basket.
Hanging out over the wall.
And he escaped.
So he went to Jerusalem.
He went to Jerusalem to speak for fellowship.
But nobody believed him.
Even after three years.
The impression was just too deep.
These believers in Jerusalem.
They were afraid of Paul.
Who was called Saul at that time.
Even though he came back a changed man.
And he was after three years.
But nobody believed him.
So here you find Paul was stuck in
Jerusalem.
Rejected by the Jews.
And not accepted by the Christians.
He was all alone.
And it must be a terrible experience to
Paul.
So thank God.
Of all the disciples in Jerusalem.
There was one man.
That man with big heart.
You know Barnabas was a Hebrew Hellenistic Jew.
And when the persecution first started in Jerusalem.
He was actually focused on the Hellenistic Jews.
It started in that way.
You know Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew.
And he was thrown to death.
And then the great persecution began.
He was mainly against the Hellenistic Jews.
And certainly Barnabas was also a target.
So he should remember it well.
And yet you find Barnabas was a man
of such big heart.
He was able to forgive and to forget
the past.
He was able to see what God had
done in this person's soul.
And he was able to believe in what
God did.
He had faith not only in God but
in man.
You know sometimes it's very difficult for us
to change our view of a person.
Once you come to a conclusion.
That's it.
So very often people will say brother.
What do you think of this brother or
this sister?
Or this man or this woman?
Do you think there is any hope?
You know once you figure a person out.
Now in the beginning you don't know exactly
what kind of person that is.
Then you have some context.
And you begin to form an idea.
A concept.
Once your decision is made that's it.
But do you believe God?
Do you believe God is able to change
a person?
To transform a person?
If you believe in God then you can
believe in man.
Not that man can change but God can
do it.
So here you'll find all the other disciples
they just couldn't believe it.
They said this man cannot be changed.
Probably it was just another trick he was
playing.
He was just trying to find out who
these Christians were.
By joining with them to find out.
And then to persecute.
Nobody would believe.
But Barnabas was a man of faith.
Big heart.
He saw what the Lord did in that
person.
So he took him and introduced him to
the believers in Jerusalem.
Now that's how Paul met Peter.
He went through the introduction of Barnabas.
And Paul was able to be with the
disciples for a certain period.
Until his witnessing became too strong again.
And he had to go away.
So the church sent him away.
And Paul went away.
And he went back to Tarsus.
And he spent a number of years.
In Syria.
And Cilicia.
Because Tarsus is in Cilicia.
Because of the persecution.
The disciples were dispersed.
And as they went along the way.
They went to Syria.
They went to Cilicia.
And as they went out.
They announced the great tidings.
But to the Jews alone.
But there were some who were Cypriots and
Cyrenians.
So these people began to witness to the
Greeks.
And the Lord began to add many, many
of these Greeks to the church.
So finally the news began to come back
to Jerusalem.
That in these Gentile cities.
Many were converted to Christ.
Not only Jews.
But many Gentiles.
So they sent out one person.
And that person was Barnabas.
Barnabas was most fitting for this kind of
work.
He was sent out to visit all these
places up to Antioch.
Did he go out as an investigator?
Or inspector?
Not at all.
You know in the early church.
There wasn't any thought of one church controlling
another church.
There wasn't such a thing.
Jerusalem was not the mother church.
And all the other churches are the children
churches.
That was a concept that came in much
later.
In the early days you'll find.
As the churches began to spread to different
places.
Every church maintains its independence in government.
But there is a fellowship in the spirit
among the churches.
So when they heard in Jerusalem that God
had done something in the cities of Syria
and Cilicia.
They sent Barnabas out not with the purpose
of investigating or inspecting.
And then bring them under their control.
They sent out Barnabas to seek for fellowship.
That they may be joined in one in
fellowship.
And to strengthen one another.
The Bible never had the thought of mother
church and children churches.
Never.
What the Bible had is sister churches.
You want to know where is the scriptural
base for that?
