1 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,079 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,659 --> 00:00:26,859 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:40,039 So, we're going to be looking in Acts chapter nine today, but before we get started, I just 5 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:46,420 wanted to mention, if you're not part of the children's ministry and going to the conference 6 00:00:46,420 --> 00:00:52,619 that Betty had mentioned, and that's in your bulletin, I want to invite you, George Carey 7 00:00:52,619 --> 00:00:57,659 and Gail want to invite you to this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. 8 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,560 It's a memorial service for his mother Patricia. 9 00:01:00,899 --> 00:01:02,200 She is home now with the Lord. 10 00:01:02,939 --> 00:01:06,180 And he had said, if you want to invite some people, you know, from the church could come 11 00:01:06,180 --> 00:01:06,620 on out. 12 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,859 So, if you're around Saturday at 1 p.m., George and Gail have been part of our church from 13 00:01:11,859 --> 00:01:14,019 the beginning, from our inception. 14 00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:19,420 And George is behind the scenes all the time, in fact, he's right up there in the balcony 15 00:01:19,420 --> 00:01:20,219 right now. 16 00:01:22,659 --> 00:01:28,819 And the two of them serve in so many ways, but George is always just serving and serving 17 00:01:28,819 --> 00:01:36,379 and he's helped so many ways of really keeping us in the times of media and broadcasting 18 00:01:36,379 --> 00:01:37,519 and so forth. 19 00:01:37,780 --> 00:01:40,260 And so, just cherish him and Gail. 20 00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:46,140 And so, if you're available this coming Saturday at 1 p.m., come on out to here at this 21 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:46,400 church. 22 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:55,659 So, we're turning to Acts chapter 9 and let's pray and thank the Lord for moving powerfully. 23 00:01:55,900 --> 00:01:56,959 I expect it, don't you? 24 00:01:57,540 --> 00:02:03,040 You know, I don't like wonder, I just know if we want more of God, he always wants more 25 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:03,640 of us. 26 00:02:04,819 --> 00:02:08,219 Father God, we ask you to move powerfully through your word. 27 00:02:08,379 --> 00:02:15,439 Lord, we are just humble servants of yours and yet you bring us to be great like you 28 00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:22,120 are because you are so great and to do wonderful things, signs and wonders and miracles in your 29 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:22,439 name. 30 00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:29,300 So, Lord, we ask you to do a miracle within us today and help us see ourselves differently 31 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:32,719 as you see us and to serve you better. 32 00:02:32,939 --> 00:02:34,560 In Jesus' name, amen. 33 00:02:36,180 --> 00:02:41,300 So today's message is finding your fit in the family of God. 34 00:02:43,079 --> 00:02:52,340 God created us, mankind, to be relational, to be in community, to need each other, hasn't he? 35 00:02:52,419 --> 00:02:58,400 In fact, he said in Genesis 2.18, he says, it is wrong for a man to be alone. 36 00:02:58,979 --> 00:03:05,139 And because it is, we're not to do this life solo, we're supposed to be in community. 37 00:03:05,939 --> 00:03:13,460 And throughout every environment in our lives, we're always seeking to where we're going to 38 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:14,439 fit in. 39 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:20,180 I remember a friend of mine, his father was, I don't know whether he was an admiral, but 40 00:03:20,180 --> 00:03:21,379 he was way up there in the Navy. 41 00:03:22,020 --> 00:03:27,840 And so throughout his childhood, he was always moving around near different naval bases from 42 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,580 the west coast to the east coast. 43 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,800 And he moved, I forget how many times he said, over 15 times. 44 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:40,919 And every time he moved to another town or city, he had to kind of refit into the school 45 00:03:40,919 --> 00:03:41,840 he was attending. 46 00:03:42,460 --> 00:03:44,120 And he had to learn new friends. 47 00:03:44,340 --> 00:03:49,060 And I can imagine how difficult that would have been, always trying to see where you 48 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:49,699 fit in. 49 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:54,960 And in a real way, every time you go to school, you have to see, all right, well, how am 50 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:55,879 I going to fit in here? 51 00:03:55,979 --> 00:03:57,960 Who are my friends going to be? 52 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,180 As we get older, we go to work, and it's a new job. 53 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:06,020 We have to figure out, OK, where am I in the mix of this puzzle? 54 00:04:06,439 --> 00:04:08,039 You know, how do I fit in here? 55 00:04:08,539 --> 00:04:13,000 Whether we move and we move into a new neighborhood, what are the neighbors like? 56 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:16,180 You know, how can I fit in with them? 57 00:04:16,699 --> 00:04:19,220 It's always the idea of fitting in with families. 58 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:23,100 You know, when you get married, those of you who have gotten married, you know, 59 00:04:23,439 --> 00:04:25,379 well, I got to fit into this other family. 60 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:31,120 And, you know, you got to figure this thing out because, you know, there's always 61 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,540 a chemistry, isn't there? 62 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:37,220 In any community, there's a certain chemistry that you have to sort of learn 63 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:39,839 and then to figure out, oh, I get it. 64 00:04:39,959 --> 00:04:41,420 I get the rhythm of this community. 65 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,680 OK, I see where I'm going to fit in here. 66 00:04:45,019 --> 00:04:49,019 You know, when Jill, Jill and I got married, she was 19. 67 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:50,740 OK, she was a little child. 68 00:04:51,060 --> 00:04:55,680 OK. And and so and our first like family gatherings, 69 00:04:56,819 --> 00:05:00,500 she was she was blown away because we in the Bonners, 70 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:04,100 we talk loud, we talk a lot. 71 00:05:04,620 --> 00:05:07,860 We talk over each other and we don't listen to each other. 72 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:09,279 That's just the way we communicate. 73 00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:13,360 It's like, you know, nobody knows what anybody's saying. 74 00:05:13,639 --> 00:05:18,480 But and so Jill is in the setting saying, I can't get a word in edgewise. 75 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:19,959 Like nobody listens to me. 76 00:05:20,079 --> 00:05:21,839 I don't I'm not even going to bother anymore. 77 00:05:22,199 --> 00:05:26,319 But over time, because she was the quiet one, everyone's Jill speaking, Jill. 78 00:05:26,879 --> 00:05:29,319 And she's carried even more weight than the rest of us. 79 00:05:29,319 --> 00:05:32,660 But, you know, over time, we became more and more 80 00:05:35,019 --> 00:05:39,420 generous in listening to one another because she came from a family 81 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:43,560 that actually listened to each other and cared what the other one was saying. 82 00:05:43,740 --> 00:05:44,959 So she had to learn that. 83 00:05:45,220 --> 00:05:48,439 And and over time, I guess we all yielded in various ways. 84 00:05:48,540 --> 00:05:49,379 But that's what it's like. 85 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:53,180 It's trying to fit in even with families, you know. 86 00:05:54,399 --> 00:05:58,160 You know, and in a family of God, it's the same way, isn't it? 87 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,339 I remember when I I wasn't saved till I was about twenty nine, 88 00:06:03,339 --> 00:06:06,319 but I grew up in religion, attended church. 89 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,740 And then after I didn't have to anymore, 90 00:06:09,939 --> 00:06:13,500 because I was no longer under my parents authority in a sense, 91 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,980 because I moved out pretty young at Penn State. 92 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,199 And so from then on, no more church. Right. 93 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,800 And then finally, Jill was attending a Baptist church. 