God is passing out some tests, and some leaders, because of their evil hearts, will flunk the test of what true leadership is all about!

Barnabas means “son of encouragement,” and encouragement was his first function in the life of Paul.

When I see Barnabas, I see a bridge builder. Somebody who stands in the gap!

Barnabas built a bridge between Saul and the other Christians, vouching for the reality of his faith and ministry when nobody else could see the gold in him Barnabas did (Acts 9:26–27).

“And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

Barnabas, who lead Apostle Paul (known as Saul) to the Lord, was a man of both humility and wisdom and when he discovered that he was going to go from being the man in charge to a follower of his own disciple, Barnabas, merely stepped aside so that God’s Kingdom could advance.

He saw that his reward was not in his position and authority within the early Church, but in following God with ALL of his heart.

However; When King Saul saw his kingdom was being passed to David because of his iniquity he sought to kill him, and he did everything from slaughtering priests who aided David to going to soothsayers for advice, (1 Samuel 28:7).

Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”

Some folks like being the head, but God wants to see how you will react when He switch the roles of leader to follower!

Through Barnabas’s humility, the Church was blessed and the Kingdom of God advanced like never before. We certainly need more Barnabases in the Church today people!

I absolutely love this! Halfway through Paul and Barnabas journey, Mark left Paul and Barnabas, and this became a point of contention later.

As they planned a second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas disagreed on whether or not to take Mark again.

Paul was determined not to bring him, due to his forsaking them previously. The Bible does not say why Mark deserted, but his departure came right after a mostly fruitless time in Cyprus (Acts 13:4–12).

Maybe John Mark was scared, weak but one thing for sure Apostle Paul wasn’t and he refused to work with him.

Barnabas, ever the encourager, was unwilling to leave John Mark behind. A “sharp disagreement” arose between them, and they parted ways.

From that point on, Barnabas traveled with John Mark, and Paul chose Silas as his companion in ministry (Acts 15:36–41).

Now, isn’t it amazing how Apostle Paul was so easy to give up on John Mark when Barnabas stood by him, and not only had Barnabas stood by him, but the Lord stood by a man who had once killed and persecuted the Church, yet Apostle Paul was not willing to give John Mark another chance!

Why? I believe because Apostle Paul was maturing in grace and I don’t care how anointed he was, he still didn’t have the patience or the faith Barnabas had at that time!

So, what am I saying?

Some folks, because they have gifting and revelation does not mean they have reached the same level of maturity that you have in Christ and it isn’t that they are not saved, but they are not at the same level of faith you are in God yet!

Barnabas was a good man full of the faith, and because he wanted to keep the peace and he believed in encouraging and comforting others he yet again humbled himself and worked with John Mark!

You have to remember Paul still was a fighter and no doubt rough around the edges because he was a leader even before his conversion so he wasn’t having this type of irresponsibility around him and as a result he refused to work with John Mark!

Will all leadership have the same temperament and levels of faith in Christ?

In fact the Bible says:

“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; NOT ONLY TO THE GOOD AND GENTLE, BUT ALSO TO THE FROWARD. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully, (1 Peter 2:17-19 KJV)

Apostle Paul, John Mark and Barnabas all had different levels of temperaments as Christ disciples but that was not to say one was more saved or anointed than the others but what it does say is that God used them all for his glory!

John Mark and Apostle Paul could no longer in that particular season work together but that didn’t say God did not have somebody that John Mark could work with people!

Sometimes God allows strife, division within the body of Christ to push us and to thresh each of us into our destiny!

Why? Because, God can use even our disagreements to further His work.

However; some of us will either pass or flunked the test that God is trying to deliver unto us as a corporate body! And, that is we all have a right to agree to disagree but we never have a right to {destroy} a person destiny in Christ!

The Bible says that true love works no ill to his neighbors! And, Just because you can not work with them does not mean God doesn’t have somebody that can and in this particular case it was the “bridge builder, the Son of Consolation!

The man who was full of faith, compassion, understanding and a heart of gold!

As we read on in scripture we find that the ministries of both men continued in fact, the number of missionary teams doubled! Which just goes to show us that God can use even our disagreements to further His work.

Paul and Barnabas continued to depend on God. They moved forward peacefully, even though it meant parting ways. In matters of personal opinion and practical procedure, Paul and Barnabas differed.

In matters of doctrine, they both saw the necessity of sharing the gospel with the world. They were united in what is truly important.

Did that mean they hated one another and destroyed each other ministry? No! In fact later on the Bible says that Paul sends a request to Timothy from a Roman prison: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).

Obviously, John Mark had matured through the years and so had Apostle Paul and they continued to be friends and John Mark became a faithful servant of the Lord. Leaving Paul to recognized his progress and considered him a valuable companion in the ministry!

 

~ Apostle Geraldine Fisher

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Apostle Geraldine Fisher has a World-Wide-Social Media Net-Work Ministry. As a Missionary, God moved her into the Office of a Prophet, revealing to her the qualities of a True prophet, humility, humiliation, loving others, interceding in prayer, as she keeps her own life clean to accurately hear from God. Since hearing the audible voice of God calling her to ministry, she’s been called to intercede and pray for others in ministry as God speaks, instructs, directs and gives prophetic words for her to give to others. God promised He would bring her to sit and to learn before great men, all of which He did!

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