1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,340 There's a brief but very important message 2 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:05,140 I would like to share with all of you today. 3 00:00:05,140 --> 00:00:07,380 And I have just one verse of scripture 4 00:00:07,380 --> 00:00:09,960 and I promise that if you will just track with me here 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,340 for a few moments in today's word 6 00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:14,900 that we'll make this as painless as possible. 7 00:00:14,900 --> 00:00:17,400 But I think God's gonna do something great 8 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:18,840 with the remaining time that we have. 9 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,640 First Corinthians, I'd like to read out of 10 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,640 First Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 33. 11 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,040 First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33. 12 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,240 I'm gonna invite you if you would be so kind 13 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,680 to stand with me just one more time, I promise. 14 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,720 And then you can be seated once again. 15 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,560 But in reverence to God's word, 16 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,420 we're just gonna read one verse. 17 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:41,920 First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33. 18 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,600 We've been in a sermon series called Faithful Stewards. 19 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,240 Faithful Stewards, we've looked at the stewardship 20 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,560 of our finances, the stewardship 21 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,000 of many different things of the truth. 22 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,360 But today we're gonna look at the stewardship 23 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,240 of a very important aspect of our life. 24 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,440 It reads this way, do not be deceived. 25 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:07,440 Evil company corrupts good habits. 26 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,840 Evil company corrupts good habits. 27 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,880 And then we're gonna look at another translation. 28 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:16,520 Same verse, different version. 29 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,000 It says, don't fool yourselves. 30 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,640 Bad friends will destroy you. 31 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,440 Bad friends will destroy you. 32 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,240 There's an old saying, I know many of you heard it. 33 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:34,240 Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. 34 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,000 Ever heard that before? 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,880 Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. 36 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,960 So my message today is show me your friends. 37 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:45,160 Show me your friends. 38 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,120 We're gonna pray one more time if you would like. 39 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:48,920 Father, I thank you for your word. 40 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,240 All that you've done in this service 41 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:51,920 has been awesome, beautiful God. 42 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:56,920 But Lord, we cannot leave without receiving direction 43 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,520 and without receiving this word from scripture, God. 44 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,280 So I pray that you would anoint my lips of clay, God. 45 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,480 That you would touch the ears and hearts of all 46 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,280 who are gathered today watching online 47 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:07,520 that they can receive this word 48 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,200 and be glad and rejoice in it, Lord. 49 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,440 That they would be edified, strengthened 50 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,640 in this very important aspect of their life. 51 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:18,600 In Jesus' name, amen. 52 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:19,960 Someone say amen. 53 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,680 Okay, you can be seated in the presence of God. 54 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:22,520 Thank you. 55 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,240 I want to talk about the stewardship of ties. 56 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,560 Ties, I'm not talking about these ties, neck ties, 57 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,920 but your friendship, your soul ties, the ties, 58 00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:35,400 the networks, the people that you are interacting with. 59 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,600 Scripture has much to say about this. 60 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,360 But before we dive deeper into what scripture has to say, 61 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,600 I read recently that you are the average 62 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,920 of the five people you spend the most time with. 63 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:50,660 Now you're gonna start thinking about 64 00:02:50,660 --> 00:02:52,840 those five people right now. 65 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,540 This suggests that the people we surround ourselves with 66 00:02:56,540 --> 00:03:01,540 greatly, greatly influence our thoughts, behaviors, 67 00:03:02,420 --> 00:03:06,960 and ultimately shape who we become. 68 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,680 And I think that this is true, 69 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,880 that while this is not a verse in scripture, 70 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,640 there is a fundamental universal truth about this, 71 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:17,800 that those that you spend the majority of your time with 72 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,400 will have an effect on who you are 73 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,320 and perhaps nobody understood this better 74 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,120 than the Apostle Paul. 75 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:26,320 So for a few minutes today, 76 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,800 we're gonna get a little practical 77 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,680 as we're looking at relationships 78 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,080 through the lens of the Apostle Paul, 79 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,340 but there are some very powerful spiritual truths 80 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:36,180 along the way. 81 00:03:36,180 --> 00:03:37,760 Now, the Apostle Paul, who is he? 82 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,520 We know him as an apostle, right? 