94 00:06:22,980 --> 00:06:24,620 And I said, you know, I have to check this out. 95 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:27,600 She was going with our two sons at that point, 96 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,699 two and one, Zach and Jesse. 97 00:06:30,379 --> 00:06:31,500 And I said, all right, I have to go. 98 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,220 So I started going to this church. 99 00:06:34,019 --> 00:06:37,160 And in a sense, you know, they were so happy. 100 00:06:38,579 --> 00:06:43,399 Like almost too happy, you know, and they were friendly 101 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,620 and they're excited to see me, which is weird. 102 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:48,560 They don't even know me. 103 00:06:48,699 --> 00:06:50,100 Why are they excited to see me? 104 00:06:50,259 --> 00:06:52,459 And they had a certain glow in their eyes. 105 00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:55,139 And it was like almost like, what am I in here? 106 00:06:55,300 --> 00:06:56,939 You know, like, what is going on here? 107 00:06:56,939 --> 00:07:01,980 Because like, I just didn't feel like I fit in with this with this environment, 108 00:07:02,479 --> 00:07:05,819 you know, because I wasn't used to people like this, quite frankly. 109 00:07:06,699 --> 00:07:09,399 And then when I eventually got saved born again, 110 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,740 I realized, you know, these people are genuine. 111 00:07:13,519 --> 00:07:15,259 Like they really are this happy. 112 00:07:15,660 --> 00:07:16,939 They're not putting on a show. 113 00:07:18,339 --> 00:07:20,399 And they really are excited to see me. 114 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:24,220 I don't know why, but they just are, you know, so they're they're genuine. 115 00:07:24,339 --> 00:07:24,959 They're authentic. 116 00:07:24,959 --> 00:07:30,199 But, you know, I still didn't really feel like I fit in because in a sense, 117 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:38,100 I felt like dirty compared to them because they just seem to have a nice life 118 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:40,279 and and everything was going well. 119 00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:44,259 And they seem like they probably never had problems before in their lives. 120 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:46,000 How naive, right? 121 00:07:47,079 --> 00:07:49,040 Like they couldn't relate to me. 122 00:07:49,519 --> 00:07:51,180 What I have been through. 123 00:07:51,300 --> 00:07:52,519 None of them went through that. 124 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:54,660 And then I matured. 125 00:07:55,339 --> 00:08:00,339 And I realized everybody went through that because none of us, 126 00:08:00,699 --> 00:08:06,660 none of us don't have skeletons in our closet or should I see them in the grave? 127 00:08:07,300 --> 00:08:07,360 Right. 128 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:08,920 We all have a past. 129 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:11,540 No one's better than anybody else. 130 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:15,220 All of us came to Jesus because we are desperate, wretches. 131 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,379 No one is better than anyone else at the foot of the cross at the level ground. 132 00:08:21,279 --> 00:08:24,639 And I realized the more I appreciate, like these people, 133 00:08:24,639 --> 00:08:29,779 went through even greater trials and challenges than I did. 134 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:30,399 And look at them. 135 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:32,320 They're so joy filled. 136 00:08:32,759 --> 00:08:36,679 No, I'm not saying all the time, but they have a perspective of life 137 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,840 that isn't contingent on their circumstances. 138 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,980 And once I really learned that, I said, you know what? 139 00:08:44,059 --> 00:08:46,820 I fit in, I belong. 140 00:08:48,620 --> 00:08:53,500 I belong just as much as anybody else because none of us deserve this. 141 00:08:54,639 --> 00:08:56,720 To be in the family of God. 142 00:08:56,919 --> 00:08:58,620 None of us deserve it. 143 00:08:59,059 --> 00:09:04,320 Yet we've been justified to be in the family of God. 144 00:09:06,019 --> 00:09:07,139 None of us earned it. 145 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:09,039 None of us are better than anyone else. 146 00:09:09,419 --> 00:09:12,940 And once you really get that, you're like, well, then I belong. 147 00:09:13,659 --> 00:09:17,639 I belong to be seated at the table of the believers. 148 00:09:18,019 --> 00:09:18,480 Why not? 149 00:09:18,659 --> 00:09:19,480 Why not me? 150 00:09:19,659 --> 00:09:20,799 I belong here. 151 00:09:20,799 --> 00:09:26,600 And really, that's half the battle is really just understanding that I belong. 152 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:32,360 You know, we're going to read today about a man named Saul. 153 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:37,840 We talked about him last week who had difficulty fitting in. 154 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,240 The hymn of all people, OK, the man who is probably one of the most 155 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:49,179 consequential leaders of the early church in terms of expanding the church. 156 00:09:49,179 --> 00:09:55,700 He reached the Gentiles, you know, just after Peter did with with with Cornelius. 157 00:09:56,419 --> 00:09:59,100 And and he did so many things for the King of God. 158 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,919 But in the beginning, he's like, I can't fit in. 159 00:10:03,179 --> 00:10:07,620 And when you appreciate that, if he had difficulty, then no wonder. 160 00:10:08,139 --> 00:10:10,940 Sometimes I have a difficulty fitting in. 161 00:10:11,639 --> 00:10:12,580 But one thing. 162 00:10:14,019 --> 00:10:16,399 Paul met a man named Barnabas, 163 00:10:17,540 --> 00:10:22,340 the son of encouragement, a man who actually 164 00:10:23,180 --> 00:10:27,179 helped him be acclimated with the early church. 165 00:10:27,399 --> 00:10:28,799 He brought him in. 166 00:10:29,059 --> 00:10:31,080 He saw something in Paul. 167 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:37,080 And he cared about him and he made sure that he connected. 168 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,580 And so we're going to talk a lot about Barnabas and really how, in a sense, 169 00:10:42,659 --> 00:10:45,460 all of us have Barnabas is in our lives. 170 00:10:46,259 --> 00:10:51,440 And perhaps we're a Barnabas to others and how the Lord uses so many different 171 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:58,879 kinds of people, but Paul actually finally was woven into the fabric 172 00:10:58,879 --> 00:11:01,759 of the early church through Barnabas. 173 00:11:02,460 --> 00:11:03,039 So you're ready. 174 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,000 Let's let's dive in to Acts, Chapter nine. 175 00:11:08,279 --> 00:11:10,539 We're going to go from twenty three to thirty one. 176 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,480 And if you can recall real quick, last week, 177 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:24,059 Paul, then named Saul, was on his way to Damascus from Jerusalem to capture 178 00:11:24,059 --> 00:11:29,100 the early saints, and they called themselves the Way, and he was going 179 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:32,879 to capture them and haul them away to Jerusalem, throw them in prison, 180 00:11:33,179 --> 00:11:34,279 torture them, whatever else. 181 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:36,519 And on his way, the Lord met him. 182 00:11:36,820 --> 00:11:38,279 He was blinded for three days. 183 00:11:38,279 --> 00:11:39,840 Ananias came to him. 184 00:11:40,139 --> 00:11:41,960 He laid hands on him, right? 185 00:11:42,279 --> 00:11:43,379 And he received his sight. 186 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:46,580 But more importantly, he received the Holy Spirit. 187 00:11:47,279 --> 00:11:51,120 He was baptized and immediately he went out preaching all over the place. 188 00:11:51,799 --> 00:11:56,679 But then the Lord drew him down to Arabia for about three years, 189 00:11:56,779 --> 00:12:02,700 administered directly in the spiritual realm to Paul so that he could 190 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:06,039 really get more equipped to spread the gospel. 191 00:12:06,039 --> 00:12:11,700 Then he returned back to Damascus and he was preaching up a storm again. 192 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,679 And this is where we pick up in verse twenty three. 