25-0511p Transcript

Preacher: Jim Lokenbauer

(1:13) Well, good evening everybody. (1:16) Thanks, Tom, for that reading.

(1:18) I know there were some funny names in there. (1:21) Sometimes those names are hard to pronounce. (1:25) But we do the best we can.

(1:28) What an absolutely stunningly beautiful day we had today. (1:33) Nice data. (1:36) Glorify God and glorify mothers.

(1:40) So God bless all the mothers. (1:43) Well, this morning we left off at Acts chapter 13, and Tom read for us (1:50) where we’re going to start off this evening. (1:55) And this morning we explored how one of the gifts that God blesses his people with, (2:02) how it can have a positive influence on individuals and on entire congregations.

(2:09) The gift examined was the gift of encouragement. (2:13) One of the gifts mentioned in chapter 12 of the Roman letter. (2:18) The man who possessed this gift was Barnabas.

(2:22) He used it for God’s glory. (2:25) So we’re going to follow his life and how it affected those whom he came in contact with. (2:31) We also saw how his life became mingled with Saul of Tarsus, (2:38) and how the two of them spread the gospel to the Gentiles.

(2:44) The church was under a period of persecution by the Jewish leaders of St. Stephen’s death (2:51) and by King Herod, who beheaded the apostle James. (2:56) And that caused the gospel to be spread. (3:03) And as the believers left Jerusalem, they dispersed to the cities around the bottom.

(3:08) Most of them heading north up the coast where Antioch was. (3:16) Things got a little better in Jerusalem with the death of King Herod. (3:22) But the leaders of the Jews were still an issue.

(3:26) And we left off with Barnabas and Saul going back to Antioch. (3:30) So we’ll pick up and read again what Tom just read for us. (3:35) And the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers, (3:39) Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manion, (3:44) who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.

(3:48) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, (3:53) Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them. (4:00) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them (4:04) and sent them off. (4:06) The two of them sent on their way by Holy Spirit.

(4:12) They went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. (4:17) They arrived at Salamis. (4:21) They proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

(4:26) And John was with them, their helper. (4:28) And that’s John Mark, who was Barnabas' cousin. (4:33) It seems that Antioch was their new home base.

(4:37) And Barnabas and Paul, as he was called at this point forward, (4:43) as he started his missionary work, (4:46) along with three other brothers who were fasting and praying there, (4:51) whether Holy Spirit spoke directly to them or through one of those prophets, (4:56) they were told to sanctify Barnabas and Paul for a specific work. (5:03) And sanctify, as you know, means to set apart for a holy purpose. (5:10) So Holy Spirit called them for this specific work, (5:14) and Holy Spirit sent them on their journey to do that work.

(5:20) In Acts chapter 9, we were told that Paul was our Lord’s chosen instrument (5:27) to bring the gospel to the Jews and to the Gentiles and their kings. (5:32) And we saw in Galatians chapter 1 that Paul gave his defense (5:36) as to him being an apostle on the same level as the twelve apostles. (5:44) Now we have another member of the Godhead, Holy Spirit, (5:49) sanctifying and commissioning both Paul and Barnabas (5:54) to go to the Gentiles and preach the word to them.

(5:58) Does that make Barnabas an apostle as well? (6:03) And what exactly is an apostle? (6:07) Apostle means one cent. (6:10) It’s from the Greek word apostolos, which means a delegate, (6:15) specifically an ambassador of the gospel, (6:19) officially a commissioner of Christ with miraculous powers. (6:25) Apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

(6:29) Those are the words you’ll find when you see the word apostle in the New Testament. (6:35) So was Barnabas sent? Yes. (6:38) He was sent by Holy Spirit.

(6:41) Was he an ambassador of the gospel? Yes. (6:45) He preached and taught the word wherever he went. (6:48) Did he have miraculous powers? Yes.

