THE QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN

#773                                 THE QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN

Scripture Acts 4:36-37                                                                                                                     

Orig. 2/3/1980; Rewr. 10/26/1987

Passage:

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Purpose: Using a biographical study of Barnabas to direct the attention of my people to the consideration of the qualities of the Christian life.

Keywords:      Bible Study                 Good Works              Biography, Barnabas             Obedience

Timeline/Series:         Acts

Introduction

            In a desperate age, desperate measures are called for. The world aches to see qualities in Christian people that mark them as different.  Mark it well, no matter that many show signs of worldliness, a life lived in expression of Christlikeness will win an audience anytime.

            A Christian teacher was concerned about spiritual apathy on the part of his students.  One day he came prepared for a lesson.  He reached in his desk and pulled out a ball point pen.  “What is this for?” he asked.  A couple of students quickly responded, “It’s used to write.”  Then he said, “And if it does not write, what is it good for?”  One student blurted out, “Nothing.”

            That was the right answer.  He then pulled a knife out of his pocket.  “What is this used for?” he asked.  “It’s used to cut,” ventured several of the students.  “And if it does not cut?”  he continued.  “It is good for nothing,” every student fairly yelled.

            Then, unexpectedly, he asked what man was made for.  One student remembered a line from a philosopher that they had studied a few days before.  “For fellowship with God and to enjoy Him forever,” answered the student.

            This was the line that the teacher was waiting for.  “If we are not in fellowship with God, what are we good for?”  Every student knew exactly the answer expected, but none responded.  Like the pen that cannot write, and the knife that cannot cut, the person who does not fellowship with God “is good for nothing.”

            Our message this evening features a man in fellowship with God.  His name was Barnabas.

            Consideration . . . is that this is a man who is “good for something.”  He is one who lives his life in fellowship with God, and the way he lives toward other people is clearly affected by his life in relationship with God.  Two things come through very clearly to us:

·         A proper relation to God.

·         A proven relation to people.

I.          Barnabas First Teaches Us a Proper Relation to God.  Acts 11:22f, “. . . and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch . . . .  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.”

            Man in relation to God must reflect goodness.  It was a word that had to do with consummate goodness.  Matthew 19:16f, “The rich young ruler asked what good thing he could do to inherit eternal life.  “Why do you come to me . . . about goodness?  Only One is good.” 

            But it was a concept that would increase among the followers of Jesus.  They had observed Jesus.  They shared intimately among His followers.  II Chronicles 6:41, “Let the saints rejoice in goodness.”  Joshua 6:16, “Stand . . . and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and . . . find rest for your souls.”  Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is goodness.”  Romans 12:9, “Cleave to that which is good.”  Matthew 25:21, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

            Man in relation to God must reflect God’s Spirit.  Man can only encounter God at this level.  The Holy Spirit is the force for our understanding of God.  He is beyond comprehension without Holy Spirit. 

            Without the Holy Spirit there would have been no church, no relation to God at all.  Pentecost—“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:4.  Gentile reenactment of Peter in Caesarea—“the Holy Ghost fell on all them that had heard the word,” Acts 10:44.

            The things of consequence among the believers were Holy Spirit initiated.  Acts 4:8, in custody, lives in jeopardy; Peter, “filled with the  Holy Ghost said . . . .”  Acts 4:31, back with believers “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke . . . with boldness.”

            The rest that we know of this man was of his faith.  II Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith.”  Romans 1:17, “The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 5:1, “justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:26, “Ye are the children of God by faith.”  I Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith.”  I John 5:4, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”  The difference in faith is the difference in those who wear sunglasses or galoshes to a prayer meeting called to pray for rain.

II.         Barnabas Next Teaches Us a Proven Relation to People.  Acts 4:36, “And . . . Barnabas, . . . the son of consolation, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

            Note that he was called son of encouragement.  Ask the poor people of the church in Jerusalem, Acts 4:36.  Ask Saul of his journey to Jerusalem (9:27) after his conversion.  Ask John Mark (15:37) when Paul determined to disassociate himself at Perga.

            It is a special word to all believers.  John 14:16.  Jesus promised the parakletos—comforter. Barnabas is called by that same name.  Paul uses it Philippians 2:1, “any consolation in Christ.”

            Note that he is indiscriminate in his willingness to share with less fortunates.  Not wealthy, but of some means.  Barnabas was sent by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:22) to assist the fledgling church in Antioch.  A year later he went back to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29) with help to them from Antioch.

            In this context, they began to search for a means of kingdom support.  The return of Jesus is inordinately delayed.  The believers began to admit to themselves that leaving financing the kingdom to the wealthy was a dead end street.  Now they see God’s plan: the tithe.

            Note that he believed in people.  He came to Paul’s assistance with the apostles. He befriended John Mark before Paul; Colossians 4:10 refers to them as cousins; A.V. represents “nephew” but from a later time frame (E40p250).  His effort in behalf of the church at Antioch was not to be remembered, not to be memorialized, but to reach out in Christ’s name to people.

            Note then that he was a man worthy of trust. They bestowed on him apostleship.  Acts 14:14, “. . . When the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people.”  Into his hands were placed the funds of assistance for other churches.

            Note that he was a man of selflessness.  Arriving at Antioch, the first order of business was to “encourage” them.  Acts 11:23; same word as in 4:36; same as 9:31, “comfort of the Holy Spirit.”

            While there he went to Tarsus for Paul.  Acts 11:25; missionary relationship with Paul begins; interesting that Barnabas is here mentioned first.  Also 13:7.  But from 13:9 on, Saul becomes Paul and is the acknowledged leader.  And Barnabas continues  his service.

            Finally, note that  he is a courageous man.  With John Mark, he went right to the work at Cyprus, in spite of the “sharp” words (paroxusmos)with Paul.  God uses this disturbance and two mission teams are at work.  Not a proof text for churches that spark and split.  Barnabas and Paul remained good friends.  Mentioned in I Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians.

Conclusion

            If, and when, the times come that I must be a disagreeable Christian, may the dear Lord help me to disagree over worthy causes, and in a manner that calls attention to the causes and not to my disagreement.