Acts 11:22,24: “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch… For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

In Acts 11:19-24, we read how the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas (‘Son of Encouragement’.) to encourage new believers in Antioch.

Barnabas had a ministry of bringing people together and became known as an encourager.

This man possessed 3 characteristics that every believer should have in their own lives.

1) He was “a good man.” To say that a person is ‘good’ is to affirm that his life is morally pure.
This means he was an easy-going, cheerful, open-hearted, gracious individual.

2) He was “full of the Holy Spirit.” This was his most important qualification.
In other words, Barnabas was a man who was continually receiving God’s wisdom, understanding, and love. That’s what being “full of the Holy Spirit” means in a very practical way.

The fruit of the Spirit that Paul (Saul) later wrote to the Galatians about was probably first observed in this man’s life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22).

Barnabas wasn’t like this solely because of his own easy going personality, but because he was constantly drawing on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

3) He was a man “of faith.” Most people mistakenly believe that faith is a feeling, something like a tremendous sense of expectation or excitement from within.

Biblical faith is a recognition that God has promised something; and since He is God we believe Him and act on that basis.
That’s what men and women of faith who get something done do.

We need good men and women today, who are Spirit filled, Spirit gifted, Spirit led, and deep faith.

Will we willingly offer ourselves to be such a man or a woman?

Jooley Mathew Z
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