(6:56) We were told in Acts 11, 24, (6:59) he was a good man full of Holy Spirit and faith, (7:04) and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. (7:08) The phrase full of the Holy Spirit is the equivalent of saying (7:13) he had the power of the Holy Spirit to do miracles. (7:19) Is there anything that can disqualify him from being an apostle (7:24) on the level as the 12 apostles or Paul? (7:28) I believe so.

(7:30) So let’s look at the qualifications of an apostle first. (7:36) Jesus had many followers. (7:39) He had the 72 disciples that had gone out two by two to spread the gospel.

(7:47) And out of all his followers, he only picked 12 to be apostles. (7:54) And don’t forget by the time he ascended and told the people to go and wait in Jerusalem (8:00) for the power on high, (8:02) there were 120 of them in that upper room. (8:06) So they had large numbers of people, followers.

(8:12) Those were the steady ones that followed him around wherever he went. (8:18) So Jesus, from the solitude of a remote place where he was without distractions, (8:25) prayed all night to his Father in Heaven (8:29) to make the right choices for those who would be entrusted (8:33) with one of the most important roles a man could have. (8:38) Men who would have the responsibility in establishing (8:42) and maintaining the greatest institution known to man.

(8:48) That’s the Church of Jesus Christ. (8:51) So he had made a distinction between his disciples and his apostles. (8:58) All were disciples.

(9:00) Only 12 of those were apostles. (9:03) They had intense small group teaching and training. (9:09) And they witnessed things the other disciples did not get to see.

(9:13) After his death on the cross and before his ascension, (9:18) Jesus gave his apostles a special commission. (9:22) It’s what we call the Great Commission. (9:29) We all know what that was.

(9:31) Going to all the world and preach the good news. (9:35) Making disciples of every nation, baptizing people (9:39) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (9:42) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (9:47) And I will be with you always to the end of the age.

(9:52) So these 12 were the ones responsible for going out (9:58) and starting churches, making disciples, (10:03) making sure they were trained to be able to go out (10:06) and make more disciples. (10:08) It was going to be generation after generation (10:13) until the end of the age. (10:15) The end of what age? (10:16) The end of the Christian age.

(10:19) And that’s when Christ comes back the second time. (10:25) So in Luke 24, 44 through 49, he said to them, (10:29) This is what I told you while I’m still with you, (10:31) that all things which are written in the law of Moses and the prophets (10:36) and the Psalms concerning me must be fulfilled. (10:40) Then he opened their minds that they might understand the scriptures.

(10:46) He said to them, Thus it is written and thus it was necessary (10:51) for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day (10:55) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name (11:00) to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem (11:04) until you are clothed with power from on high. (11:08) So before he ascended back into heaven, (11:11) he had already opened their minds up to scripture. (11:16) So they already had Holy Spirit in them, (11:19) but he was opening their minds up by Holy Spirit in them (11:25) so that they knew scripture.

(11:28) That’s miraculous because these men were fishermen, (11:35) just common lay people. (11:39) Not many of them were schooled in scripture. (11:44) They all probably were trained up in their synagogues and knew scripture, (11:49) but now their mind would be able to recall all scripture.

(11:56) Jesus opened these eleven men’s minds (12:00) to recall everything that they witnessed Jesus doing (12:05) and all that he taught them. (12:07) Then on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, (12:11) they received the promised power from on high (12:14) and they were baptized by the Holy Spirit. (12:19) So they received power from Holy Spirit to do miraculous things.

(12:29) They could do miracles. (12:31) Paul received all of this too by direct revelation from Jesus. (12:36) I don’t know how that’s done, (12:38) but somehow Jesus beamed it right into his mind by revelation.

(12:44) So I don’t know if Paul just sat there (12:46) and had this movie played in his mind of everything that they did, (12:52) but he knew everything. (12:54) Or if it was just God’s will and it was there in his mind. (12:59) But he received all that training, (13:02) the same as the other guys by revelation.