83 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,120 We know him as a missionary, as a church planter, 84 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,660 as a prolific writer and preacher of the gospel, 85 00:03:47,660 --> 00:03:49,240 the Apostle Paul. 86 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,240 Thankfully, I don't have to do a lot 87 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:52,920 by way of introduction of who he is 88 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,720 because we've heard his name before. 89 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,200 He is one of the most famous figures in all the Bible, 90 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,840 especially in the New Testament. 91 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,960 But Paul, for as great of a man as he was, 92 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,360 what I hope to convey to you today is that 93 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,720 I don't think he ever would have reached the heights 94 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,760 he did in his ministry and in his life, 95 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,520 his potential or helped others reach theirs 96 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,480 without having the right people in his life. 97 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,520 I think that Paul is a testament to the fact 98 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,680 that who you surround yourself with, 99 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,340 the people that you let into your inner circle, 100 00:04:28,340 --> 00:04:30,500 the people that you let influence you, 101 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,080 the people you connect with, 102 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,720 have an effect on who you become, 103 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,100 and there is a very spiritual component to this. 104 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:42,320 It could have an effect on your spiritual destiny. 105 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,960 In Paul's example, we can, I think, 106 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,200 reduce the number of people from five to three. 107 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,220 Now, I think five people is a good number, 108 00:04:51,220 --> 00:04:53,680 but we're only gonna look at three today, 109 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,840 three types of friends, three types of relationship, 110 00:04:57,840 --> 00:04:59,800 because looking at Paul's life, 111 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,100 he had a lot of relationships. 112 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:03,360 You read his letters, his epistles, 113 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,980 you'll see him reference different men 114 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:08,000 who co-labored with him, 115 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,960 who worked alongside him in various capacities. 116 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,960 Paul was a people person, 117 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,360 and he knew how to recruit different men 118 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,320 and work with them in the spreading of the gospel, 119 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,360 but he had three, three essential friends. 120 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:27,320 Their names were Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy, 121 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,040 and each of these men represent a type of friendship 122 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:36,040 that God will send into your life for a specific purpose. 123 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,840 So Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy, 124 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,480 three men in Paul's life that had a great impact 125 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,000 on him becoming the apostle that he was 126 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,600 and him helping others fulfill their potential as well, 127 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,920 their spiritual potential. 128 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,760 So we wanna look at these three relationships, 129 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,200 because I think today that every one of us 130 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,720 needs to examine our relationships 131 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:05,720 and hopefully identify or look for who that Barnabas, 132 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,000 that Silas, or that Timothy is in our life, 133 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,040 because if you wanna be the well-rounded person 134 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,680 that God has designed you to be, 135 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,280 then these three people are essential 136 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:18,920 for you becoming that. 137 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,040 So let's start with this man named Barnabas. 138 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,000 You need a Barnabas. 139 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,560 What is a Barnabas? 140 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:31,560 A Barnabas is an advisor or a mentor. 141 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,880 In Acts chapter nine, we see Paul, 142 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,120 who was once a fierce persecutor of the church, 143 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,960 also known as Saul of Tarsus. 144 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,760 For the majority of his life, they knew him as Saul, 145 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,160 and that was the name that he was called on, 146 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,040 but he is also known as Paul. 147 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,200 And for the majority of his life, 148 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,800 he spent persecuting the church, 149 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,640 trying to do everything he could 150 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,880 to derail the progression, the growth of the church. 151 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:06,880 But then God did a work in his life, 152 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,600 and he met him on that one road to Damascus 153 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,840 where he encountered the shining light 154 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,160 and knocked him off his horse, as many of us know, 155 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,840 and he was converted to Christianity, 156 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,160 and he began to follow Jesus. 157 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,880 And when he was trying to join the disciples 158 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,920 after his conversion, many of the disciples, 159 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:26,960 the followers of Christ, 160 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,920 were very apprehensive about this guy. 161 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:29,760 They're like, wait a minute, 162 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,720 isn't this the same guy who caused us 163 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,640 all the grief and trouble? 