2 John.
You know in that little letter.
Little in size.
But not in essence.
In 2 John you'll find here.
Verse 13.
The children of thine elect sister.
Briefly.
The relationship between churches is the relationship of
sisterhood.
One church is a sister to the other
church.
Some are bigger sisters.
Some are smaller sisters.
But they are sisters.
It is not a relation of parents and
children.
Because if it is the relationship of parents
and children.
Then the parents control.
Have rule over the children.
And the children are supposed to obey the
parents.
But if they are sisters.
You see their relationship is one of equality.
And yet of fellowship.
So in the formation of the church.
Of the body of Christ.
In the most practical way.
You'll find the Holy Spirit is guiding and
leading the way.
Barnabas was like that.
He was a kind of person who has
a big heart.
He was the son of consolation.
He was a Hellenistic.
So he didn't go out with the things
of empowering over all these churches.
That God has raised up.
And brought them into the fold of the
church in Jerusalem.
That is the human way.
Not the divine way.
The Holy Spirit has started all these churches.
And then Barnabas was sent out.
To join all these churches.
In fellowship with the Spirit.
But not to bring them under the control
of the church in Jerusalem.
The whole structure of the church today is
unscriptural.
On the one hand you'll find every local
assembly is independent.
In the same government.
Directly by God.
There is no one church governing another church.
And yet it is balanced by fellowship between
churches.
So that they really are one.
You know the body of Christ is one.
Universal.
And yet in its practical working out you
have to have local churches.
And yet all these local churches are a
local expression of the body of Christ.
Therefore they have fellowship one with another to
show that they are really one.
And that is beautiful.
So that's the reason why Barnabas was sent
out.
And as he traveled to these places.
He saw the grace of God.
Manifested in these places.
You know it is very easy when we
go out and visit.
To see all the faults.
And the weaknesses.
And the shortcomings.
That's very easy.
If you have a very keen observation.
You go to any place and maybe within
a few hours.
You can see the weakness and the faults.
In God's people.
You can go there as a judge.
Not as a brother.
But Barnabas was such a man.
When he went into the midst of these
gentile believers so-called.
Instead of seeing their weaknesses.
Breaking the purity.
And look down upon them.
And step upon them.
He saw the grace of God.
In them.
Oh brothers and sisters.
How easy for us to see things negative.
You think that is all over.
You don't need to look too deep to
see the negative things.
It's all there.
But it's very difficult for us to see
that which is positive.
Why?
Because our very nature is negative.
Our simple nature is negative.
But here you find this man full of
the Holy Spirit.
He was really under the control of the
Holy Spirit.
So when he came into the midst of
these people.
He had no idea of dominating them.
He had no idea of judging them.
He just came as a brother ready to
help.
He saw the grace of God in their
midst.
And he rejoiced.
He rejoiced.
He can rejoice in what God has done.
Outside of him.
And you know what he did?
He encouraged them.
To serve the Lord with one purpose.
To abide in the Lord.
In other words his ministry is a ministry
of establishing the believers.
He was not too much of an evangelist.
Not too much.
But he was more like a pastor.
His gift.
He will come in and help them.
And strengthen them.
And establish them in the Lord.
And because of his labor among these people
in Antioch.
The Lord added more.
He's a ministry of establishing the believers.
How we need such a ministry?
As we say with us.
He began to realize the potential in the
church there in Antioch.
He began to realize that what God will
do in the church in Antioch was something
that he couldn't do by himself.
It was a work that was bigger and
greater than Barnabas could handle.
So he went out to Tarsus to get
Paul.
Now think of that.
Usually, you know, humanly speaking, it is always
the temptation of a servant of the Lord.
If they go to a place and the
Lord begins to use them, they will consider
that as their kingdom.
So here and there you'll find this one
cut out a kingdom for himself, that one
cuts out a kingdom for himself.
And you guard your kingdom very carefully.
You consider the church as your personal property.
That is human temptation.
And this happens everywhere.
