11/22/2009
The Impact of a Barnabas
Acts 5:29-39
Introduction:
Turn to Acts 5:29-39
I would like us to look at what a Barnabas church would look like.
I realize that I will have to give you some background of Barnabas, so you can decide if that is how you who you want to be modeled after.
Acts chapter 4,5,6...we see the Lord doing a lot of moving and shaking in the lives of the disciples, and in the life of the newly formed believers called the church.
We see Peter and John confronted about their faith, the Sanhedrin questioning by what power and what name they do these things.
1. Peter full of the Holy Spirit says that by the name of Jesus Christ, the one you crucified , but God raised from the dead.
2. Standing if front of a group of religious leaders.
you decide what is right for you to do, but we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and what we have heard.
3. It becomes personal
What they have seen, what they heard, how they feel.
They prayed under persecution.
4:29
Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal 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 all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly
After that prayer, the church began to make an impact.
Believers stopped only thinking about themselves and began to look out for people in need.
One of the ones that looked out and saw that people had need was Barnabas.
Barnabas sold his house and gave all the money to the disciples to distribute to those in need.
After that Ananias and Sapphira want to do the same thing. There is one problem. They liked the attention of people knowing that they gave it all, but they held back some money and lied about it.
No where is it written that they had to give all.
they could of given any amount, up to not even giving any of it.
They both died because they lied to the Holy Spirit and because they tested the Spirit of the Lord.
The Bible tells us that great fear seized the church after they heard of this event.
Here’s the foundation this morning.
God’s people praying, the place where they are meeting will be shaken
God will move upon people to step out of their comfort zone (not all)
The church under God’s anointing will be shaking. People will be either running toward it or away from it.
A church that is dead will have neither.
Back to Barnabas for a minute.
Barnabas birth name was Joe. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means son of encouragement.
Barnabas would be the kind of person you would be attracted to.
Friendly greeter
The one with encouragement, not draining the life out of you.
Person you could count on/ put your trust in.
Has a positive reputation.
Someone who loves just about everyone, even the ones that probably didn’t like him.
I would like to go as far to say Barnabas probably would inspire those he is around, that they would want to like him.
The DNA of Barnabas is a giver not a taker. His hand is open and not tightfisted to fight.
Barnabas saw potential in people. He saw what they could be, maybe not what they are right at the moment
Barnabas was a independent thinker. He didn’t base what he does on what others do or what they think. It was dependent on what God says and what God thinks about it.
So here the church is, shaking things up, making an impact, watching people come to Christ.
That’s what Barnabas’s do
That’s what Barnabas church’s do
They shake things up, they make an impact, they don’t settle for less than what God wants done.
They are persecuted Not everyone agrees with them They are not everyone’s friend
They don’t get invited to every party
They are put in jail. The Lord immediately gets them out.
God says:
5:20 “Go stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the full message of this new life”
There it is ... God doesn’t say easy. He says Go
They are dragged in front of the Sanhedrin again.
5:28
We gave you strict orders not to teach in his name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.
That also is what Barnabas’s do. They keep bringing Jesus before the unsaved and give them an opportunity to know Him as their savior.
Brings us to the text of the message this morning.
The apostles again before the Sanhedrin.
They don’t know what to do with them.
Listen to the words of one of the leaders. He has more spiritual truth than most would think.
Acts 5:29-39. Read from the Bible.
Theudas appeared with 400 followers. He died, followers dispersed.
Judas the Galilean led a revolt, he died, followers scattered.
My advice Leave these men alone.
V 38 “let them go, for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it I from God, you will not be able to stop these men, you will only find yourself fighting against God”
Illustration
On Friday, I am eating lunch and on one side of me was an associate pastor of a church trying to persuade this couple that they need to get back to church. On my left is a retired minister and his wife telling me how bad the economy is and am I having a stewardship campaign to pay the bills for the church year.
This message is about prayer, Holy Spirit being able to work in our lives and evangelism.
All 3 things that I have been preaching on.
The church that does things in their power, their strength, their wisdom. It will fail.
The Barnabas person, the Barnabas church, who allows the Holy Spirit to lead us, the church that really cares outside their walls to reach the lost, the ones that want to do it in the power of God will be unstoppable.
Nothing will be able to stop it- nothing absolutely nothing has the power to stop God.
For they will be fighting against God.
The people of this world, are praying that we do it in our own strength.
Jesus understand the ministry that he gave us. “I come to seek and save the lost” and we are to do the same.
Only 2 things can stop us.
1. Fear
2. Complacency.
Illustration
According to the Barna Group, nearly ½ of the people they surveyed believed that the Bible, the Koran, and the book of Mormon all lead us to God.
That is a lie .
That is from the pit of Hell.
That is deception.
That is against God’s Word.
Barnabas, you make sure you understand that.
Barnabas churches are built on purpose, that purpose is Jesus Christ, and the people that Jesus Christ want to reach.
You show me a church without prayer and having a lot of activity, I’ll show you an organization. It will not have spiritual power.
A church on fire is endued with power from God. The pastor, the people, and they will go to the highways and the by-ways that God sends them.
A church on fire is not only the pastor. It is not only his message, his illustrations, his commitment, it is a whole church being a Barnabas, an encourager.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Don’t mistake what we can do in ourselves and what we can do in His power.
I have been in dead churches, I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I surely do not want to pastor one.
I have been in church and the power of God was so strong , it caused me to be not only focused on Him, but on nothing else mattered.
Which one do you want to go too? Which one do you want to have a part in?
Key word being a part of.
Illustration
Norman Cates shared a humorous story of a guy who prayed this every morning. Lord, if you want me to witness today, please give me a sign to show me who it is. One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly guy sat next to him. The bus was nearly empty but this guy sat next to our praying friend. The timid Christian anxiously waited for his stop so he could exit the bus. But before he could get very nervous about the man next to him, the big guy burst into tears and began to weep. He then cried out with a loud voice, I need to be saved, I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t someone tell me how to be saved? He turned to the Christian and pleaded. Can you show me how to be saved? The believer immediately bowed his head and prayed, Lord is this a sign? Are you looking for a sign? To start witnessing?
Listen:
God is not looking for perfection. He does tell you to do the best we can. But if the fear of being perfect keeps you from serving, you are missing great opportunity.
Jesus was a servant. He wants us to be a servant.
Do small tasks with a big heart and God will be happy.
Do a large task for what others say about you, think you are to important to do small tasks, God will straighten you out.
Galatians 6:30
If you think you are to important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.
Great opportunities disguise itself in small task.
Doing little things right determines big things.
There are always people willing to do great things for God, and they never get started.
Start doing the little things God is telling you and be willing to be a servant.
Closing:
I’m going to challenge you Barnabas. December 6th is a Christmas play here. I will have time after the play to preach a few minutes. I am going to give some sort of salvation message and asking for a decision for Christ. Barnabas, who can you invite? Several, who can you invite? To give God an opportunity to minister to them by the play and by the message? Will you be praying to be used?
Can you become an encourager to those that you are around?
Illustration
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking the color barrier, he faced hostility in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him, he stood at second base, humiliated, while the crowd booed. Then, without saying a word, shortstop Pee Wee Reese went over and stood next to Jackie. He put his arm around him and faced the crowd. Suddenly the fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that that arm around his shoulder saved his career. Pee Wee Reese that day was a true friend. I believe God can do the same with us.
The greatest ability is dependability.
Altar Call
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