Barnabas (son of encouragement) seems to have been both a catalyst of transformation and a risk-taker for Jesus. He is first mentioned at the end of Acts 4 as the example Luke uses when describing how the early Church shared everything in common. Barnabas sold a field he owned and offered it to God. This gift (among others) was apparently what was used to care for the poor among the Church so that no one had need. In this, Barnabas demonstrated Christ-following kenosis (self-emptying) that dramatically impacted the lives of others around him.
We next connect with Barnabas in Acts 9 as the one follower of Jesus who was willing to take a risk on Saul (Paul). Having experienced his radical conversion, Paul had tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem after escaping from Damascus where Jews were conspiring to kill him. The disciples didn't trust Paul and were afraid to associate with him because of his pre-conversion persecution of the Church. Barnabas took the chance and reached out to Paul. He introduced Paul to the apostles and stood up for him and his witness. Because of Barnabas' trust in Paul, he was accepted by the others.
As the Gospel began to spread among the Greeks, it was Barnabas that the apostles sent to check out what was going on in Antioch (Acts 11). He confirmed that God was in their work and joined them in their witness. Luke described Barnabas this way regarding this: "He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master" (Acts 11:24, MSG). Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch. When famine hit Jerusalem, it was the Antioch believers who sent financial aid back to the Jerusalem believers, and it was Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the gift.
After returning from Jerusalem back to Antioch, the Holy Spirit told the Antioch believers to set apart Barnabas and Paul as missionaries. They sent them out and God used them in powerful ways throughout the world.
It is Paul who wrote much of the New Testament, but Barnabas seems to have been the risk-taker in the early Church. He served as a catalyst in the early Church through his self-emptying generosity and his willingness to stand beside Paul. What would be different in the book of Acts if it were not for Barnabas' kenotic leadership? I desire to demonstrate this same type of leadership in my home and in connection with other Jesus followers. Help me Holy Spirit!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
What If?
What if some of the lesser known characters in the book of Acts had walked away from what God was prompting them to do? What would the result have been? Would God have found a Plan B? Two particular heroes come to mind through this morning's study.
Philip was selected as a spiritual leader in the new Jesus community as the apostles were searching for servants (Acts 6). He turned out to have quite a global impact because of his willingness to follow Jesus. In Acts 8, we read that Philip took the gospel to Samaria (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8), and the crowds responded to what the heard and saw (miracles). Clearly, Philip was walking in step with the Spirit, and people's lives were being changed through his witness.
Later in the same chapter, God tells Philip to go to a certain road (location), and it was on this road that he meets the Ethiopian eunuch. This Ethiopian was an important official in the Queen's court and a follower of God. Philip ran alongside the chariot and began asking questions. After being invited in, Philip explains to his new friend how Isaiah was speaking of Jesus. The result was a new follower of Jesus and baptism. Beyond this we don't hear of the Ethiopian again, but we can assume he took his new faith in Jesus with him to his home country (more fulfillment of Acts 1:8).
What if Philip had ignored God's voice? What if he had decided that the Ethiopian was too different from him and walked away? What we know is that Philip responded to God's voice in surrendered, obedient love.
Then there was Ananias in Acts 9. This chapter is famous because it describes Saul/Paul's radical conversion to Jesus. What often gets overlooked is that God used Ananias to lead Paul to become a follower of Jesus and to commission him for Jesus' mission. Ananias argued with God about this assignment, which was, after all, quite reasonable because of Saul's reputation for persecuting followers of Jesus. However, Ananias didn't let his fear get the best of him. In response to what Christ had done in him, Ananias surrendered himself in obedient love and became God's agent to bring transformation in the life of another.
It is beautiful to think about the fact that Paul wrote most of the New Testament as the apostle to the non-Jews. What if Ananias had told God "no"? What if he had let his fear get the best of him? Paul had already encountered Jesus, but he was blind and likely confused. God used Ananias to lead one of the most transformational leaders of all time to Jesus.
This thought causes me to reflect on how important the meetings we have are everyday and how life-changing our own responses to God can be in the lives of others. What about our children? What if God is planning to use one of my boys (or both) in history-making mission for the sake of Jesus' Kingdom? How should that affect my daily interactions with them? Help me Lord Jesus! Have Your way in me Holy Spirit! Teach me to hear Your voice more clearly Father! I am Yours.
Philip was selected as a spiritual leader in the new Jesus community as the apostles were searching for servants (Acts 6). He turned out to have quite a global impact because of his willingness to follow Jesus. In Acts 8, we read that Philip took the gospel to Samaria (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8), and the crowds responded to what the heard and saw (miracles). Clearly, Philip was walking in step with the Spirit, and people's lives were being changed through his witness.
Later in the same chapter, God tells Philip to go to a certain road (location), and it was on this road that he meets the Ethiopian eunuch. This Ethiopian was an important official in the Queen's court and a follower of God. Philip ran alongside the chariot and began asking questions. After being invited in, Philip explains to his new friend how Isaiah was speaking of Jesus. The result was a new follower of Jesus and baptism. Beyond this we don't hear of the Ethiopian again, but we can assume he took his new faith in Jesus with him to his home country (more fulfillment of Acts 1:8).