193 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,120 Now, after many days were passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 194 00:12:22,820 --> 00:12:25,259 but their plot became known to Saul. 195 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,779 And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 196 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:34,940 And then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall 197 00:12:34,940 --> 00:12:36,279 in a large basket. 198 00:12:37,759 --> 00:12:42,240 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, 199 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:48,480 but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. 200 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:56,860 But Barnabas, there it is, but Barnabas took him and brought him to the 201 00:12:56,860 --> 00:13:03,820 apostles and Paul, he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road 202 00:13:04,460 --> 00:13:09,580 and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus 203 00:13:10,300 --> 00:13:11,639 in the name of Jesus. 204 00:13:12,419 --> 00:13:17,139 And so he was with them at Jerusalem coming in and going out. 205 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:22,379 And verse twenty nine, and he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus 206 00:13:22,379 --> 00:13:25,259 and disputed against the Hellenists. 207 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,820 They were Greek speaking Jews, but they attempted to kill him. 208 00:13:30,740 --> 00:13:35,659 And when the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and 209 00:13:35,659 --> 00:13:40,279 sent him out to Tarsus, which by the way, was his hometown. 210 00:13:41,580 --> 00:13:47,919 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and 211 00:13:47,919 --> 00:13:53,259 were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of 212 00:13:53,259 --> 00:13:56,279 the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. 213 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,179 And so let's start with that last part there. 214 00:14:02,220 --> 00:14:07,940 The gospel spread from Judea to Galilee and Samaria. 215 00:14:08,019 --> 00:14:11,740 Actually, Samaria is in between those two places, but we have a little 216 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:14,919 map up there. 217 00:14:15,419 --> 00:14:16,019 Thanks, Amy. 218 00:14:19,159 --> 00:14:19,220 Right. 219 00:14:23,580 --> 00:14:25,480 Actually, it's the first one. 220 00:14:30,780 --> 00:14:36,940 But well, anyway, so, but so Jerusalem just above there is Judea and 221 00:14:36,940 --> 00:14:40,940 then Samaria squished in the middle and then Galilee. 222 00:14:41,039 --> 00:14:43,019 And so the gospel spreading out. 223 00:14:43,159 --> 00:14:44,620 That's the idea, right? 224 00:14:45,539 --> 00:14:49,600 And so that's a good thing that the gospel is spreading out. 225 00:14:50,200 --> 00:15:01,860 And this point of Paul getting to Jerusalem and meeting the apostles was 226 00:15:01,860 --> 00:15:03,100 recounted by him. 227 00:15:03,139 --> 00:15:08,679 He actually went back and told the church in Galatia about this 228 00:15:08,679 --> 00:15:09,200 incident. 229 00:15:09,899 --> 00:15:14,639 Do you happen to have Galatians 1, 18 and 19 up there? 230 00:15:15,039 --> 00:15:16,639 That would be the second slide. 231 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:20,700 So, okay, they're working on it. 232 00:15:20,779 --> 00:15:21,159 That's all right. 233 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,059 Lord, just we ask you to help whatever technological issues are 234 00:15:25,059 --> 00:15:28,139 going on and, you know, you have this all under control anyway. 235 00:15:28,539 --> 00:15:30,759 So thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name, Amen. 236 00:15:31,700 --> 00:15:37,480 So when Saul went to Jerusalem, he had met with Peter and he 237 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,279 eventually met James who James, the half brother of Jesus was 238 00:15:41,279 --> 00:15:42,879 kind of like the leader at that point. 239 00:15:43,139 --> 00:15:46,620 Peter did more of the ground, you know, the, the, the 240 00:15:48,340 --> 00:15:48,820 evangelism. 241 00:15:48,940 --> 00:15:52,720 He was more of the guy who was on the ground, boots on the ground. 242 00:15:53,299 --> 00:15:56,600 And there's that picture of the spread of the gospel see from 243 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,439 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and up to Galilee. 244 00:16:00,399 --> 00:16:07,120 And then that next slide is when Paul is writing to the Galatians. 245 00:16:07,659 --> 00:16:10,320 And he said, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to 246 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,879 see Peter and remain with him 15 days. 247 00:16:13,220 --> 00:16:16,080 But I saw none of the other apostles except James. 248 00:16:16,639 --> 00:16:17,759 The Lord's brother. 249 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,899 You know, I just want to mention, it's interesting. 250 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,840 Paul, a lot of times kind of makes it a point of people 251 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:31,179 knowing that things he knows came direct from the Lord. 252 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,100 You ever notice that when he writes about those things? 253 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,639 He's like, you know, I'm not just, I'm not just repeating 254 00:16:36,639 --> 00:16:38,360 what someone else told me. 255 00:16:38,879 --> 00:16:40,899 I heard it from the Lord. 256 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,419 And I don't know, the Lord just gave me this right now 257 00:16:43,419 --> 00:16:48,120 that I think it's important for you and I, when we pray and 258 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,259 ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate scriptures, right, 259 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:55,799 that when we read, we put the commentaries aside. 260 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:59,000 We don't listen to what somebody else says about it. 261 00:16:59,580 --> 00:17:03,220 We just read and say, Lord, what are you speaking to me? 262 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,420 How much is that awesome when you do that? 263 00:17:05,940 --> 00:17:10,460 Because the Spirit just really helps it resonate in your soul 264 00:17:10,460 --> 00:17:15,259 that you can really connect with what the scripture says, you know. 265 00:17:15,779 --> 00:17:19,000 And so in the same way that Paul just said, you know, I heard it 266 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,099 directly from the Lord. 267 00:17:20,660 --> 00:17:25,019 And so so he recounts about this situation and see. 268 00:17:25,519 --> 00:17:29,599 So now here, Paul, it's the second time his life is threatened. 269 00:17:29,819 --> 00:17:30,579 Can you imagine that? 270 00:17:30,779 --> 00:17:34,039 Like, you know, you just became a believer, OK, a few years back 271 00:17:34,039 --> 00:17:35,900 and already you're in Damascus. 272 00:17:36,259 --> 00:17:37,180 They're trying to kill you. 273 00:17:37,180 --> 00:17:39,880 OK, now you're in Jerusalem. 274 00:17:40,519 --> 00:17:41,460 They're trying to kill you. 275 00:17:41,579 --> 00:17:45,240 But the Lord told him, this is what your life is going to be about. 276 00:17:46,140 --> 00:17:47,779 It's going to be a tough life. 277 00:17:48,420 --> 00:17:51,819 But he was a chosen vessel for this purpose. 278 00:17:52,660 --> 00:17:55,920 You know, I don't envy his role. 279 00:17:56,099 --> 00:17:58,900 Sometimes we look at people and say, I want to be like Paul. 280 00:17:59,619 --> 00:18:03,799 I want to just like, you know, that that important, you know, 281 00:18:03,799 --> 00:18:07,920 that all the angels up there know, know me and are celebrating me. 282 00:18:08,079 --> 00:18:09,980 You know, I mean, that's a very prideful way to think anyway. 283 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:15,200 Right. But we just have this romantic view of ministry until you're in it. 284 00:18:16,039 --> 00:18:18,019 Right. Have you ever been in ministry? 285 00:18:18,619 --> 00:18:23,680 Suddenly, the idea of ministry is far less romantic and warm and fluffy. 286 00:18:24,299 --> 00:18:26,140 It's like, well, that's just hard work. 287 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:27,319 That's all it is, actually. 288 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,720 But there's something in here that's a reward. 289 00:18:30,099 --> 00:18:33,279 So so this is what Paul's life is going to be about. 290 00:18:34,260 --> 00:18:39,799 And and so then Paul returns to Tarsus. 291 00:18:40,099 --> 00:18:43,299 So if you could show that map up there, Amy. 292 00:18:46,319 --> 00:18:47,839 Right there. So so far. 293 00:18:49,180 --> 00:18:52,279 We see Paul left Jerusalem, went to Damascus, 294 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,259 gets blinded right about here, gets saved right about here, 295 00:18:57,380 --> 00:19:00,480 goes to Arabia, gets taught, goes back to Damascus. 