8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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Paul's heart for people
📖 Acts 15:36-36
Acts 15 - Series 3/Episode 03 - Sat, 09th May 2026 - Paul's heart for people - Acts 15:36-41 - THE SEPARATION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS - I Corinthians 9:22
Acts 15:36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."
Paul was eager to be in the field.
Teaching and preaching were a gift from God to Paul and Barnabas. Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. (26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. / Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Yet, they went much beyond their gifting.
Though they both were preachers, prophets and teachers, they were also specially gifted by the Holy Spirit for the work of being apostles, who were sent to far-flung places. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
The five-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit for the growth of the church are known. Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
As we look at these gifts and the lives of Paul and Barnabas, we realise that these are not straight-jacketed compartments of gifts. There is a great variety, overlap, and creativity involved in the operation of the spiritual gifts in God's dispensation.
Paul and Barnabas were prophets, preachers and teachers, but they had love for the churches. They were willing to travel to new places and establish churches. Paul was also a prolific writer. So, after some days in Antioch, they were ready to move again to connect with the churches.
Paul and Barnabas knew very clearly the purpose of all that they did. They were building people to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. To this end, they worked tirelessly, and they were willing to be stretched. I Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (7) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying-a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
As they preached, they made those who received the Lord into disciples of Christ. Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and *made many disciples*, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, This shows that they worked individually with people in discipling, mentoring and training them. Acts 14:22 *strengthening the souls of the disciples*, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Timothy is an example of a person whom Paul discipled. Acts 16:1-3 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. (2) He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. (3) Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
The exercise of these gifts was because of their love for people, desiring to see people grow to their fullness. Philippians 1:6-8 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (7) just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (8) For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Paul explains his ministry to King Agrippa. Acts 26:19-20 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, (20) but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Paul became all things to all people to save the lost. I Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
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