“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” vs25-26

The early church was not owned by a man, and this is how we must be. We can’t have ministries that revolve around ourselves, but the Lord Jesus Christ and the good of His people. We can’t be selfish, seeking to set up our own kingdom, but we must be gracious - good men - seeking to serve the Lord [vs24].

If the pastor is after himself, then he’s to be reproved. He’s not mature in the Lord Jesus Christ. If he comes to serve, however, then help him. Paul and Barnabas are a perfect example, as is Peter and the church at Jerusalem.

First, Peter related the matter of facts to the brethren [vs1-18]. We read, “But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events [vs4].” Even though he had a vision and spoke to the Lord, he did not act superior. John Gill says, “Peter did not insist upon his authority as an apostle, and much less pretended to a primacy to the rest of the apostles; but submitted to have his case heard, examined, and judged of by the body of the brethren.”

The church and the truth stood higher than Peter. He was not a Pope giving out decrees, and we must never set men or experiences above Scripture. “Thus says the Lord,” has supremacy, and we have no authority - not our traditions - but what the Scripture says regarding baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church membership. It’s not our thoughts but His word... and if we cannot prove what we say, then we must hold no man’s conscience, while forbidding everything Scripture forbids.

Secondly, the church sent Barnabas [vs19-24]! “When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch [vs22].” They heard of the happenings in Antioch, and they got involved. They didn’t wait on the saints to mature, but they helped them. They didn’t stand aloof and judge, but they did what they could to build them up.

Let us have this mind in Nigeria, as we see weak churches and SCATTERED believers! Let us not wait on them to grow up, but let us send laborers. Let us send missionaries and evangelists to establish them. Let us send pastors and saints to teach them. Let us help them with books and resources. Let us do what we can.

Some think, “Everyone should move to the local church,” but that’s not true. They didn’t move to Jerusalem, but Jerusalem planted churches elsewhere, and that’s what we’re to do - not to build our brand, but to build up the Lord’s followers.

Thirdly, after visiting them, Barnabas sent for Paul [vs25-26]. “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch.” He could have been jealous. He could have said, “I’m the big man around here. I want no competition,” but Barnabas wasn’t concerned about himself [3 John 1:9]. He wasn’t interested in his name but the Name of Jesus Christ, and he knew that he did the BEST FOR OTHERS, as he helped them get teaching!

As he brought in Paul, he served God. He wasn’t weakened by using someone else, but he was strengthened and served better. This is what it’s all about - not you, me, or anyone else… not our organization, but all of us working together to give the Name of Jesus Christ the first place - all of us as one body of Christ, building up each other into maturity [Eph 4:12]. All of us on the same team.

This is the gospel in everyday practical life, and it separates the selfish from the giving: those who minister for gain and those who serve. Paul says, “Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs [Phil 2:19-20].”

Let us be giving men like Timothy. Let us empty ourselves like Epaphroditus and serve.