296 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:01,539 They try to kill him. 297 00:19:01,539 --> 00:19:03,400 He's back to Jerusalem. 298 00:19:04,099 --> 00:19:07,059 OK, and then they try to kill him again. 299 00:19:07,339 --> 00:19:09,720 And then we have the next slide and it shows. 300 00:19:09,940 --> 00:19:13,019 I just want to show this so you can kind of see he went to Caesarea, 301 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,200 which is a port city, which means he hopped on a ship and went back home. 302 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:22,259 OK, now, could you imagine so far, Paul's like he went to Jerusalem 303 00:19:22,259 --> 00:19:26,119 to become more religious, to know the law, right? 304 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,220 To be like just like Gamaliel. 305 00:19:29,220 --> 00:19:34,039 Like just just to be a lot of head knowledge and righteous, right? 306 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:35,680 Self-righteous in the law. 307 00:19:36,339 --> 00:19:38,339 And suddenly he's a transformed person. 308 00:19:38,859 --> 00:19:41,579 He goes back home and he's brand new. 309 00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:43,660 Imagine what that would have been like. 310 00:19:43,799 --> 00:19:47,759 You're a new person and you're seeing all the same streets. 311 00:19:48,500 --> 00:19:51,200 You go back home, you walk into the same house. 312 00:19:52,380 --> 00:19:53,859 Everything looks the same. 313 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:56,339 Except I'm not the same. 314 00:19:56,339 --> 00:20:00,799 You know, there's a lot of missionaries when they come home from being abroad 315 00:20:01,339 --> 00:20:06,319 and they come back and they feel like out of sort. 316 00:20:06,519 --> 00:20:08,819 They feel like they don't belong in the States anymore 317 00:20:08,819 --> 00:20:14,519 because they experience so many dynamic things and they changed on the mission 318 00:20:14,519 --> 00:20:17,099 field and now they come back to all the same things. 319 00:20:17,420 --> 00:20:18,680 And it's so different. 320 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,480 I remember this one family, they they served in Papua New Guinea. 321 00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:27,400 And when they came back, you know, their father, actually, unfortunately, 322 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:32,279 the husband and their father died from an asthma attack in the jungle 323 00:20:32,279 --> 00:20:33,700 running in Papua New Guinea. 324 00:20:34,279 --> 00:20:40,619 They come back home and the one son David said, this place is like hell. 325 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,500 Like, really, he was going to school on the bus to public school. 326 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:46,640 And he's like, it's so evil here. 327 00:20:47,519 --> 00:20:50,460 And we think of Papua New Guinea as probably, you know, there's witch 328 00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:52,160 doctors, there's all kinds of things. 329 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,359 But he saw here as being really dark. 330 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,700 So anyway, so Paul goes back to Tarsus and he's walking around and he's different. 331 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:04,640 But imagine he's like saying so much was happening and I'm back here again. 332 00:21:05,539 --> 00:21:10,819 Like, I'm just kind of, I guess, speculating that it must have been really weird. 333 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,799 You know, after that long trip he had been on now, it's just like 334 00:21:16,460 --> 00:21:19,279 I'm back home, probably sowing tents again, right? 335 00:21:20,460 --> 00:21:26,059 But there was something going to come because the Lord's never finished with us. 336 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:31,519 He's always preparing us for another place and that place for us. 337 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:38,220 And so as he's in Tarsus, meanwhile, Barnabas will never forget Saul. 338 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:44,900 He's the one who brought him in because Barnabas is a connector. 339 00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:46,859 He's a networker. 340 00:21:46,940 --> 00:21:49,539 He sees the potential in people. 341 00:21:49,539 --> 00:21:51,359 He encourages them. 342 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:52,660 He connects them. 343 00:21:53,140 --> 00:21:57,859 He sees the value in everyone and he has the ability and sense to say, 344 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:00,299 I kind of know where they would fit in perfectly. 345 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:03,099 Saul didn't fit in Jerusalem. 346 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:04,059 That's for sure. 347 00:22:04,380 --> 00:22:06,019 Okay, because he used to be one of them. 348 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,940 Now they want to kill him because he's no longer one of them. 349 00:22:10,220 --> 00:22:12,400 But he fit in in a new place. 350 00:22:12,839 --> 00:22:18,759 So as the gospel started to spread to Antioch in Syria, 351 00:22:19,539 --> 00:22:22,579 they sent Barnabas up there to check it out. 352 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,319 And he goes up and he goes, wow, this is amazing. 353 00:22:24,579 --> 00:22:25,500 People are getting saved. 354 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,099 You know, this is great. 355 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,680 I know who would fit in perfect here. 356 00:22:31,980 --> 00:22:32,079 Saul. 357 00:22:33,220 --> 00:22:39,900 So we have when he went to Tarsus, if you could show Acts 11, verse 25, 26. 358 00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:47,779 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he had found him, 359 00:22:47,779 --> 00:22:50,480 he brought him to Antioch. 360 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,900 And for a while, they met with the church and and taught a great many 361 00:22:55,900 --> 00:23:00,599 people and in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians. 362 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:05,440 So he said, I know who I need and he went and he reached out looked 363 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,099 for Paul found him and he brought him with him. 364 00:23:09,299 --> 00:23:11,160 That's what Barnabas is do. 365 00:23:11,559 --> 00:23:13,380 Okay, they're inclusive. 366 00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:14,720 He's just like Jesus. 367 00:23:14,940 --> 00:23:17,380 Jesus was always including you feed them. 368 00:23:17,779 --> 00:23:19,339 You walk on the water. 369 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:19,940 Come on. 370 00:23:20,099 --> 00:23:20,640 Come on out. 371 00:23:20,779 --> 00:23:22,400 Yeah, he's always inviting. 372 00:23:23,259 --> 00:23:29,259 It's us who prevents accomplishing the things he's doing because he 373 00:23:29,259 --> 00:23:31,640 wants us to do what he's doing, right? 374 00:23:32,259 --> 00:23:35,500 And so Barnabas goes and he encourages. 375 00:23:36,299 --> 00:23:41,259 He once again encourages Paul to come back and there they are 376 00:23:41,259 --> 00:23:42,559 serving again. 377 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:45,460 And so I was thinking through this. 378 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:51,279 I was thinking what makes Barnabas so unique throughout scriptures. 379 00:23:51,579 --> 00:23:55,779 You see his name only once in a blue moon, but he's always a link. 380 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,519 He's a link to someone else somewhere else. 381 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:03,619 He's a connector, you know, and so I thought it would be fun 382 00:24:03,619 --> 00:24:08,480 to just look at some of the qualities of Barnabas that are unique 383 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:14,619 that are Christ like that all of us have benefited from someone 384 00:24:14,619 --> 00:24:19,640 like this and I suspect all of us has been a Barnabas to 385 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:20,299 someone else. 386 00:24:20,619 --> 00:24:22,660 First of all, he's a team player. 387 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,700 Barnabas sees the big picture. 388 00:24:25,799 --> 00:24:27,319 He's not in it for himself. 389 00:24:27,539 --> 00:24:28,519 He's not a solo. 390 00:24:28,819 --> 00:24:31,599 He's not trying to do everything himself and can't get along 391 00:24:31,599 --> 00:24:34,539 with anybody else and you know, that's a sure sign someone 392 00:24:34,539 --> 00:24:37,079 who always needs to serve alone. 393 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,240 First of all, it's very lonely and probably there's an issue 394 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,579 of either pride or some something else that they just can't 395 00:24:45,579 --> 00:24:49,720 get along with somebody else and so we see Barnabas. 