Acts 11:24 “For (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
This description of Barnabas gives us an exemplary example of what each of us should be doing with our lives. His actions are a guide for character and contribution during one’s life. His description can easily become a person’s mission statement. It is a verse one would want to have read and used to describe their life at their funeral!
Unpacking the verse we see Barnabas, the encourager, was a GOOD MAN!! Good instead of bad! Good because of doing right instead of doing wrong! Good as in UPRIGHT! As well, he was also GOOD because of his service. He was known for DOING good!
Barnabas was a good man who was good at doing good work as he did many good works!
Are you good? As the Christmas season grows closer, we pose the question to children “Have you been good this year?” However, this question is not a seasonal question. It should be a daily question. Are you good in character? Are you doing good things in contributing to others?
It is said that Ben Franklin asked himself in the morning, “What good shall I do today?” And in the evening, “What good have I done today?”
Not only was Barnabas a good man he was full of the Holy Spirit. He was empowered by the Spirit of God to be and do good! He was filled – controlled – led by the Spirit of God! He walked and worked by the POWER of GOD! He was DEPENDENT on GOD to do the GOOD that he did!
Are you described as a person full of the Holy Spirit?
He was a man of FAITH! The faith spoken of here is not faith for salvation but faith to believe God to do what God was placing on his heart to do. He walked and worked by FAITH! He moved fearlessly forward!
And the results of such living we read that many were saved!
What a one-verse TESTIMONY! He was GOOD and DID GOOD! He was EMPOWERED by God, being FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! He lived and worked by FAITH in God! AND many are SAVED! Some might say such a person is rare and maybe so but I would pray that there would be many who are Acts 11:24 people! I pray you will be an Acts 11:24 person.
Continue Strong following the example of Barnabas,
And remember to DATE THE Word