(13:07) And not only that, (13:10) when Ananias, who was given the ability at Christ’s command (13:14) to heal Paul’s blindness and baptize him, (13:20) he was told to confer on Paul by the laying on of hands (13:24) to receive power from Holy Spirit. (13:29) This is a one-off. (13:32) This is something you should keep in mind (13:34) when you’re dealing with people, particularly Pentecostals, (13:38) when it comes to laying on of hands.

(13:42) This is a man commissioned by Jesus himself. (13:46) Go, he said. (13:48) Don’t argue with me, Ananias.

(13:50) This man is my chosen vessel. (13:53) And so when Ananias showed up, (13:55) he did exactly as Christ said. (13:59) And by the laying on of hands, he said, (14:04) receive Holy Spirit.

(14:06) And then they went and were baptized, baptized him. (14:10) So Paul had the full juicing as the 12 other apostles. (14:16) He was in that particular office, (14:23) if you want to call apostles an office.

(14:27) There were only 12 that had the keys to the kingdom, so to speak. (14:38) When selecting and replacing the spot where Judas left open, (14:45) when Judas hanged himself after he realized he really blew it, (14:50) Peter stood up among the apostles and the other believers, (14:55) and he mentions what the qualifications for an apostle is. (15:03) And this is specifically the office of apostleship.

(15:09) In Acts 1, 21 and 22, Peter said, (15:13) Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us (15:17) the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (15:22) beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. (15:29) For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. (15:35) So they had to witness his resurrection.

(15:38) They had to be there from the beginning when John was baptizing, (15:43) be with Jesus when he went in and out amongst them, (15:46) and witness his ascension back into heaven. (15:51) So was Barnabas with them from the beginning? (15:55) From John’s baptism? (15:57) Did he witness the resurrected Jesus Christ? (16:01) And was he a witness of the ascension? (16:04) I don’t think so. (16:06) It’s not recorded that he was among the number of people who witnessed that.

(16:12) In fact, no other disciple at that time were yet able to do miracles other than the Twelve. (16:26) In Acts 2, 42 through 43, (16:31) they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, (16:35) and to the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. (16:39) Everyone was filled with awe, (16:42) and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

(16:48) Also in Acts 5, 12, nobody yet was doing miracles themselves, (16:55) as far as disciples go. (16:57) It was just the apostles. (16:59) It says there, (17:00) the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.

(17:07) When the apostles laid their hands on the seven men that were chosen to become deacons, (17:15) they became filled with the Holy Spirit. (17:20) The same term which was used about Barnabas later on. (17:24) And they were able to do miracles.

(17:27) Now we have lay people being able to do the miraculous. (17:33) But they couldn’t transfer this ability as the apostles could. (17:41) When Philip, one of the seven deacons, (17:46) went to Samaria due to the persecutions, (17:50) we read in Acts chapter 8, 11 through 20, (17:59) being on a busy street corner, (18:08) Hey wait, there’s no music in our church.

(18:10) Move on. (18:13) But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God, (18:19) and the name of Jesus Christ, (18:22) they were baptized, both men and women. (18:25) Simon himself, I’m talking about Simon the sorcerer, (18:29) believed and was baptized.

(18:31) And he followed Philip everywhere, (18:33) and they were astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. (18:40) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, (18:45) they sent Peter and John to them. (18:48) When they arrived, they prayed for them, (18:51) that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (18:54) because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them.

(18:58) They had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (19:03) Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, (19:08) and they received the Holy Spirit. (19:12) When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, (19:19) he offered them money, (19:23) and said, (19:24) Give me also this ability so that everyone whom I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.

(19:33) Peter answered, (19:41) So this particular ability that the twelve apostles had (19:48) was a gift to be able to confer upon others (19:55) the transfer of the Spirit’s power to other believers (20:01) who already had the Holy Spirit in them. (20:07) By them laying hands on them (20:10) is what, in so many words, was them binding on earth (20:18) what was bound in heaven. (20:21) They understood the need for miracles (20:24) to make a fledgling church grow.