396 00:24:49,940 --> 00:24:55,640 He's first mentioned in Acts chapter 4 36 37 when he's actually 397 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,519 giving we have that slide if you could put that up Amy 398 00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:02,640 when he actually is the first one noted. 399 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:09,259 Okay, thus Joseph who was also called by the Apostles Barnabas. 400 00:25:09,259 --> 00:25:11,259 So his name isn't even Barnabas. 401 00:25:11,839 --> 00:25:15,819 They called him Barnabas because the name means son of encouragement 402 00:25:15,819 --> 00:25:20,099 or rest right and so they named them that right because he was 403 00:25:20,099 --> 00:25:21,680 always so you you could do it. 404 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:22,160 Come on. 405 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:22,880 Come with me. 406 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,160 We can get this done. 407 00:25:24,259 --> 00:25:25,400 They love people like that. 408 00:25:25,799 --> 00:25:30,079 They make you feel so good around them just like like even 409 00:25:30,079 --> 00:25:32,480 better than you are if you make it there. 410 00:25:32,779 --> 00:25:34,380 Yeah, some people are kryptonite. 411 00:25:35,059 --> 00:25:37,660 Okay, they just suck the energy right at you. 412 00:25:37,660 --> 00:25:39,200 No one here by the way. 413 00:25:39,839 --> 00:25:45,000 Nobody here but some people can but some people impute energy. 414 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:46,440 They just like you're around there. 415 00:25:46,519 --> 00:25:49,660 You feel electrified like yeah, we can do this. 416 00:25:49,660 --> 00:25:50,740 Let's do it. 417 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,559 You know, I think you love that. 418 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,380 You know, we had a small group of men yesterday that we 419 00:25:55,380 --> 00:25:58,480 gathered together and as we were just sharing different things 420 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:03,579 you left like energized empowered motivated, you know, it's 421 00:26:03,579 --> 00:26:08,259 so much fun being with a Barnabas because they see things 422 00:26:08,259 --> 00:26:10,819 in you that you don't see in you. 423 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,059 And so Barnabas was the first one to sell the proceeds of 424 00:26:15,059 --> 00:26:18,400 his land and bring it up and lay it at the Apostles feet. 425 00:26:18,940 --> 00:26:20,180 So we see a lot of things here. 426 00:26:20,259 --> 00:26:23,960 We see someone who is sacrificial someone who sees need 427 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:24,859 in the body. 428 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:26,339 He's a team player. 429 00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:29,799 So he says, you know what I can help out here and not 430 00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:32,480 only that but he sees authority as a good thing. 431 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,599 He doesn't go and start divvying out stuff wherever he 432 00:26:35,599 --> 00:26:38,480 wants to he lays it at the Apostles feet. 433 00:26:38,579 --> 00:26:40,779 In other words, you guys are in charge. 434 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,380 You know how to use this. 435 00:26:43,740 --> 00:26:44,359 That's important. 436 00:26:44,460 --> 00:26:49,440 That's an important thing to say you're in charge. 437 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,480 I believe you've prayed over these things and you know how 438 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:54,859 to apply these things. 439 00:26:55,079 --> 00:26:58,960 You know, I learned a lesson the hard way one time when 440 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,700 we're on a missions trip in the Dominican and we had a 441 00:27:03,700 --> 00:27:09,140 bunch of adults and kids, you know teenagers and they warned 442 00:27:09,140 --> 00:27:10,119 us in the beginning. 443 00:27:10,460 --> 00:27:10,680 Okay. 444 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,720 I don't know if you ever read the book when hurting when 445 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:13,740 helping hurts. 446 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,960 Okay, and it's about giving the wrong way. 447 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:20,079 Okay, not being thoughtful about how you're giving. 448 00:27:20,519 --> 00:27:21,980 So anyway, they warned us. 449 00:27:22,079 --> 00:27:23,759 They said, you know, when you come, you know, don't 450 00:27:23,759 --> 00:27:24,700 just hand stuff out. 451 00:27:24,759 --> 00:27:26,660 They're gonna be begging constantly and it'll make it 452 00:27:26,660 --> 00:27:27,200 even worse. 453 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,319 Okay, but you know, if you have something you want to give 454 00:27:30,319 --> 00:27:31,339 give it through the church. 455 00:27:31,339 --> 00:27:33,839 Okay, so we served all week. 456 00:27:33,839 --> 00:27:34,779 We built houses. 457 00:27:34,799 --> 00:27:35,700 We did ministry. 458 00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:38,539 We, you know, put roofs back on outhouses, you know, 459 00:27:38,579 --> 00:27:42,000 they're all corrugated steel dirt floors, you know, and 460 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,480 so very primitive, you know, but it was such a great 461 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:46,380 was like 10 days. 462 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:47,220 We had a great time. 463 00:27:47,299 --> 00:27:51,140 It was powerful and so we're coming down the mountain 464 00:27:51,140 --> 00:27:53,700 on the bus barely making it down this mountain. 465 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:55,240 We get to the bottom. 466 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,099 Okay, and they had to stop for a minute. 467 00:27:57,099 --> 00:28:00,440 And all these kids just swarmed the bus. 468 00:28:01,180 --> 00:28:04,160 Okay, I mean they're surrounding the bus and they're 469 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,160 Americana, they're always singing. 470 00:28:06,279 --> 00:28:08,680 They're always coming behind you and like, you know, because 471 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:09,359 they love us. 472 00:28:09,519 --> 00:28:12,180 They really do and so they're crowding the bus. 473 00:28:12,619 --> 00:28:17,880 Okay, and meanwhile one of the leaders, okay, looked 474 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:23,559 at he saw a young young man with like no shoes on and 475 00:28:23,559 --> 00:28:26,259 he says, you know, what I'm gonna give my shoes and 476 00:28:26,259 --> 00:28:31,000 he starts opening up a suitcase and me being a leader 477 00:28:32,039 --> 00:28:34,640 that was not paying attention, not wise. 478 00:28:35,339 --> 00:28:39,900 Okay, he pulled out the shoes and he pulled out some 479 00:28:39,900 --> 00:28:42,119 other stuff before, you know, he's emptying his suitcase 480 00:28:42,119 --> 00:28:44,940 bringing it out, giving it to all these people and more 481 00:28:44,940 --> 00:28:47,660 and more are crowding the bus and then all the kids 482 00:28:47,660 --> 00:28:49,940 are going to put out this and bringing it out and 483 00:28:49,940 --> 00:28:52,480 once I'm like, wait, wait, wait, wait, whoa, whoa, 484 00:28:52,779 --> 00:28:54,700 you know, everyone's just pouring out generosity. 485 00:28:54,700 --> 00:28:57,380 Okay, so you're thinking what could be wrong with this? 486 00:28:57,759 --> 00:28:59,359 This is beautiful, right? 487 00:28:59,579 --> 00:29:04,640 So finally we had to move on so we left and we get home 488 00:29:05,339 --> 00:29:08,599 and I get this phone call or text or email. 489 00:29:08,740 --> 00:29:11,400 I forget, but what did you do? 490 00:29:12,619 --> 00:29:13,779 What do you mean? 491 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:14,859 We did good things there. 492 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:16,140 Don't you remember the roofs? 493 00:29:16,140 --> 00:29:24,720 Yeah, a crowd like almost attacked our church saying 494 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:25,500 where's ours? 495 00:29:26,179 --> 00:29:29,259 Okay, and you know, we heard they're giving away shoes 496 00:29:29,259 --> 00:29:32,619 we heard and they're just overwhelming swarming them 497 00:29:32,619 --> 00:29:35,680 and they said we told you not to do this and and now 498 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,000 they're rebuking me and I got a little irritated. 499 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:38,799 I'm still immature. 