When God begins to use a person, he
calls out a kingdom.
And he will not let anybody else to
touch it.
This is my territory.
What are you building?
Are you building your own kingdom?
Or are you building the body of Christ?
As a missionary tactic.
You know, the different missionary societies had to
come to an agreement.
And say now you go to the east
and I go to the west and he
will go to the south and the other
will go to the north.
We all each will carve out a territory
and work in it.
Now you don't come to my territory.
In order to keep peace.
What are you building?
Are you building your own kingdom?
Or are you building the body of Christ?
If it is the body of Christ, it
belongs to Christ.
If it is the body of Christ, it
should be able to be benefited by all
the ministries that God has given to the
church.
Barnabas was a person who was not seeking
for his own.
He did not come out of Jerusalem just
to be a king in Antioch.
This is the church.
The body of Christ.
It had to be taken care of.
He saw great potential in that church.
And he realized it was more than he
could do.
Thank God for Barnabas.
If a servant of the Lord can realize
his limitations, that is something to be thankful
for.
He was only thinking of the welfare of
the church.
He was not thinking of his position and
power.
If he should think of his position, he
should never go to find Paul.
Why?
Because he knew from the very beginning Paul
was more gifted than he was.
That's why he went to find Paul.
He realized that this was a work that
he couldn't handle by himself.
He was able to establish them in the
beginning, but then he came to his limit.
He would not keep the church in Antioch
within his limit.
He wanted them to be what God wanted
them to be.
Thank God for that.
All the servants of God today should learn
this lesson.
And he went out to find Paul.
Paul had been in Syria and Cilicia for
a number of years already.
You know.
After he couldn't stay in Jerusalem, they sent
him away to Tarsus.
And he had spent a number of years
in that area.
In Galatians, the first chapter of Galatians, he
says, he was in Cilicia and Syria, laboring
for the Lord.
And those people in Judea only heard that
the former persecutor was now announcing the glad
tidings, but had never seen him.
So in other words, you find Paul was
in that area for a number of years,
all alone by himself.
He was almost forgotten.
Almost forgotten.
If this should continue, either of the two
alternatives may come.
Either Paul will get so discouraged, they sent
me away, and there was no more contact.
I was forgotten.
He might become so discouraged, he will give
up.
Or, he will be so infuriated by the
treatment he received, that he thought, alright, if
you don't care for me, I don't care
for you.
I will establish God's work in my area,
and that will be my kingdom.
Have nothing to do with the church in
Jerusalem, or with anybody else.
You know, you can go to either of
the two extremes.
And Paul was that kind of person.
If he had not someone to balance him,
he would go to that extreme.
But thank God.
In God's divine wisdom, Barnabas went.
And if you read the word there, you
know, it took Barnabas some effort to find
Paul.
It was not just he knew that Paul
was imposter, so he went and knocked at
his door.
No.
He didn't even know where Paul was.
He had to find him.
He was willing to spend time in finding
Paul.
And he brought him to a true end.
And there, Paul saw, labored with Barnabas for
a whole year.
And because of their laboring together, some of
the disciples were first called Christians.
Through the young labor of these two servants
of the Lord, these disciples, they grew so
much in the Lord, the church manifested Christ
in such wholeness, that people began to look
at these people and say, now, who are
they?
Suddenly, they are not Judaism.
Because most of them were Gentiles.
Now, in the beginning, most of the believers
were Jews.
So they could look at the church and
say, now this is just a sect of
Judaism.
But now in Antioch, the situation was entirely
different.
It was so clear.
Because these were mostly Gentiles.
You cannot say, now this is a sect
of Judaism.
A part of Judaism.
It had no part with Judaism.
It was something entirely new.
And what was it?
People look at them and say, they were
Christians.
Christ-men.
Men of Christ.
Christ was so manifested in the midst of
these people, that they earned this nickname.
They were able to arrive at such, mainly
because of the love, the humility, and the
labor of God.
Part of us was a band.
You know, you read Colossians chapter 2.