What if Philip had ignored God's voice? What if he had decided that the Ethiopian was too different from him and walked away? What we know is that Philip responded to God's voice in surrendered, obedient love.
Then there was Ananias in Acts 9. This chapter is famous because it describes Saul/Paul's radical conversion to Jesus. What often gets overlooked is that God used Ananias to lead Paul to become a follower of Jesus and to commission him for Jesus' mission. Ananias argued with God about this assignment, which was, after all, quite reasonable because of Saul's reputation for persecuting followers of Jesus. However, Ananias didn't let his fear get the best of him. In response to what Christ had done in him, Ananias surrendered himself in obedient love and became God's agent to bring transformation in the life of another.
It is beautiful to think about the fact that Paul wrote most of the New Testament as the apostle to the non-Jews. What if Ananias had told God "no"? What if he had let his fear get the best of him? Paul had already encountered Jesus, but he was blind and likely confused. God used Ananias to lead one of the most transformational leaders of all time to Jesus.
This thought causes me to reflect on how important the meetings we have are everyday and how life-changing our own responses to God can be in the lives of others. What about our children? What if God is planning to use one of my boys (or both) in history-making mission for the sake of Jesus' Kingdom? How should that affect my daily interactions with them? Help me Lord Jesus! Have Your way in me Holy Spirit! Teach me to hear Your voice more clearly Father! I am Yours.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit
First of all, it is really good to be back in Kentucky and blogging again. It has been several weeks since my last entry because I have been traveling with my family. The boys and I got to go on quite a few adventures together, including to San Antonio and Dallas to see cousins, to Canyon and Levelland (Texas) to see grandparents, and to the Rocky Mountains and White Sands to hike and play.
"Full of faith and the Holy Spirit" is how Stephen is described in Acts 6 as the early church was selecting a new set of spiritual leaders. Throughout the remainder of this chapter and the next, we see the embodiment of this description in Stephen's life. What was it in his life that others were recognizing? Is it possible for us to exhibit these same characteristics?
Sadly, we only get this short glimpse into Stephen's life because his life is cut short as a result of his commitment to Jesus. He demonstrates a life that has been so utterly transformed by Jesus that he trusts God even to the point of death. His own life means less to him than the glorious participation/partnership he has through the Holy Spirit with Jesus. In this surrendered, self-emptied state, the Holy Spirit speaks through him and uses him as a witness not only to his own time but throughout the ages to today. In his imitation of Jesus, he held the honor of suffering to the point of death for Jesus' sake just as Jesus had done. Luke tells us in the opening of Acts 8 that it was this very day that began the persecution that scattered all but the Apostles (sent ones) throughout Judea and Samaria. Thus, Acts 8:1 becomes the next phase of fulfillment of Acts 1:8, although it is the "laity" that are scattered as witnesses and not the Apostles.
Clearly Stephen was dearly loved in the early church community because they mourned him deeply (8:2). It is amazing that God chose Stephen to change the world from among the ranks of ordinary followers of Jesus. What will it take for us to have this kind of witness from ordinary followers of Jesus today?
Stephen was so compelled by love for Jesus because of what Jesus had done in him and the world that his life was surrendered and characterized by full faith and the Holy Spirit. There are so many of us (ordinary followers of Jesus) today who really long for our lives to be used by God in world-changing ways but often our lives are characterized by selfishness and the mundane. I long to be so surrendered to the Spirit's work in response to God's loving work in Christ. Here I am Lord, send me!
"Full of faith and the Holy Spirit" is how Stephen is described in Acts 6 as the early church was selecting a new set of spiritual leaders. Throughout the remainder of this chapter and the next, we see the embodiment of this description in Stephen's life. What was it in his life that others were recognizing? Is it possible for us to exhibit these same characteristics?
Sadly, we only get this short glimpse into Stephen's life because his life is cut short as a result of his commitment to Jesus. He demonstrates a life that has been so utterly transformed by Jesus that he trusts God even to the point of death. His own life means less to him than the glorious participation/partnership he has through the Holy Spirit with Jesus. In this surrendered, self-emptied state, the Holy Spirit speaks through him and uses him as a witness not only to his own time but throughout the ages to today. In his imitation of Jesus, he held the honor of suffering to the point of death for Jesus' sake just as Jesus had done. Luke tells us in the opening of Acts 8 that it was this very day that began the persecution that scattered all but the Apostles (sent ones) throughout Judea and Samaria. Thus, Acts 8:1 becomes the next phase of fulfillment of Acts 1:8, although it is the "laity" that are scattered as witnesses and not the Apostles.
Clearly Stephen was dearly loved in the early church community because they mourned him deeply (8:2). It is amazing that God chose Stephen to change the world from among the ranks of ordinary followers of Jesus. What will it take for us to have this kind of witness from ordinary followers of Jesus today?
Stephen was so compelled by love for Jesus because of what Jesus had done in him and the world that his life was surrendered and characterized by full faith and the Holy Spirit. There are so many of us (ordinary followers of Jesus) today who really long for our lives to be used by God in world-changing ways but often our lives are characterized by selfishness and the mundane. I long to be so surrendered to the Spirit's work in response to God's loving work in Christ. Here I am Lord, send me!
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