(20:28) And so the more people who could do miracles, (20:32) the faster the church would grow. (20:38) And so when they would lay hands on people, (20:42) that was their gift. (20:44) And they were giving ability to others (20:48) to be able to witness to Christ, (20:53) confirm the message through the miracle, (20:55) and the messenger, (20:57) in order to create faith (21:00) in the person who’s observing (21:06) so they can become a believer.

(21:10) And though Philip himself was full of the Holy Spirit, (21:14) only at the hands of the apostles (21:17) could that power of the Holy Spirit be given to another. (21:22) Paul could do this also. (21:24) If you recall in 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 6, (21:28) Paul told Timothy to fan in the flame of the gift (21:33) that he got when he laid hands on him.

(21:37) So Paul was able to lay hands on people (21:41) and give them the ability to do miracles. (21:48) In 2 Corinthians 12, 11 and 12, (21:52) it says, Paul says, (21:54) I have become foolish in boasting, you compelled me, (21:58) for I ought to have been commended by you, (22:01) for nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, (22:05) though I am nothing. (22:07) Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you (22:12) in all perseverance, (22:14) in signs and wonders and mighty works.

(22:18) While on the missionary journey (22:21) that Holy Spirit sent them on, (22:23) Paul and Barnabas worked the works of apostles. (22:29) And Luke records that while they were in Iconium, (22:35) Acts 14, 3 and 4, it says, (22:38) so Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there (22:42) speaking boldly for the Lord, (22:44) who confirmed the message of his grace (22:47) by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. (22:53) The people of the city were divided, (22:55) some sided with the Jews, (22:57) others with the apostles, plural.

(23:02) Then in Lystra in verses 14 and 15 of Acts 14, (23:07) but when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, (23:12) they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd shouting, (23:15) men, why are you doing this? (23:17) We too are only men, human like you. (23:21) So we have God calling Barnabas an apostle (23:28) and credited him, crediting? (23:32) Getting him credit for doing not just a miraculous gifted thing, (23:39) but doing signs and wonders as the other apostles. (23:47) They were both called apostles (23:49) and they both worked the miracles that apostles could do.

(23:56) They didn’t just have one miraculous gift like tongues, (24:00) healing, interpreting, or casting out demons (24:04) that the first century Christians had (24:07) when they received a gift by the laying on of hands. (24:11) Usually when one of the apostles laid hands on a lay person, (24:16) they received only one miraculous gift. (24:20) Just look at the Corinthian church.

(24:28) But it was Holy Spirit who decided who received what gifts. (24:37) Now being called an apostle by Holy Spirit himself, (24:41) Holy Spirit saw fit to give Barnabas the same powers, (24:48) except for the ability to transfer to others, (24:54) to do signs, miracles, and wonders. (24:58) So again I ask, was Barnabas an apostle on the order of the 12 apostles and Paul? (25:07) And the answer is no.

(25:08) Because there is rank, believe it or not, in the Lord’s church. (25:14) And there is the highest office, for lack of a better description, (25:19) of apostleship, or being an apostle. (25:23) It was a position created by Jesus and he chose who was in it.

(25:29) They were the foremost authority on earth in church matters. (25:35) They were given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (25:38) What they bound on earth was bound in heaven.

(25:44) And nobody else in the church had that kind of authority. (25:49) So the position of the office of apostle was unique. (25:55) And it was the highest rank office.

(26:01) Paul gives the order of rank in 1 Corinthians 12, 27-30. (26:07) Listen. (26:09) Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.

(26:14) And in the church God has appointed, first of all, apostles, (26:19) second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, (26:23) also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, (26:28) those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (26:34) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? (26:37) Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? (26:41) Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (26:47) So we see there’s rank in the church. (26:51) And if you look at those miraculous gifts given to people, (26:56) it went on the order of how they helped people.

(27:01) First of all, the apostles are the ones that just started the fire (27:05) through Holy Spirit by doing miracles (27:08) and bringing in thousands of people to be baptized into the church. (27:15) And then you had people who were prophets. (27:18) That was second on the list.

