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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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?