500 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:39,400 What can I say? 501 00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:42,099 And so I was like, what are you kidding me after everything 502 00:29:42,099 --> 00:29:44,279 we just did and now you're like rebuking us because 503 00:29:44,279 --> 00:29:45,480 we just did that long. 504 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,980 You know, so anyway, it was a little rift there for a 505 00:29:48,980 --> 00:29:51,400 tiny bit of time, but you know, but they were right 506 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,680 because they were in charge. 507 00:29:53,759 --> 00:29:57,119 Like why would I think that I know better than them? 508 00:29:57,660 --> 00:29:58,819 It's they're on the mountain. 509 00:29:59,059 --> 00:30:01,779 They're serving day in day out. 510 00:30:02,220 --> 00:30:06,420 I'm just a pop in and pop out, you know, it's like I 511 00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:07,380 don't live there. 512 00:30:07,799 --> 00:30:11,319 They know I don't you know, and that's when I really 513 00:30:11,319 --> 00:30:14,839 and by the way the kid with the nice new shoes. 514 00:30:14,839 --> 00:30:20,180 Okay, when a bigger kid without new shoes comes along 515 00:30:20,180 --> 00:30:22,420 where do you think those shoes are going and it's 516 00:30:22,420 --> 00:30:24,740 probably not going to be a nice peaceful transition. 517 00:30:25,259 --> 00:30:26,619 Right and this is what happens. 518 00:30:26,940 --> 00:30:30,480 I mean people get really hurt on missions, you know, 519 00:30:30,559 --> 00:30:34,880 in these countries because someone wants something that 520 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:38,660 you have, you know, so anyway, so I say all that 521 00:30:38,660 --> 00:30:40,079 because Barnabas understood. 522 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:44,480 I remember being down City Hall and serving down 523 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:47,119 there with Jerry Dover and the gang and this guy 524 00:30:47,119 --> 00:30:49,819 comes up and hey, can you spare it, you know, and 525 00:30:49,819 --> 00:30:52,220 it's a homeless ministry and everything, but I know 526 00:30:52,220 --> 00:30:52,799 about her now. 527 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:54,200 I learned something. 528 00:30:54,779 --> 00:31:00,099 I'm like, so I found Kevin Johnson. 529 00:31:00,259 --> 00:31:01,940 I'm like, what do we do here? 530 00:31:02,279 --> 00:31:04,660 Do you give stuff away and they didn't really have 531 00:31:04,660 --> 00:31:04,819 it. 532 00:31:04,940 --> 00:31:06,339 They should and maybe they do now. 533 00:31:06,619 --> 00:31:09,200 They didn't have a hard fast rule like we don't 534 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,400 or we do or but he goes, you know, you just got 535 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,460 to be discerning and thinking I'm like, well, I 536 00:31:14,460 --> 00:31:14,859 don't know. 537 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,579 It seems like a no to me because I just don't know 538 00:31:17,579 --> 00:31:18,279 where that will lead. 539 00:31:18,500 --> 00:31:19,859 You know, you don't know if they're about to go 540 00:31:19,859 --> 00:31:22,299 around the corner and smoke or shoot or whatever 541 00:31:22,299 --> 00:31:24,799 else and so we don't know. 542 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:30,160 So it's just important to really to honor the authority 543 00:31:30,860 --> 00:31:33,299 that serves in that ministry because they know 544 00:31:33,299 --> 00:31:36,380 better than us and this Barnabas had definitely 545 00:31:36,380 --> 00:31:40,000 really shown that that he's a team player. 546 00:31:40,460 --> 00:31:42,059 He honors the coach coach. 547 00:31:42,339 --> 00:31:43,140 What do you want me to do? 548 00:31:43,140 --> 00:31:46,720 Okay, I'm doing it and that's that's to be really 549 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:47,380 commended. 550 00:31:47,539 --> 00:31:51,039 What's another quality of Barnabas that we can learn 551 00:31:51,039 --> 00:31:51,339 from? 552 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:52,400 He was an encourager. 553 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:53,119 Right. 554 00:31:53,599 --> 00:31:56,900 In fact, we just learned that they named him the 555 00:31:56,900 --> 00:31:57,720 son of encouragement. 556 00:31:57,720 --> 00:31:58,740 It wasn't even his name. 557 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,019 We're going to call you encouragement from now on, 558 00:32:01,019 --> 00:32:04,420 you know, and it's like it's like me saying to 559 00:32:04,420 --> 00:32:07,619 Dan you owners, do you mind be calling it happy 560 00:32:07,619 --> 00:32:08,380 from now on? 561 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:09,299 You're happy. 562 00:32:09,519 --> 00:32:09,839 Okay. 563 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,619 Well, I don't think you'd mind that but maybe a 564 00:32:12,619 --> 00:32:15,660 little but you know, it's like that was his nickname 565 00:32:15,660 --> 00:32:20,599 in a sense Barnabas, but he really was an encourager. 566 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:25,920 I mean after all he brought Saul into the church when 567 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:27,819 everybody else was afraid of him. 568 00:32:28,620 --> 00:32:29,720 He was an encourager. 569 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:34,200 He saw potential in people that others were afraid 570 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,299 of or didn't understand or didn't even notice. 571 00:32:37,339 --> 00:32:38,579 He just cared. 572 00:32:38,579 --> 00:32:43,460 Remember when Barnabas and Saul were going on their 573 00:32:43,460 --> 00:32:49,319 first missionary missions trip and he got his cousin 574 00:32:49,319 --> 00:32:52,160 John Mark and he said come with this. 575 00:32:52,279 --> 00:32:55,460 So they went with him and somewhere along the line 576 00:32:55,460 --> 00:32:59,779 and like Pamphylia suddenly John Mark, we don't know 577 00:32:59,779 --> 00:33:01,240 why but he went back home. 578 00:33:01,579 --> 00:33:03,140 He either got afraid. 579 00:33:03,140 --> 00:33:05,559 He got sick something and he went home. 580 00:33:05,559 --> 00:33:09,039 Okay, and he just couldn't follow through. 581 00:33:09,819 --> 00:33:12,160 So then over time, they're about to take another trip 582 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:16,519 past the same area and Barnabas is showing up and guess 583 00:33:16,519 --> 00:33:17,380 who he has with him? 584 00:33:18,099 --> 00:33:21,079 John Mark and like Paul's like, no way. 585 00:33:21,460 --> 00:33:22,599 You're not bringing him again. 586 00:33:22,940 --> 00:33:23,980 He failed. 587 00:33:24,940 --> 00:33:27,319 He's not accepted. 588 00:33:28,599 --> 00:33:30,180 But what's Barnabas? 589 00:33:30,539 --> 00:33:31,759 He's the son of encouragement. 590 00:33:32,599 --> 00:33:35,299 He sees John Mark his cousin. 591 00:33:35,299 --> 00:33:38,779 He'd probably been ministering to him, encourage him. 592 00:33:38,839 --> 00:33:39,839 Look, you know, it's okay. 593 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:40,420 We all fail. 594 00:33:40,940 --> 00:33:41,680 Don't we all fail? 595 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:43,759 We all mess up. 596 00:33:44,299 --> 00:33:45,299 We all sin. 597 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:48,279 He was probably saying the next time we're going to 598 00:33:48,279 --> 00:33:49,019 do this, right? 599 00:33:49,839 --> 00:33:52,140 Here's the next time and Paul saying no. 600 00:33:52,619 --> 00:33:53,019 Okay. 601 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,160 Now, this is mighty Paul, right? 602 00:33:55,579 --> 00:33:58,460 Now, remember Paul came from a religious background. 603 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,779 So probably things were more black and white to him, 604 00:34:01,779 --> 00:34:04,480 you know, and a lot of us came from the same thing. 605 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:09,219 You know, it's like, no, no that but Paul saw more things 606 00:34:09,219 --> 00:34:11,619 like how do we how do we yield? 607 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:13,079 How do we blend these two? 608 00:34:13,159 --> 00:34:17,659 How do we make this work based on the resources we have? 609 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:21,860 And so he wanted to bring his cousin but Paul didn't and 610 00:34:21,860 --> 00:34:26,179 so so much that it's accounted for there and acts chapter 611 00:34:26,179 --> 00:34:29,780 15 37 to 40 that they got in an argument and they split 612 00:34:29,780 --> 00:34:33,880 up. Barnabas brought his cousin to Cyprus, his home 613 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:38,780 country and and Paul brought Silas up to his ministry up 614 00:34:38,780 --> 00:34:41,519 to a new place and ended up in Antioch and all that. 615 00:34:41,820 --> 00:34:43,300 So they split up. 616 00:34:43,380 --> 00:34:49,860 But my point is in the midst of this, Barnabas saw potential. 617 00:34:50,820 --> 00:34:52,179 He was forgiving. 618 00:34:53,519 --> 00:34:55,159 He was an encourager. 