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How To Recognize Greatness
Discussing two types of people in the world one writer referred to them as basement and balcony people. Balcony people fill your tank and breathe life into you while basement people siphon life out of you. Barnabas is the patron saint of balcony people
"To encourage" appears more than a 100 times in the New Testament. After a fruitful ministry of encouragement, imagine what his funeral might have been like.
An old man speaks, it's the famous Apostle Paul. He says before I was saved I put Christians to death, after I was saved nobody trusted me. Then Barnabas put his arm around me, and said, "I'll vouch for him." I am here today because of Barnabas.
John Mark gets up, he is famous for writing the gospel. He admits I was a quitter, I ran from ministry. Barnabas didn't give up on me he took me under his wings and said, "I'll vouch for him." I'm here today because of Barnabas.
A Greek from Antioch says I was a lost pagan, I heard about Jesus and wanted in but I was not Jewish and could never fit in. Barnabas said Jesus came for a guys like me, he put his arm around me and said, "I'll vouch for him." I'm here today because of Barnabas.
An elderly unknown widow stands and says after my husband died I had not income or way to feed my young children. I lost everything then Barnabas sold some his property and gave the money so my children could have food. We are here today because of Barnabas.
Barnabas the encourager laid up treasured in heaven by using his gifts to call out greatness in others. In the kingdom, that's the face of greatness.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE GREATNESS
Acts 9:26–28
Balcony people fill your tank and breathe life into you.
Basement people siphon life out of you.
I. Barnabas Was a Balcony Person by Giving
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles called Barnabas, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:36 – 37 NIV
Names were descriptive of the person.
The disciples changed his name to Barnabas, which means, the son of encouragement.
II. Barnabas Was A Balcony Person By Showing Grace.
Balcony people believe you can change with God's help.
Barnabas took a risk for Paul and told the church Paul could be trusted!
III. Barnabas Was A Balcony Person By Serving.
God chose Antioch as the place to open the door of faith to Gentiles.
Greatness is not clawing your way to the top of recognition and fame.
Greatness is in recognizing and developing greatness in somebody else.
IV. Barnabas Was A Balcony Person By Developing Others.
John Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary trip but left them mid trip.
When preparing for the second trip there was a dispute between Paul and Barnabas.
"Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them. But Paul did not think it was wise because he had deserted them …. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Acts 15:37-39 NIV
John Mark became an asset to the ministry, another tribute to the power of an encourager.
V. We Need To Be Balcony People for Each Other
"Encourage one another daily, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13
"Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as, in fact, you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Barnabas laid up treasured in heaven by using his gifts to call out greatness in others.
That is greatness!
