Barnabas The Great Influencer #2.

A Chinese emperor held a contest for anyone that invented a weapon to defeat his great enemy. A wise scientist took up the challenge and developed a gun that allowed the emperor to defeat the enemy. As a result he asked the scientist to ask for on favor. Did he want the princess to marry? A box of gold? Anything!

The scientist asked for one simple favor. Give him a rice to cover the chess board. One grain on the first square and double it every square. The emperor gleefully said "Yes" and published the man's request to show his mercy. 

At the end of trying to cover the chess board, the emperor owed the scientist enough rice to cover all of China three feet deep. The emperor was bankrupt and the wise scientist was rich. Do you want to be rich in God's Kingdom? Become a Disciple Maker. Multiply yourself.

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That is why I nominate a man that gets little contemporary press. He did not write any of the books in the Bible nor did he have the gift of oratory. He operated behind the scenes with power, wisdom and incredible influence. Without him, there would have been no Paul, no John Mark, no Luke and no gentile church and no missions to the gentiles.Every non-Jewish believer owes our salvation to a Levite who heard God and did what He said.

Barnabas is my nominee. He is a wonderful model of an exponential leader. He both lived and practiced the master plan of discipleship. He was a great transitional leader for the young church. Without him the church could have faltered badly.The Bible is clear about the process and the product.

A.    Matthew 28: Go therefore and make disciples.

B.    Luke 9 and 10

C.    II Timothy 2:2

D.    Ephesians 4:11

Examples of the leadership qualities of the Apostle Barnabas.

      Acts 4:36 - The Apostles mark his installation into apostleship by changing his name from Joseph to Barnabas. Joseph was a Levite businessman whose name now indicates his character, call and gifts. Barnabas is a term with several nuances and richness in meaning. It can mean counselor, son of encouragement, son of exhortation and son of prophesy.

Character-Competency

 He undergoes a name change that showed his character and reputation.

Ordination is the name given to the process of a community choosing a leader. The community must be comfortable with the person and so chooses him/her as their leader. Only a close community really knows the character and the competency of a person that has labored in their midst.

Son of Encouragement: Paraclete, like the Holy Spirit a counselor, supporter and pastor. Character and competency

                  1.   A gentle Paraclete who encouraged Saul by taking Him to apostles as recorded in Acts 9:26. This was a very risky venture.

                 

                  2.   Equipping all into leaders

                  3.   Empowering people for ministry

4.     Enabling the ministry to proceed

5.     Exalting God with his whole being

            C. Generous with his wealth: Character

                  1.   Sold a field and gave to the apostles, and supported others.

                  2.   Used his wealth for missionary travels and for self.

            D.  Broad Experience-Competency

                  1.   Business leader, manager, investor

                  2.   Church in Jerusalem-Care, cure and counsel

                  3.   Missionary travel, organizer, led first mission to Gentiles

4.     Group Leader, head person

                  5.   Was a Levite who had a great religious tradition.

            E.   Open to diversity and new ideas-both character and competency Acts 11:19

                  1.   Sent by apostles to Antioch-to the Gentiles. Why Barnabas?

                  2.   Quick to see new paradigm-entrepreneur. -Competency.

                  3.   Why not Peter? Had a chance with gentiles but didn’t like it.

                  4.   Description as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith.

                  5.   Evangelized the Gentiles by loving them

            F.   Knew himself -11:25-genuineness, character

                  1.   Didn't have all the gifts he needed-character, humility.

                  2.   Not a lone ranger-team player, patient

                  3.   Self confidence to choose Saul-character! Chose a brilliant theologian!

            G.  Took time to build his cross-cultural home team of rich, poor, black and white

                  1.   Went to get Saul -several months?

                  2.   Teacher for a year-competency

3.     Pastor-character and competency

                  4.    Encourager-competency

            H.  Sought God-Acts 13:

                  1.   Worshiped

                  2.   Prayed

                  3.   Heard

                  4.   Obeyed-humble

            I.    Meekness was apparent-He had power under control

                  1.   Sought out Saul, a brilliant and hostile Christian

                  2.   Allowed, encouraged Saul to become a powerful speaker

                  3.   Rejected deification

4.     His leadership, strength and miracle power was obvious even to strangers-Acts 14:11 indicates that Barnabas was held in higher esteem than was Paul. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes. This means that they saw Barnabas as the source of all power and authority for ZEUS was the head of the Pantheon of gods while HERMES was only the golden voiced messenger. It is obvious that modern Christians have reversed that priority.  In our churches the gift of gab is the only one that really counts.  In the New Testament, character and spiritual authority were the key to leadership. 

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