This is Monday morning, February the 5th, 1973
in Richmond, Virginia.
Minister being given through Brother Stephen Kahn.
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 us.
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 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 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 hast already begun.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
Will you 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, asked to join himself to the disciples.
And all were afraid of him, not believing
that he was a disciple.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to
the apostles and related to them how he
had seen the Lord on the way and
that he had spoken to him and how
in Damascus he had 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.
And the Lord's hand was with them 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
Cyrenian and Manian 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.
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's 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 key
men and used these men to help in
the formation of this Body of Christ.
So finally we find God did get what
He wanted.
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'll 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 need of those needy things.
So some of them began to sell their
properties.
And they put the proceeds of these sales
at the feet of the 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, yeah.
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.
In deeds.
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 would 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.
So.
After he was converted.
Then a fall began 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 3 years.
And there he was before God.
After 3 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 seek for fellowship.
But nobody believed him.
Even after 3 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 it was after 3 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.
But thank God.
Of all the disciples in Jerusalem.
There was one man.
That man with big heart.
You know part of us was a Hebrew.
Hellenistic Jews.
And when the persecution first started in Jerusalem.
It 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.
It was mainly against the Hellenistic Jews.
And certainly part of us 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 Saul.
And he was able to believe in what
God did.
He had faith.
Not only in God.
But in man too.
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 that.
But Barnabas was a big heart.
He saw what the Lord did in that
person.
So he took him in.
And introduced him to the believers in Jerusalem.
Now that's how Paul met Peter.
He was 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.
Sovereign and serene.
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?
You know in the early church there wasn't
any thought.
Of one church controlling another church.
There was no such 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 different places.
Every church maintained 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?
Second job.
You know.
In that little letter.
Little in five.
But not in essence.
In second John you'll find here.
Verse thirteen.
The children of thine elect sister greeted.
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 a 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.
Both of us will stand out.
He was the kind of person who has
a big heart.
He was the son of consolation.
He was a Hellenistic Jesus.
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 in 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.
Governing.
Directly.
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
universally.
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 is 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 folks.
And the witnesses.
And the shortcomings.
That is very easy.
If you have a very keen observation.
You go to any place.
And maybe wait 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 murderer.
But Barnabas was such a man.
When he went into the midst of these
Gentile believers so called.
Instead of seeing their weaknesses.
Their immaturity.
And look down upon them.
And step upon them.
He saw the grace of God.
In their midst.
Oh brothers and sisters.
How easy for us to see things negatively.
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 is very difficult for us to
see that which is positive.
Why?
Because our very nature is negative.
Our sinful 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.
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.
It's a ministry of establishing the believers.
How we need such a ministry.
As he stayed with them.
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 will 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 touch
it.
This is mine.
What are you building?
Are you building your own kingdom?
Or are you building the Bible?
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 each will carve out a territory and
working 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 gain.
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 that.
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 Christ.
Because he knew from the very beginning Paul
was more gifted than he was.
That is 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 will not keep the church in Antioch
within his limit.
He wants them to be what God wants.
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
said.
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.
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 the extremes.
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 it brought him to Jerusalem.
A true end lot.
And there Paul labored with Barnabas.
For a whole year.
And because of their laboring together.
The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
For the joint labor of these two servants
of the Lord.
These disciples they grew so much in the
Lord.
The church manifested Christ in such fullness.
That people began to look at these people
and say.
Now who are they?
Certainly they are not Judaists.
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 Barnabas.
Barnabas was a band.
You know you read Colossians chapter 2.
Colossians chapter 2 verse 19.
Holy fast ahead.
From whom all the bodies ministered to and
united together by the joints and bands.
Increases with the increase of God.
You know we all hold fast ahead.
Christ is ahead.
We hold fast ahead.
And then the whole body ministered to and
joined together and united together by the joints
and bands.
You know in the body you need joints
and you need bands.
The joints are the joints of supply.
The joints supply the blood.
Supply the life of the body.
But you need bands too.
Because the bands 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
bands of unity.
Then the body increases with the increase.
Now Barnabas was a band.
