Sermons

When it is not Your Time...

Sunday, July 17, 2011 • Earl and Wanda Boone • General
I remember how difficult it was to wait to be chosen to be on a team at recess. I was not the tallest, not the fastest and not the most popular. I didn't let that stop me. I ran and raced and practiced. It was quite some time before anyone DECIDED to notice how fast I had become. In my head I wondered when it would be my turn. In my heart I knew that I was the best.
 

WHO AM I? A SERIES ON SELF DISCOVERY
 
PART 1
YOU ARE PART OF THE WHOLE WITH A HIGHER ETERNAL PURPOSE

ACTS 11:19 Meanwhile those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen had traveled as far away as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without delivering the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] to anyone except Jews.
STEPHEN HAD BEEN STONED TO DEATH BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH AND TESTIMONY. PERSECUTION CONTINUED AND THE CHURCH (BELIEVERS) SCATTERED.

 
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene (CC), who on returning to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, proclaiming [to them] the good news (the Gospel) about the Lord Jesus.
ALTHOUGH SCATTERED THEY CONTINUED TO TELL OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. LET'S STOP HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT. WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST? DO WE CONSIDER JESUS CHRIST GOOD NEWS? HE HAS BEEN, FOR SOME, REDUCED TO AN EXCLAMATION, A CURSE WORD, A SERIES OF RULES AND REGULATIONS. BUT HE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL, HE IS MY PEACE, HE IS THE ANSWER TO MY SORROWS, HE IS MY ETERNAL LIFE. 
 
21 And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him.
THE GREEKS TURNED TO THE LORD BECAUSE THEY LEARNED TO BELIEVE THROUGH THE CHRISTIANS FROM CYPRUS AND CYRENE. NOT ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES.
 
22 The rumors of this came to the ears of the church (assembly) in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

THEY SENT BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH BECAUSE HE WAS PREPARED AND READY TO GO. HE WAS SET IN HIS PURPOSE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IN HIS EVERYDAY LIFE. HE WAS SENT BECAUSE HE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWER TO FURTHER THE FAITH OF THE NEWLY CONVERTED GREEKS. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT AM I PREPARED TO DO? AM I PREPARED TO BE A GOOD SPOUSE? AM I PREPARED FOR THE JOB THAT I WANT? AM I PREPARED IN CHARACTER FOR MINISTRY? AM I PREPARED TO PASS THE MATH TEST?

 
23 When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.
BARNABAS WAS FULL OF JOY AT WHAT CC HAD DONE! HE DIDN'T RIDE IN AS IF HE WERE THE BOSS. BUT THEM HE MINISTERED TO THEM AND ENCOURAGED THEM. NOTE: WHEN IS THE LAST TIME SOMEONE SAID "GOOD JOB" TO YOU?
 
BARNABAS' SECRET
24 For he was a good man [good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord.

GOOD IN HIMSELF AND ALSO AT ONCE FOR THE GOOD AND THE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE!!!!! WOW, HOW MANY LESSONS DO WE SEE HERE. SOME PEOPLE ARE ONLY FOR THE GOOD OF THEMSELVES. SOME PEOPLE ARE ONLY FOR THE GOOD OF OTHER PEOPLE. WE CAN AND SHOULD SEEK TO HAVE THE BALANCE OF BOTH. FULL OF AND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FULL OF FAITH.

 
25 [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.
BARNABAS WENT TO HUNT FOR SAUL?! THIS WAS BARNABAS' HOUR AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
 
26 And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

BARNABAS RECOGNIZED HIS "PLACE" AND YIELDED TO SAUL/PAUL. HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO MINISTER TO ALONE. BUT MOST OF ALL GOD SAID THAT HE WAS GOOD. "good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith" FOR THE GOOD AND ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE.

 

I WILL SERVE YOU LORD. I WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. I WILL DO WHAT WILL BENEFIT YOU THE MOST.

 

AS PART OF A TEAM - WHAT WOULD THE PURPOSE BE TO RUN IN A RELAY IF NOT FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF ALL?

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