619 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,840 And he said, no, we're going to get this the next time. 620 00:34:59,019 --> 00:35:00,139 We're going to do this. 621 00:35:00,139 --> 00:35:04,460 Even if Paul doesn't believe in you, I do now. 622 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,579 I have a question who was right? 623 00:35:08,740 --> 00:35:12,480 You know, I mean now, I'm not saying anyone was wrong 624 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,559 because God has a way of using everything. 625 00:35:14,559 --> 00:35:15,519 You know what I mean? 626 00:35:15,860 --> 00:35:21,239 Like God allowed that to take place because he probably 627 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:26,000 wanted Barnabas and John Mark to go to Cyprus not with 628 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:26,960 Paul up north. 629 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:33,780 Okay, so but we see that of course that John Mark was the 630 00:35:33,780 --> 00:35:34,960 Gospel of Mark. 631 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:37,179 He did some good things, right? 632 00:35:37,539 --> 00:35:39,559 He wrote probably the first gospel. 633 00:35:40,039 --> 00:35:44,599 They some believe, you know, he became tight with Peter. 634 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:49,840 He became tight with with James and with Luke. 635 00:35:50,420 --> 00:35:55,139 I mean, he became a fabric of the early church because 636 00:35:55,139 --> 00:35:57,199 he was given a second chance. 637 00:35:57,599 --> 00:36:02,380 Barnabas saw that in him and so much so that over time 638 00:36:02,380 --> 00:36:07,539 Paul cherished John Mark and he became his friend. 639 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:09,099 They became tight. 640 00:36:09,559 --> 00:36:13,360 Paul actually shared so many things with Mark about his ministry 641 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:16,599 and he writes about him in many letters saying that like 642 00:36:16,599 --> 00:36:18,179 he's a good friend. 643 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,400 In fact, he wrote to Timothy the last thing he ever wrote 644 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:22,320 in this letter. 645 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:27,619 He said only Luke is with me get Mark and bring him with 646 00:36:27,619 --> 00:36:31,900 you for he is useful to me for ministry. 647 00:36:32,179 --> 00:36:39,000 So Barnabas saw something in John Mark that not even Paul 648 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:44,019 did and that's important as a Barnabas to be able to forgive. 649 00:36:44,519 --> 00:36:47,239 I can fall in both areas sometimes. 650 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:50,059 Sometimes I just say oh see here we go again. 651 00:36:50,059 --> 00:36:56,099 Matt not this time, but other times I could be so over 652 00:36:56,099 --> 00:36:58,519 you know, I just give him another chicken and they keep doing 653 00:36:58,519 --> 00:36:59,699 the same thing again and again. 654 00:36:59,820 --> 00:37:02,539 I'm like, you know, it's like we just have to allow the 655 00:37:02,539 --> 00:37:04,980 Lord to figure it out. 656 00:37:05,619 --> 00:37:07,699 We're all going to make mistakes even in a leadership. 657 00:37:07,940 --> 00:37:10,599 You just say, you know, I should have seen that coming 658 00:37:10,599 --> 00:37:16,760 but I aired on forgiveness and encouragement, you know, 659 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:22,420 and then the last thing that we can be encouraged by 660 00:37:22,420 --> 00:37:25,679 Barnabas is that he was like Jesus. 661 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:31,440 He was like Jesus, you know, in fact, it's written about 662 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:34,179 him in Acts chapter 11 verse 24. 663 00:37:36,260 --> 00:37:41,639 Says for he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and 664 00:37:41,639 --> 00:37:45,980 of faith and a great many people were added to the 665 00:37:45,980 --> 00:37:49,320 Lord. I mean, there's Barnabas just just allowing the 666 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,280 Holy Spirit to guide him. 667 00:37:51,340 --> 00:37:53,019 Are we going to get it right every time? 668 00:37:53,219 --> 00:37:58,599 No, but when we do it's so sweet to see how God can 669 00:37:58,599 --> 00:38:01,239 use John marks how he can use me. 670 00:38:02,599 --> 00:38:06,079 You know, after failure upon failure to say know what 671 00:38:06,079 --> 00:38:07,340 but I still forgive you. 672 00:38:07,340 --> 00:38:08,480 You're still welcome. 673 00:38:08,679 --> 00:38:12,380 You're still invited as the worship team comes forward. 674 00:38:13,319 --> 00:38:17,680 I just would like to encourage us about some things. 675 00:38:24,019 --> 00:38:25,900 How do we fit in? 676 00:38:27,679 --> 00:38:29,059 How to fit in? 677 00:38:29,199 --> 00:38:33,659 I have some just amazing takeaways here. 678 00:38:34,340 --> 00:38:41,119 It's so just practical sense and yet so true spiritual sense 679 00:38:41,119 --> 00:38:43,800 too. Just know that you do. 680 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:50,440 You know, just knowing that I belong not because I deserve 681 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:54,500 it, but because I was chosen by the King. 682 00:38:55,460 --> 00:38:56,280 I was chosen. 683 00:38:56,579 --> 00:38:58,139 I was adopted in. 684 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:03,079 I did nothing to earn anything, but I still belong. 685 00:39:04,199 --> 00:39:06,280 I don't have to keep trying to prove myself. 686 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:08,679 Remember Peter always trying to prove himself before 687 00:39:08,679 --> 00:39:11,400 he was really born again to Jesus. 688 00:39:11,679 --> 00:39:12,940 Look, look, I can do this. 689 00:39:13,059 --> 00:39:13,840 I'm going to look Lord. 690 00:39:14,019 --> 00:39:14,980 Let me protect you. 691 00:39:15,820 --> 00:39:21,900 Okay, because he was always trying to prove himself and 692 00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:24,280 you know, we don't have to prove ourselves. 693 00:39:24,579 --> 00:39:29,739 I love you know when people come in and they just just 694 00:39:29,739 --> 00:39:35,239 like enjoy the fabric the chemistry of our community and 695 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:38,480 just allow that to really play out and they can start 696 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:42,139 to discern who everyone is what everybody does and then 697 00:39:42,139 --> 00:39:45,900 they start to see a need and like well, I can do that if 698 00:39:45,900 --> 00:39:49,639 you want me to do that, you know, as opposed to coming 699 00:39:49,639 --> 00:39:51,800 in and saying no, I know I'm better than everybody in 700 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:56,760 here to do that, you know, and we've had that too, you 701 00:39:56,760 --> 00:39:58,719 know, you really need me. 702 00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:02,079 That's when you know, look out right because the Lord 703 00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:04,039 doesn't need any of us. 704 00:40:04,039 --> 00:40:08,940 He chooses to use us, but he doesn't need us. 705 00:40:09,260 --> 00:40:09,960 You know, thank God. 706 00:40:10,079 --> 00:40:12,659 He doesn't need me or we'd all be in trouble, right? 707 00:40:13,059 --> 00:40:13,880 I'd be in trouble. 708 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:17,500 Next thing is recognize your Barnabas. 709 00:40:18,679 --> 00:40:22,400 You'll recognize who the Lord has placed in your life 710 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:26,500 that is saying come on like come on in Colin, you know, 711 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:28,920 I remember when we first met we started having that 712 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:29,960 small cell group. 713 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:33,119 I'm just thinking man, he and Lara, they're just so 714 00:40:33,119 --> 00:40:36,599 precious, you know, and just feeling like we want 715 00:40:36,599 --> 00:40:40,599 them here and the Lord chose, well, they're going 716 00:40:40,599 --> 00:40:44,239 to be part of you guys and it's so exciting to just 717 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:47,659 see people come in and just find their place and 718 00:40:47,659 --> 00:40:52,659 find where they can best serve and fit in and be 719 00:40:52,659 --> 00:40:54,800 part of the church family. 720 00:40:55,700 --> 00:40:58,480 Just recognize your Barnabas. 721 00:40:58,679 --> 00:41:01,219 You know, I love these sports that we've been getting 722 00:41:01,219 --> 00:41:03,260 into recently other than the injuries. 