164 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,360 Isn't it the same guy who was breathing murderous threats 165 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,920 on the church, who threatened to stifle us, 166 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,640 and who threatened to put us in jail? 167 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,680 And this is a bloodthirsty man. 168 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,760 And this was the memory, 169 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,760 this was the dominant thought in their mind 170 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,200 about who Saul or Paul was prior to his conversion. 171 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,880 Now, this was a very dramatic conversion, 172 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,160 and the disciples were just wary of him. 173 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,280 They were not quite sure that this thing was for real, 174 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,800 that this man had actually changed, 175 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:14,480 and they had serious reservations about this man, Paul, 176 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,400 who supposedly had a come to Jesus, 177 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,600 like a real come to Jesus moment, 178 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,760 and they wanted, and now he wants to be accepted 179 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:29,400 in the fold, and so they were divided about this. 180 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,160 The leaders of the church were not quite sure, 181 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:33,880 can we trust this guy? 182 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,520 Can we really trust him? 183 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:36,920 Can we let him in the fold? 184 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,120 Can we break bread with him? 185 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,920 Is he really one of us, or is this some kind of game? 186 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,680 Is he an insurgent? 187 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:50,680 Is he trying to come in on the inside and destroy us? 188 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:55,680 Is he even qualified to be one of us as a teacher, 189 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,040 as a preacher of the God? 190 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,240 So they're having this very robust debate 191 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,440 within the church, the early church, 192 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,320 about this man, Paul, and so they're not quite sure 193 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,400 if they're ready for him to come in. 194 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,720 He's got a checkered past, 195 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,920 and everyone knows his notorious reputation, 196 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:20,240 and perhaps his conversion was just too dramatic 197 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,640 of a shift for their minds to process, 198 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:27,000 but it was in this moment where this man named Barnabas 199 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,040 decided that he would step in, 200 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,800 and he took Paul under his wing, 201 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,440 and you know what Barnabas did? 202 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,800 Barnabas vouched for Paul when no one else would. 203 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,640 Barnabas stood in between Paul and his naysayers 204 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,120 and said, listen, guys, 205 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,280 I know whatever it is you think about him, 206 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,000 yes, he had a bad past, 207 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,440 yes, we know these things are true, 208 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,480 but I am here to vouch for this man 209 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,920 and tell you that he is a changed man, 210 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,520 and I have seen the testimony, 211 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,720 I have seen God do a work in his life, 212 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,800 and so he stood there and he vouched for him. 213 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,280 He put his own reputation, 214 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,000 I want you to understand what Barnabas does. 215 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,800 He puts his own reputation on the line for this guy 216 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,640 that he himself hardly knew. 217 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,640 Barnabas hardly knew Paul, 218 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,720 but he had been around him just enough to realize 219 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,960 that this man had been changed and transformed 220 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:23,760 by the power of God, 221 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,840 and we read in Acts chapter nine in verse 27, 222 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,040 it says this, but Barnabas took him 223 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,640 and brought him to the apostles, 224 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:37,640 and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road 225 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,640 and how he had spoken to him 226 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,760 and how he had preached boldly at Damascus 227 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,720 in the name of Jesus. 228 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,400 Barnabas says, look, Paul, 229 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,160 I'm gonna go out on a limb for you, buddy, okay? 230 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,000 I'm gonna stick my neck out for you, Paul, 231 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,840 because Paul, I believe in you. 232 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,440 I believe in you, Paul. 233 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,920 I see something in you, Paul. 234 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,080 I see something in you that others don't see, 235 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,440 so I'm gonna stick my neck out for you 236 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,560 and I'm gonna face criticism for it. 237 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:10,960 They're gonna think that I've lost my mind, 238 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,680 but I'm gonna stick my neck out for you, Paul, 239 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:15,120 because I see something. 