Colossians chapter 2, verse 19.
Holding fast the head, from whom all the
bodies, ministered to and united together by the
joints and veins, increases with the increase of
God.
You know, we all hold fast the head.
Christ is the head.
We hold fast the head.
And then the whole body, ministered to and
joined together and united together by the joints
and veins.
You know, in the body you need joints
and you need veins.
The joints are the joints of supply.
The joints supply the blood, supply the life
of the body.
But you need veins too.
Because the veins unite together.
Unite together.
Just like in your body, you not only
need the bones, the joints, but you need
these muscles.
You know, they join the body together.
And with the joints of supply and the
veins of uniting, then the body increases with
the increase of God.
Now part of us was a band.
Probably Paul was a bigger joint.
But part of us certainly was a great
band.
And without such band, the church cannot increase.
Brothers and sisters, we often emphasize on the
ministry of the joints.
But somehow we overlook the ministry of the
veins.
We are thinking that for the building of
the body of Christ, you need people who
are like joints and can supply.
Supply life.
Thank God for all these joints.
But there are people who do not seem
to do much of the supplying.
And yet there is a quiet ministry going
on.
Binding people together.
Joining people together.
Uniting people together.
Establishing them together.
It is just as essential a ministry as
the joints.
Usually they are not seen.
Usually they are neglected by other people.
But without these joints and veins, the body
cannot be increased with the increase.
So for the joints and the veins you
will find in the church in Antioch, they
increase with the increase of God.
And there you will find a wonderful testimony.
They were called Christ.
That is how the church is formed.
The body of Christ.
And such principles must be carried on if
the body of Christ is to be built.
Everywhere when the church, where the church is
to be built, everywhere where the body expression
is to be manifested, you find you need
these joints and you need these veins.
You need Paul and you need Barnabas.
Then, during that time, God raised up five
prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch.
Barnabas was the leading one because his name,
you'll find, is mentioned first.
And so was the last one of the
five.
Because he was relatively young in the Lord.
He was still learning, you know.
And as the five prophets and teachers, they
minister unto the Lord with fasting and prayer.
Before they minister to the church, before they
minister to the people of God, they first
minister to the Lord.
Now that is the right order.
They minister to the Lord, to his need.
And then to the church.
And as they were ministering to the Lord,
the Lord said, Send me Barnabas and Paul
for a special work.
Apostolic work.
Because they were so faithfully ministering in the
local church, God increased their ministry.
Gave them a wider ministry.
Apostolic ministry.
And God sent Barnabas and Paul out for
that apostolic ministry.
So brothers and sisters, you'll find the way
that God will train his people.
You always are trained in the local church.
You know.
Very often people say now, if you want
to serve God, what should you do?
Naturally with young people.
When you have a desire to serve God,
immediately you think of the distant place.
That's natural.
Why?
Because there is a sense of adventure there.
You know.
You never think that you will serve God
here.
You're always thinking of serving God where?
Somewhere else.
That's natural.
And in order to serve God somewhere else,
what should you do to train to be
prepared?
Go to a Bible school.
Where else to go?
Now, I am not criticizing people because I
went through this.
When I was saved and I was on
fire, I wanted to serve God.
Where should I go?
Mongolia, of course.
Not in Shanghai, my native place.
And how should I go to Mongolia to
serve?
Of course, go to a Bible school.
Where can you be trained?
You read your New Testament.
And even though that is, how did, how
did God train His workers?
If God put a desire in you to
serve, the church where you are is the
training ground.
It is not a school.
It is the church, the body of Christ.
There is no school that you can learn
Christ and learn how to serve Christ better
than the local expression of the body.
You say everybody knows you.
Thank God everybody knows you.
That's where the training begins.
And if you are faithful in the place
where God has put you, minister unto the
Lord.
One day the Lord said, set me up.
He is able to enter into a bigger
ministry.
But you find it always begins in the
place.
