We have been conditioned in this generation to market and highlight ourselves. It’s not necessarily bad. There are pros and cons. We have been conditioned to want to be in the spotlight.

We often want to be the Pauls, Joshuas and Davids. But what if in our pursuit of becoming the leader, we are called to take a step back?

This was Barnabas. He was the man of the hour before Paul came on on the scene. He took Paul under his wing, though no one believed in Paul who was the persecutor of the church. Barnabas took a stand for Paul.

“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. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:26-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It started of as Barnabas being in the forefront and followed by Paul but as the book of Acts progressed, Paul took the lead role in leadership. Barnabas graciously took a step back.

He was a type of John the Baptist.

‭‭ “Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:25-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John rejoiced with the increase of Jesus and acknowledged that Jesus was the person of the hour, taking a step back.

What does it mean with being a friend of the Bridegroom? They are OK with being in place number 2 and shifting the spotlight to the Bridegroom.

John the Baptist was satisfied in hearing the voice of the Bridegroom and obeying Him in leading the people to the Bridegroom.

Similarly, Barnabas was led by the Bridegroom’s voice to nurture His bride in Paul. Barnabas had grace to obey the voice of the Bridegroom King.

Are we willing to be friends of the Bridegroom?

Lessons from Barnabas’ Life

1. He took risk with people, especially those who showed true repentance.

2. He was comfortable with serving as first in position or second in position.

3. He continued to be present and ready to serve even when his own role became less prominent.

Have a heart like Barnabas for others is having a heart like a father or mother for them. They don’t have envy or look to go into competition, looking to nurture and grow those around them instead.

It has nothing to do with age but loving those around us with the heart of a father and mother.

We are pursuing revival. One of the hindrances to revival can be envy. God wants to pour our His Spirit but He is calling us to to get rid of insecurity and envy in us (James 3: 13-16) that can cause revival to be a curse.

One of the keys to sustaining revival in a region is unity. One of the things to sustaining revival in a nation is unity among churches. What can heal a divided land is a united church.

Unity will cost us but may we be willing to pay the price. Unity within our house and unity with the churches in our region and nation.

Revival requires the united body of Christ.

When there is unity in the church, non believers will find safety and be amazed and come into the church (John 13:35). Our love for God and one another will draw people into the house of the Lord and the harvest of souls will come in.