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The Gift: Barnabas

11/28/2015

News travels fast from Antioch to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem the new church is learning to handle the growing reports of the ‘Lord’s hand at work.’ Word arrives that in Antioch, almost 500 hundred miles away, a new church is being birthed.”
Men, nameless strangers, from Cyprus and Cyrene had gone to Antioch and preached the “Word.” It burst forth in the hearts and minds of people with the light of revelation. In a moment the indisputable evidence of that, “Word,” a word living and effective, turned the unsuspecting listeners into believers. Acts 11:20-21

The disciples thought it prudent to send someone to help this newly born church. New birth requires gentle attention. Antioch did not need an organizer, a builder, a manager, or even a miracle worker; they needed a father, a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith: Barnabas.
“When he arrived…he encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts… and a great number of people were brought to the Lord." Acts 11:22-24

Barnabas (Son of Encouragement,) gentle and quiet of spirit, nurtured and uplifted them. He grew and sustained the new community by the gift of his encouraging presence.

Today, we too need encouragement, but even more we need to be encouragers.

Does our presence carry a gift that encourages those in our lives to move into a deeper faith and life with Christ Jesus?

“Lord, let Your presence in me be the presence they see.”

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The Evidence

11/21/2015

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The swift move of God on the Gentiles startles Peter and his companions; they are amazed and can hardly believe what is happening in front of their eyes.
The Holy Spirit was a sign present in those whom God had chosen.
Acts 2:38

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.”
Peter witnesses what is beyond his understanding, but he recognizes the hand of God. He must come into agreement with God or be left out of the “new move,” even though he cannot fully grasp how this could be happening.

Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” Acts 10:44-47

“…even on Gentiles.”

It is always amazing how quickly news travels. Particularly if it is perceived as bad news, which is how the believers and even apostles in Jerusalem perceived it.

Back in Jerusalem, Peter is “called on the carpet.”

“You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Peter reminds them of Jesus’ words.
“…But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

The disciples had forgotten the promise of Jesus, the promise of Holy Spirit as evidence of the Father’s goodness.
This resolved the argument.

However, old ways of thinking resist change and often hold us in a firm grasp that blinds us to the “New thing of God.” The religious spirit is hard to dislodge once it is established in our thinking and whenever it finds an occasion, it will rear it’s ugly head again.

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From Isolation to Integration

11/13/2015

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Acts 10:13-16

Peter’s beliefs are being challenged, and he is deeply confused. He thought the vision was a test; God tells him otherwise.
God is preparing him, and us, for a new revelation.
“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
How could he understand this? Jesus came to fulfill the law…now he (Peter) is told to break it…!!
He has no time to ponder this.
The Spirit tells him, “I have sent three men to come for you. Go with them.” No explanation is given.
As Peter begins his journey he can’t begin to imagine how the world he knows is about to change.
It is all very confusing: “Eat what is considered ’unclean;’ travel with strangers to a strange city; enter the house of a gentile.
A few days ago he was praying and healing people and raising the dead, but now he is into something that is beyond his understanding. Only his trust in the Lord keeps him going.
In Caesarea, Cornelius falls on his face as Peter enters the house - even greater confusion for him. All he can say is (as much to himself as his host), “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.” Acts 10:28

As Cornelius tells of his experience, Peter has the revelation, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:34

There is a sudden awakening to the truth: Jesus died for all, Gentile and Jew, to make them one in Him.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace…” Ephesians 2:14-15

This incredible revelation of God’s inclusiveness is confirmed by the Holy Spirit falling on those in the house. Nonetheless, it becomes a problem with many of the Jewish converts and soon creates a problem in the growing church.
This will become the struggle between the ‘law keepers’ and those who walk by ‘grace,’ between the traditional, accepted way, and the new freedom and inclusiveness of the Kingdom.

Peter soon discovers that this one act of obedience is the start of a conflict that will play out over the next 2000 years.
It is as much a challenge in our daily walk as it was in the early church. God’s new move will provoke us to trust, accept what He is doing and change, or cause us to stay firmly planted in the old way, resisting the new and calling it “Unholy.”

“Lord, open our eyes to see and our ears to hear the new and marvelous way you are expressing Yourself to us today.”