Probably Paul was a bigger good.
But Barnabas certainly was a great band.
And without such bands the church cannot flourish
in history.
We often emphasize on the ministry of the
joints.
But somehow we overlook the ministry of the
bands.
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 body.
Usually they are not seen.
Usually they are neglected by other people.
But without these joints and bands the body
cannot be increased with the increase of God.
So the joints and the bands 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 where the church is to be built.
Everywhere where the body expression is to be
manifested.
You will find you need these joints and
you need these bands.
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 will find is mentioned
first.
And so was the last one.
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 supper.
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 set me upon Barnabas and
Paul.
For 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.
So brothers and sisters.
You find the way that God will train
his people.
You always are trained in the local church.
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 are always thinking of serving God where?
Somewhere else.
That's natural.
And in order to serve God somewhere else.
What do 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 the Old Testament.
How did God train His workers?
Did God put a desire in you to
serve?
The church where you are.
Is a 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 Bible.
You say everybody knows you.
Thank God everybody knows you.
That is 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 set me apart.
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
can win many souls.
It has to be proven here first.
And out of faithfulness God will enlarge.
So here you will find Barnabas and Paul.
They were set apart.
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 would 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
work.
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.
15 days.
And now you will find after several years
he still remembers Barnabas and Paul.
You know.
He still remembers.
He was a young man.
Very promising.
And he would like to help him.
To build him up.
To be someone greater than him.
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.
He 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 will display
them.
But not Barnabas.
When he saw the grace of God in
a person he wanted.
So he set his eyes on John Mark.
And you 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 find in the beginning it was Barnabas.
When God said set apart Barnabas.
And they went out as a company.
Barnabas and Saul.
But then something happened.
Suddenly you find the Holy Spirit began to
say Paul.
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 revealed himself to the dictate of the
Holy Spirit.
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.
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.
Brothers and sisters.
How we long to see something among God's
servants.
You know very often God's servants strive for
position.
For prominence against one another.
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 you go.
Even if humanly it is difficult.
It is humiliating.
But here you'll find Barnabas was not dragging
Paul's feet.
He was supporting him.
You do not find anywhere in the Scripture.
When the Holy Spirit changed the order.
That Barnabas outwardly going along.
But actually was pulling his feet.
He was supporting Paul with a son of
God.
Now that's the kind of man Barnabas.
It is true.
When they began to go out.
Decide to go out a second time.
Barnabas said.
Let us take John Mark again.
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 decide to go out a second
time.
Barnabas said.
Let us take John Paul.
He forgot John Paul's thought completely.
John Mark.
Thought completely.
He thought there was promise there.
He was restoring.
So he was anxious to fully restore this
young man.
Let us take John Mark.
But Paul.
Because at one time.
He deserved it.
He had to be disciplined further.
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 asking this question.
Who is right?
And who is wrong?
These two servants of God.
They labored together.
And so much bled.
And now you find they clashed.
To the extent.
They could not be reconciled.
They had to go each his way.
Who was right?
History tries to judge.
The right and the wrong.
Of this incident.
Usually people say.
Of course Barnabas.
Why?
Because.
After this.
Barnabas was no longer.
What he did.
Was no longer mentioned.
The history from now on.
Barnabas.
We do not know what happened.
After he took John Mark with him.
What happened afterwards?
As if the Holy Spirit.
Says.
You have gone off.
And Paul.
The church.
Backed him up.
And here you find the Lord began.
To use him.
Therefore some people said.
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.
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 perfect.
He was perfect.
And even Paul said.
He is a great help.
And even God said.
He can write the gospel.
So here you will 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 formed.
Through the death.
Of one person.
The dying of one person.
Comes the life of Christ.
And when this happens.
You cannot judge.
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.
So.
We need to ask God to raise up
more Barnabas.
Not only more Paul.
But also more Barnabas.
We need them all.
Our Heavenly Father.
How we praise and thank thee.
For the variety.
Even of thy servants.
That thou thus 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 thus said.
May be able to continue.
In the name of our Lord Jesus.
Amen.