723 00:41:03,980 --> 00:41:07,119 Okay, everybody's limping or something else around 724 00:41:07,119 --> 00:41:10,440 here, you know, but you know, the softball first 725 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:14,699 and you know, and then the soccer and now I hear 726 00:41:14,699 --> 00:41:18,500 there's going to be pickleball and Ray, we got 727 00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:19,719 to get you involved in that. 728 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:23,980 You can do some training there, but and whatever 729 00:41:23,980 --> 00:41:26,380 else they're going to do, but like that that there's 730 00:41:26,380 --> 00:41:28,360 people that suddenly says, well, I can do that. 731 00:41:28,500 --> 00:41:30,480 I was just talking to Leo about his jujitsu. 732 00:41:31,219 --> 00:41:33,760 Training and how people are getting plugged into 733 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:38,960 that and how much fun that is, you know, and and 734 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,420 just be able to enjoy one another's company, but 735 00:41:41,420 --> 00:41:45,079 there's a place for everyone if we'll just like 736 00:41:45,079 --> 00:41:48,340 see where he wants us and and recognize those 737 00:41:48,340 --> 00:41:50,860 people who are the Barnabas is to us. 738 00:41:50,980 --> 00:41:52,719 I've had so many over my lives. 739 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:55,440 It's just like my life that just, you know, 740 00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:59,820 welcomed me in and introduced me to others and 741 00:41:59,820 --> 00:42:03,159 then at that point, it's like I'm here, but now 742 00:42:03,159 --> 00:42:03,940 you're meeting them. 743 00:42:04,260 --> 00:42:05,320 I'm okay with letting go. 744 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:07,480 It's just like John the Baptist said, you know, 745 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:10,679 I must decrease but he must increase or vice versa, 746 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:14,380 but don't follow me anymore. Follow him. 747 00:42:14,579 --> 00:42:16,039 Yeah, that's all all of us are. 748 00:42:16,119 --> 00:42:18,519 We're connectors to Jesus Christ in the end. 749 00:42:18,639 --> 00:42:21,119 Isn't it? We're all pointing to him just like 750 00:42:21,119 --> 00:42:23,820 Jesus be the center of it all. 751 00:42:24,179 --> 00:42:25,820 You know, that's really what we want him to 752 00:42:25,820 --> 00:42:27,500 be the center of us. 753 00:42:27,500 --> 00:42:30,860 He's the strong force that holds us together and 754 00:42:30,860 --> 00:42:33,659 then finally be a Barnabas to someone else. 755 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:37,320 Are we paying attention to who's around us and 756 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:38,380 asking questions? 757 00:42:38,420 --> 00:42:41,199 You know, I want to know more about you. 758 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,199 You know, where did you come from? 759 00:42:43,260 --> 00:42:46,400 What was what's your story all about? 760 00:42:46,820 --> 00:42:49,000 I love asking people, you know, like what they 761 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,800 do for a living just to kind of because I've 762 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:53,500 been in mortgages 40 years. 763 00:42:53,699 --> 00:42:55,219 So I'm always asking that question. 764 00:42:55,219 --> 00:42:57,940 Okay, and but like just figure out where they 765 00:42:57,940 --> 00:43:01,239 spend their time all day what they do because 766 00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:04,940 they don't listen to picture really great at 767 00:43:04,940 --> 00:43:09,119 this, you know, and connecting people. 768 00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:12,860 I love this whole idea of Barnabas because it's 769 00:43:12,860 --> 00:43:14,300 not about Barnabas. 770 00:43:14,340 --> 00:43:17,460 It's about the Lord being glorified through 771 00:43:17,460 --> 00:43:18,679 his body of saints. 772 00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:24,360 So let's stand up and we'll pray and thank 773 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,539 the Lord for moving powerfully. 774 00:43:27,619 --> 00:43:31,840 Father God, we thank you Lord that you fit us 775 00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:33,159 together in your family. 776 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:36,960 You have adopted us and we belong to you. 777 00:43:38,619 --> 00:43:42,599 And Lord God, we ask you to just help us if 778 00:43:42,599 --> 00:43:46,440 there's pride Lord that we're still trying 779 00:43:46,440 --> 00:43:49,519 to prove ourselves to you and others. 780 00:43:49,519 --> 00:43:55,400 Lord God, we don't have to strive for approval. 781 00:43:57,019 --> 00:43:58,920 We don't have to strive for your approval. 782 00:43:59,059 --> 00:44:01,119 We don't have to strive for other people's 783 00:44:01,119 --> 00:44:02,579 approval Lord God. 784 00:44:02,719 --> 00:44:05,000 You've already brought us in. 785 00:44:05,039 --> 00:44:07,599 We already belong to you and you don't 786 00:44:07,599 --> 00:44:08,900 throw anybody out. 787 00:44:10,179 --> 00:44:15,760 So Lord God, we just ask you Lord to tear away 788 00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:21,179 just to just burn away any pride that we feel 789 00:44:21,179 --> 00:44:26,599 we need to prove we're better than someone else. 790 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:33,219 Lord God, Lord we ask you to help us not be 791 00:44:33,219 --> 00:44:35,539 insecure on the other side of that coin, 792 00:44:36,260 --> 00:44:41,239 not be insecure and timid and apprehensive 793 00:44:41,239 --> 00:44:44,139 about volunteering in areas that maybe we're 794 00:44:44,139 --> 00:44:47,059 not extremely comfortable with or maybe it's 795 00:44:47,059 --> 00:44:49,579 been a long time since we've done those things. 796 00:44:50,380 --> 00:44:52,519 But Lord, you know, if you if you want to call 797 00:44:52,519 --> 00:44:55,619 us into something, it's you who will finish 798 00:44:55,619 --> 00:44:56,940 the race Lord God. 799 00:44:57,119 --> 00:44:58,960 You know, you who began a good work will 800 00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:01,199 complete it in Christ Jesus. 801 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:06,079 Lord God, we just want to be at your disposal. 802 00:45:06,420 --> 00:45:09,940 And if you want us to use gifts that we that 803 00:45:09,940 --> 00:45:12,460 you've given us to serve you Lord God, 804 00:45:12,460 --> 00:45:14,579 we don't want to be timid about it. 805 00:45:14,679 --> 00:45:17,179 Just like Paul said to Timothy, you know, 806 00:45:17,420 --> 00:45:19,800 he gave us a spirit of power, love and 807 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:23,820 self-discipline, not timidity and not fear. 808 00:45:25,260 --> 00:45:28,559 Help us be confident in what you want us to do 809 00:45:28,559 --> 00:45:34,340 Lord God and Lord help us be the Barnabas of 810 00:45:35,059 --> 00:45:35,920 the church. 811 00:45:36,059 --> 00:45:40,460 Help us see value in people Lord God and 812 00:45:40,460 --> 00:45:41,719 not write them off. 813 00:45:42,579 --> 00:45:45,579 Like perhaps even Paul did instead Lord that 814 00:45:45,579 --> 00:45:49,679 you would help us see the real value and 815 00:45:49,679 --> 00:45:54,320 significance that that you have for them Lord 816 00:45:54,320 --> 00:45:59,739 and and see the reason for them to be plugged 817 00:45:59,739 --> 00:46:02,320 in in their best place Lord God. 818 00:46:02,420 --> 00:46:05,099 We want to be those who welcome in just like 819 00:46:05,099 --> 00:46:06,119 you did Lord God. 820 00:46:06,219 --> 00:46:09,860 You're always inviting people to your kingdom. 821 00:46:09,860 --> 00:46:12,340 Lord God, you're always drawing them in. 822 00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:17,059 Lord help us be those that draw people into 823 00:46:17,059 --> 00:46:20,800 your kingdom to serve you Lord God. 824 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:24,059 We want to see others the way you see them even 825 00:46:24,059 --> 00:46:25,440 better than ourselves. 826 00:46:26,500 --> 00:46:31,960 Value them Lord God over ourselves and to long 827 00:46:31,960 --> 00:46:37,440 to see you you that you use them in whatever 828 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:39,260 way you have. 829 00:46:40,719 --> 00:46:41,960 So Lord, thank you Lord. 830 00:46:42,420 --> 00:46:43,679 We love you. 831 00:46:44,300 --> 00:46:46,639 We thank you for this body of believers Lord 832 00:46:46,639 --> 00:46:48,940 and the great things you're doing in each one 833 00:46:48,940 --> 00:46:49,679 of our lives. 834 00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:51,739 We thank you in Jesus name. 835 00:46:51,940 --> 00:46:52,239 Amen. 836 00:46:56,760 --> 00:46:59,579 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church 837 00:46:59,579 --> 00:47:02,119 as we praise God and discuss His word. 838 00:47:02,780 --> 00:47:05,480 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday 839 00:47:05,480 --> 00:47:08,280 mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 840 00:47:09,300 --> 00:47:11,380 Be blessed and have a great day.