If you cannot be used by God among
the people whom you are, can you expect
that suddenly you are greatly used by God
among the people that you don't know?
Many people said they cannot win any soul
here.
But if they go to Africa, suddenly they
win many souls.
It has to be proven here first.
And out of faithfulness God will enlarge.
So here you'll find Barnabas and Paul.
They were set about to go forth.
And you know Barnabas was such a man
of big heart.
He was always trying to help people.
You know?
He was always trying to look whom he
could help and build up.
He did that to Paul.
Without Barnabas we will not have Paul.
Even though God had revealed himself in such
a way to Paul, and yet without Barnabas,
Paul would be lost.
Would be lost.
It was Barnabas that brought him to the
fellowship of the saints.
It was Barnabas that brought him into the
world.
He was actually trained under Barnabas.
Barnabas had his eyes on Paul.
After several years he met Paul in Jerusalem.
For a short period.
Only a short period.
Fifteen days.
And now you'll find after several years he
still remembers Barnabas.
Paul, you know?
He still remembers.
He was a young man, very promising.
And he would like to help people.
To build him up.
To be someone greater than he was.
And so when God set Barnabas and Paul
apart for this apostolic work, immediately you find
Barnabas satisfied on another young man.
John Mark.
Not because John Mark was his cousin.
I believe Barnabas knew much better than that.
It was not because of the fleshly relationship.
No.
In the work of God the flesh could
not enter in.
But you find the big heart of Barnabas.
He was always looking for some young people
that he could help and build up to
be a vessel for God.
Now you need to thank God for Barnabas.
This is what the church needs today.
There are young people who really had a
desire to serve God.
And who really want to learn, but where
can they go?
Who will help them?
Who will remember them?
Probably the older people are afraid of the
young people.
Lest one day the young people would display
them.
But not Barnabas.
When he saw the grace of God in
a person, he wanted to help and build.
So he set his eyes on John Mark.
And you'll find Paul agreed with him.
So it wasn't a fleshly relationship.
Paul agreed.
So they went out together.
And if you read the book of Acts
carefully during that period, you'll find in the
beginning it was Barnabas and Paul.
And Paul.
And God has set apart Barnabas and Paul.
And they went out as a company.
Barnabas and Paul.
And John Mark served in that.
But then something happened.
Suddenly you'll find the Holy Spirit began to
say, Paul and Barnabas.
And because it is now Paul and Barnabas,
John Mark couldn't.
This young man was still a man full
of blood and flesh.
His cousin was the leader of this group.
And now Paul took over the leadership.
He couldn't agree to that.
But look at Barnabas.
Did he say a word?
Did he object?
I'm the leader.
I'm leading this team.
He yielded himself to the dictator.
You know, there is no sixth position in
Christ.
The Holy Spirit knows.
Who should be ahead?
Who should follow?
He knows.
In the beginning it was Barnabas and Paul.
But then Paul seemed to go ahead spiritually.
And the Holy Spirit said, it is Paul.
And Barnabas gladly took it.
The young man, John Mark couldn't stand it.
And he left.
But Barnabas continued on with Paul.
Paul was prominent.
People saw Paul.
Heard Paul.
Talk about Paul.
Barnabas was under the shadow of Paul.
But he took everything graciously.
As if nothing happened.
The humility of this man of God.
Brothers and sisters.
How we long to see something like this
today.
Among God's servants.
You know, very often God's servants strive for
position.
For prominence.
Against women.
Just like people striving for authority and power
in this world.
It's sad.
If we only know how to really surrender
ourselves.
Whatever the head says.
That's where it is.
Even if humanly it is difficult.
It is humiliating.
But here you'll find Barnabas was not dragging
Paul's feet.
He was supporting Paul.
You do not find anywhere in this Scripture.
When the Holy Spirit changed the order.
That Barnabas.
Outwardly going along.
But actually was pulling his leg.
Paul's leg.
He was supporting Paul.
A son of comfort.
Of consolation.
Now, that's the kind of man Barnabas was.
It is true.
