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. KJV
At some point in life, you may need a genuine Barnabas. Barnabas emerged on the scene of the New Testament church at a time when directive voices, like the ministry of Paul was needed. Paul was facing tremendous opposition. The believers in Jerusalem, and it's leaders were suspicious of him, and for seemingly good reason. Before Paul's conversion to Christ, he'd persecuted and supervised the killing of early converts, notably Stephen. Then after having experienced the life-altering encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul was radically transformed. Nonetheless, suspicion had festered and the leaders of the Church were resistant. Then, as Paul diligently pursued fellowship with the rest of the disciples, no one wanted to welcome him, fearful of what he was going to do. What we don't realize, is that because the people chose to believe past reports, and failed to seek God concerning Paul's change of heart, Paul was on the verge of isolation, without fellowship. Thankfully, Barnabas, a highly respected man, and one who recognized Paul's dilemma, changed the situation. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament states "It is to the credit of Barnabas that he had the insight and the courage to stand by Saul at the crucial moment in his life when the evidence seemed to be against him."
Barnabas' name has several potential angles of interpretation. He was identified as the "son of consolation or comfort". His name is also directly linked with two Hebrew words that define him as the "son of Nabbas" or the "son of prophecy". Had Barnabas not prophetically intervened with the comfort and counsel necessary to open the way for Paul's inclusion in the fellowship of the saints, we might not have had the full effect of Paul's apostolic/ teaching and evangelistic ministry, along with almost two-thirds of the New Testament writings. That's significant and a bit shocking. But you see, without a wisely managed ministry like Barnabas, it is highly probably that the Church misses out on the ministries of people who've been disallowed from fellowship because of suspicions, slanders, evil reports and false accusations.
We need the ministry of people like Barnabas. Regrettably, people who try to assume that role often fail miserably, in that they become inappropriately forceful, bradgadocious and enamoured with the one they believe should be endorsed and embraced. Without knowing it, their unwise promotion creates an atmosphere whereby observers or ambitious individuals gradually develop an attitude of jealousy that stirs further suspicion, in order to cancel out the work that the well-meaning promoter has done. Barnabas simply opened the door, sharing only enough encouragement and support in the way that Paul was more readily received and allowed to preach without unwarrented resistance. Barnabas was also able to comfort Paul, who was most probably very frustrated, not having a platform to preach and without fellowship to be refreshed.
Thank God for genuine Barnabases. They are men and women of wisdom, humble and supportive. Without them, the isolated messengers of God, may not emerge to fulfill their destinies! We need to be praying for their release into the Church.
At some point in life, you may need a genuine Barnabas. Barnabas emerged on the scene of the New Testament church at a time when directive voices, like the ministry of Paul was needed. Paul was facing tremendous opposition. The believers in Jerusalem, and it's leaders were suspicious of him, and for seemingly good reason. Before Paul's conversion to Christ, he'd persecuted and supervised the killing of early converts, notably Stephen. Then after having experienced the life-altering encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul was radically transformed. Nonetheless, suspicion had festered and the leaders of the Church were resistant. Then, as Paul diligently pursued fellowship with the rest of the disciples, no one wanted to welcome him, fearful of what he was going to do. What we don't realize, is that because the people chose to believe past reports, and failed to seek God concerning Paul's change of heart, Paul was on the verge of isolation, without fellowship. Thankfully, Barnabas, a highly respected man, and one who recognized Paul's dilemma, changed the situation. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament states "It is to the credit of Barnabas that he had the insight and the courage to stand by Saul at the crucial moment in his life when the evidence seemed to be against him."
Barnabas' name has several potential angles of interpretation. He was identified as the "son of consolation or comfort". His name is also directly linked with two Hebrew words that define him as the "son of Nabbas" or the "son of prophecy". Had Barnabas not prophetically intervened with the comfort and counsel necessary to open the way for Paul's inclusion in the fellowship of the saints, we might not have had the full effect of Paul's apostolic/ teaching and evangelistic ministry, along with almost two-thirds of the New Testament writings. That's significant and a bit shocking. But you see, without a wisely managed ministry like Barnabas, it is highly probably that the Church misses out on the ministries of people who've been disallowed from fellowship because of suspicions, slanders, evil reports and false accusations.
We need the ministry of people like Barnabas. Regrettably, people who try to assume that role often fail miserably, in that they become inappropriately forceful, bradgadocious and enamoured with the one they believe should be endorsed and embraced. Without knowing it, their unwise promotion creates an atmosphere whereby observers or ambitious individuals gradually develop an attitude of jealousy that stirs further suspicion, in order to cancel out the work that the well-meaning promoter has done. Barnabas simply opened the door, sharing only enough encouragement and support in the way that Paul was more readily received and allowed to preach without unwarrented resistance. Barnabas was also able to comfort Paul, who was most probably very frustrated, not having a platform to preach and without fellowship to be refreshed.
Thank God for genuine Barnabases. They are men and women of wisdom, humble and supportive. Without them, the isolated messengers of God, may not emerge to fulfill their destinies! We need to be praying for their release into the Church.
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