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it!” Isaiah 43:19

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Cornelius; The First Gentile Convert

11/6/2015

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Acts 10:1-21

Caesarea was the seat of governors, pagan worship and the headquarters of the Roman troops in the region.
It was a city of the gentiles, with a gentile way of life.
Not a place where we expect to find the devout, or even less a place to establish a beachhead for the advancement of the kingdom.
God, however, is not influenced by men or places. He is attracted to and moves on the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him.
“…Serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you…” 1 Chronicles 28:9

In Caesarea, God found such a man, Cornelius. ”He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Acts 10:2
He is a man whose actions and character are well recognized. “He is a righteous and God- fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people.” Acts 10:21

God assigned an angel to bring a message to Cornelius.
“Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.” Acts 10:4-5

His instructions are clear: go, find Peter, in Joppa, (thirty or so miles away), and bring him here.
No other explanation is given.

Something new is about to happen: this is the beginning of a major move of God that will shake the church, the community across Israel and the world.
This had been prophesied, but not understood.
“…I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6

"For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32

God does what he foretells; he does not explain, but only asks us to trust and follow his lead.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:18-19

He is changing the familiar patterns of our religious beliefs and habits.
This is the hard part—to follow when we do not understand the new move of God, when the evidence of new life will have to suffice.

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Maturing - Keeping It Simple

11/3/2015

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Acts 9:32-42

Saul Is a magnet for confrontation and soon has to escape from Jerusalem as well. He is sent to Tarsus, well over 300 miles away, and for a time the conflict settles down.
But the Spirit is moving and the work continues.
The book of Acts shifts its focus to Peter who is traveling, visiting the faithful in the region of Lydda.

We do not associate conflict and persecution with Peter. Under the tutelage of Holy Spirit he is no longer bombastic and self assured, he is a man who knows who he is in Christ Jesus.

In Lydda, meeting a man who had been an invalid for eight years, Peter speaks to him almost incidentally, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” No dramatic preaching, no apologetics, no arguments, only evidence. As a result people put their trust in the Lord.

When God moves, the word gets out; it always does.
There are others who call on Peter, this time to raise the dead. Alone with the body, Peter prays. No show of gifts, only faith.
Then turning to the dead woman he says, “Tabitha, get up.” A simple directive statement - she gets up. He restores her back to the community.

God works through the stormy and the quiet ones, the settled and the unsettled. He looks for those who learn to trust Him and act on that faith.

Many like Peter are moving through the stages of maturity: from an early awareness of our sinfulness to the arrogant belief that we are Jesus’ only true friend, then on to a time and a place when we deny him and learn of our own weakness and His eternal calling and loyalty.

This is when we become quiet, more introspective in the deep assurance that he who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.
This is when we begin to grasp the heart of the Father, and to do and say the things we see Him doing.
This is when we speak in quiet assurance to those in need, “Get up.”

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Thinking Out Loud

These are short meditations on some of the thoughts and ideas we receive as we read, study or ponder the things of God.
They are short blogs meant to cause us to think, explore, meditate or simply delight in the things of the Lord.

Author

In a counseling career spanning over 30 years, author and teacher Martin Frankena has shared the life-changing power of Christ’s redemption with individuals and churches in America, Canada, South America, and Europe. Martin's heart is to further the Lord’s mandate of releasing people into freedom from bondages to experience greater wholeness and fulfillment in life. A major focus of the ministry is healing from generational issues.

Thinking out loud

The Gift: Barnabas

The Evidence

From Isolation to Integration

Cornelius; The First Gentile Convert

Maturing - Keeping It Simple

Thinking Out Loud

These are short meditations on some of the thoughts and ideas we receive as we read, study or ponder the things of God.
They are short blogs meant to cause us to think, explore, meditate or simply delight in the things of the Lord.

Author

Archives

Categories

Thinking out loud

The Gift: Barnabas

The Evidence

From Isolation to Integration

Cornelius; The First Gentile Convert

Maturing - Keeping It Simple

Thinking Out LoudThese are short meditations on some of the thoughts and ideas we receive as we read, study or ponder the things of God.They are short blogs meant to cause us to think, explore, meditate or simply delight in the things of the Lord.Author

Archives

Categories

Thinking Out Loud

These are short meditations on some of the thoughts and ideas we receive as we read, study or ponder the things of God.
They are short blogs meant to cause us to think, explore, meditate or simply delight in the things of the Lord.

Author