When they began to go out.
Decided to go out a second time.
Barnabas said.
Let us take John Mark.
You know John Mark.
Left them.
Went to Jerusalem.
But somehow through the ministry of Peter.
John Mark was partially restored.
To a certain extent.
That Barnabas and Paul.
Took him from Jerusalem and brought him to
Antioch again.
But then, you know.
Barnabas being a man of such big heart.
When they decided to go out a second
time.
Barnabas said.
Let us take John Paul.
He forgot John Paul's thought completely.
John Mark.
So completely.
He said there was promise there.
He was restoring.
So he was anxious to fully restore this
young man.
Let us take John Paul.
John Mark.
But Paul objected.
You know.
Because at one time.
He deserted.
He had to be disciplined first.
And they disagreed.
So Barnabas took Mark.
And left for Cyprus.
And.
Paul chose Silas.
And the church committed them to the Lord.
And they went to Syria.
Galicia.
And so forth.
Today.
Brothers and sisters.
We are often asked in this question.
Who is right?
And who is wrong?
These two servants of God.
They labored together.
And so much blood.
And now you find.
They clashed.
To the extent.
They cannot be reconciled.
They had to go each his way.
Who was right?
Who was wrong?
History tries to judge.
The right and the wrong.
Of this incident.
Usually people say.
Of course Barnabas won.
Why?
Because.
After this.
Barnabas was no longer mentioned.
What he did was no longer mentioned.
The history from now on.
Barnabas stays away.
We do not know what happened.
After he took John Mark with him.
To Cyprus.
What happened afterwards?
No more.
As if the Holy Spirit says.
You have gone on.
And Paul.
The church.
Backing up.
And here you find the Lord again.
To use him.
Therefore some people say.
Paul must be right here.
Barnabas must be wrong.
But dear brothers and sisters.
I am afraid.
God does not judge that way.
It is true.
It seems as if.
Barnabas.
In this decision.
He was making a wrong turn.
It seems to be that way.
But if Barnabas had his fault.
It is the fault.
Of Generosity.
Because he was of such a big heart.
He failed in that.
Too big.
Probably both are right.
It was just the.
Sovereign wisdom of God.
It is through.
The continual help of Barnabas.
That you find.
Even though Barnabas seemed to fade away.
John Mark.
Was perfected.
He was perfected.
And even Paul said.
He is a good help.
And even God said.
He can write the gospel.
According to me.
So here you find.
It seems as if Barnabas died.
That Mark.
Is a ministry of the Lord.
So who are we to judge.
He might be wrong.
But it is the fault of his big
heart.
And God.
Seemed to overlook it in a sense.
And still use it.
To perfect.
This young man.
Brothers and sisters.
This is how the body of Christ.
Is to be found.
Through the death of one person.
The dying of one person.
Comes the life.
Of Christ in another person.
And when this happens.
You cannot.
Judge anymore.
I think one day.
When we come to.
The judgment seat of Christ.
We will have.
A different idea.
About Barnabas.
I know not many people have very high.
Opinion about Barnabas.
But I wonder.
Whether one day.
We will change.
Our opinion about him.
He was a man.
Of God.
And he had a very special place.
In the building of the body of Christ.
He is a bridge.
He faded away.
But the church.
Went on.
So.
We need to ask God to raise up
more Barnabas.
Not only more Paul.
But also.
More Barnabas.
We need them all.
Shall we pray.
Our Heavenly Father.
How we praise.
And thank thee.
For the variety.
Even of thy servants.
That thou dost give.
To thy church.
That thy church may be built.
According to.
Thy divine.
Design.
We thank thee for Paul.
We thank thee for Barnabas.
We pray.
That there may be many joints of supply.
And many banks.
Of your unity.
That the body.
May increase.
With the increase of God.
O Lord.
This is the vessel.
That thou art looking for.
And we want thee to have it.
That thou the head.
May be able to continue.
To do and to teach.
In the name of our Lord Jesus.
Amen.