(27:20) What did prophets do? (27:21) They spoke directly to God. (27:24) They were able to receive revelations. (27:27) And being able to do that, they were also able to teach.

(27:33) And teaching is a lot like apostleship. (27:37) Are all believers prophets? Or are all teachers prophets? (27:43) No, but all prophets can be teachers. (27:47) Same with the apostles.

(27:49) Are all disciples apostles? No, but all apostles were disciples. (27:55) I don’t know if you get that. (27:58) I can be confusing at times.

(28:01) I confuse myself. (28:03) Anyhow, so again I ask, was Barnabas an apostle on the order of Paul? (28:09) No. (28:11) So with this rank in mind, was Barnabas? (28:16) No.

(28:18) He was an apostle on the order of the apostle office, but he was an apostle. (28:24) Now that makes things real confusing. (28:27) But he was an apostle in the definition sense.

(28:33) The definition being he was sanctified by Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. (28:41) He was a messenger, and he was an emissary. (28:44) He was an ambassador.

(28:46) So by definition he was an apostle, but not as that high, authoritative, (28:53) I got the keys of the kingdom in my hand, what I bind on earth is bound in heaven authority. (29:00) He didn’t have that. (29:01) But just by textbook definition, he was an apostle.

(29:06) But wait, there’s more. (29:09) There were others like Barnabas, such as Apollos, and Epaphroditus, if I’m saying that right, (29:17) and many other brothers of that time. (29:20) 2 Corinthians 8.23 says, (29:22) As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you.

(29:27) As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ. (29:35) So he’s admitting there’s plenty of believers who were apostles, those who were sent, (29:45) those who could do miracles. (29:47) But they weren’t of the office that Peter, James, John, Bartholomew, Nathanael, (29:55) all of those guys held.

(29:58) But they were apostles. (30:01) So Barnabas was an apostle. (30:05) Philippians 2.25 it says, (30:08) But I counted it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, (30:16) and your apostle and servant of my means.

(30:21) So Epaphroditus, who served Paul, was an apostle. (30:29) So he was like Bartholomew. (30:32) He could do the miraculous.

(30:36) He had multiple miraculous abilities. (30:39) Not just like the lay people who just had tongues or, you know, just one gift. (30:48) He could do many.

(30:50) And the early church needed that in order to grow. (30:57) In Revelation 21.14, these twelve apostles, it doesn’t mention Paul here, believe it or not, (31:09) but the twelve apostles had special honor. (31:18) It says, (31:30) So in heaven, so important were these twelve men.

(31:37) And such an honor that they had to be Christ’s apostles. (31:45) The foundation of the walls in heaven have their names on them. (31:52) These men should receive special honor.

(31:55) And so that tells us the office of apostleship or apostle couldn’t be held by others, (32:04) even though others were apostles. (32:10) After the apostles and those whom they had laid their hands on had passed away. (32:18) So over time.

(32:21) That was it for the miraculous age. (32:24) No more of these miracles. (32:29) It came to an end.

(32:31) What took its place was the compiled word of God. (32:37) And I’m going to do a sermon on that process that they had going on as they were starting the church. (32:47) And you can see that they were accumulating the writings of the apostles and of the prophets (32:56) that take the place of the miracles.

(33:04) So our Bible is now our source of divine revelation, inspiration, knowledge, example, (33:14) and authority for the New Testament church. (33:17) And Holy Spirit still blesses us with gifts. (33:23) Not of the miraculous kind, but of the character kind.

(33:28) The kind that helps us transform into the image and reflect the image of Jesus, our Savior and King. (33:39) We literally become little Christs. (33:43) We are Christians.

(33:45) And we should reflect His image. (33:48) And we saw what the gift of encouragement, which is still a gift we’re bestowed with today, (33:54) did for the early church by our friend Barnabas. (33:58) Like him, we too can have a positive effect on the church and those around us through God’s glory.

(34:06) Right now I offer you the invitation. (34:09) So if anybody has any need, come forward, make it known, and we’ll be glad to help where we can. (34:17) Please stand as we sing.