240 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,280 Now, why would someone do that? 241 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,600 I'll tell you why, because Barnabas, his name, 242 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,440 his name has a special meaning. 243 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,600 It means the son of encouragement. 244 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,640 You see, Barnabas was an encourager. 245 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,920 He was the son of encouragement. 246 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,480 He had encouragement within him, 247 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,400 and he was encouraging Paul. 248 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,440 Paul, I know they're saying this and they're saying that, 249 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,760 and there's rumors that are circulating 250 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,240 among the top brass of the church, 251 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,160 but Paul, you need to know that I'm here to encourage you, 252 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,600 Paul, you need to pursue your calling, 253 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,600 you need to do what God has called you to do, 254 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,280 and this is exactly what, and he wouldn't give up on him. 255 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:57,760 He would not give up on him. 256 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:02,520 In Acts chapter 11, Barnabas, again, he went to Tarshish 257 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,040 for the specific purpose of finding Paul 258 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,040 and bringing him with him. 259 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,400 He went and he sought him out, 260 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,520 and he began to look for Paul, 261 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:16,920 and then he takes Paul with him to a city called Antioch, 262 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,760 and in Antioch, both Paul and Barnabas there 263 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,200 worked together side by side, 264 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:28,120 and for a whole year, Barnabas took Paul under his wing 265 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,880 and he mentored him, and he allowed Paul to shadow him 266 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:37,800 and to, and allow him into his life, into his world. 267 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,720 He said, no, no, Paul, that's not how you do it. 268 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:40,920 This is how you do it. 269 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,320 Oh, okay, and he was his, he followed him in that way. 270 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:45,520 Let me tell you something. 271 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,640 If we're ever going to reach our potential in God 272 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,240 and in life, we need a Barnabas in our life 273 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,720 who's gonna believe in us. 274 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:56,800 Amen, somebody. 275 00:12:58,040 --> 00:12:59,160 Why do you need a Barnabas? 276 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:00,000 Let me tell you why. 277 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,520 You need a Barnabas because a Barnabas is someone 278 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,280 who believes in you when others don't. 279 00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:08,240 They see your potential. 280 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,440 They see things in you that, quite honestly, 281 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,360 you may not even see in yourself. 282 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,240 They call, they speak things in you 283 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,760 that you may not even feel and know yourself. 284 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:21,760 You're like, wow, you really see that in me? 285 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,160 And has someone ever spoken to you like that? 286 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:27,480 You don't believe them? 287 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,760 They're like, no, I see it in you. 288 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,920 You're a creator, you're this, you're that, 289 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,560 you've got a brilliant mind, and you have to convince, 290 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:39,680 you've got to talk them into who they really are. 291 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,000 And this is why you need a Barnabas 292 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,000 because if you don't have somebody in your life 293 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,320 that is bringing an opposing or a different point of view 294 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,760 into you, you might believe whatever lies or deceptions 295 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,640 or falsehoods about yourself, 296 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,960 self-reducing thoughts about your life, 297 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,240 but you need someone like a Barnabas. 298 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,440 You need a Barnabas because they are, number two, 299 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:08,440 mentors who can guide you through life's various challenges. 300 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,200 All the different challenges that come through life, 301 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,240 the spiritual and the practical, 302 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,680 they bring you into different challenges 303 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:19,480 and they help you find your way. 304 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,720 Because a Barnabas is someone, number two, 305 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,760 show number two there, a Barnabas helps you 306 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,640 bring through challenges, they guide you. 307 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,400 The reason they can guide you is because most times 308 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,720 they've already been there. 309 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,880 They've already been there. 310 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:39,000 They're further along in the process than you are. 311 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,160 You know what they've done? 312 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:44,080 They've climbed the hill that you're on right now. 313 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,240 They've already slayed the giant 314 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,040 that you've been fighting with. 315 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,480 You need people like that in your life. 316 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,720 My God, you need people like that in your life. 317 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,120 You need people of faith and people of courage to say, 318 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,160 you know what, this thing you're fighting right now, 319 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,280 let me tell you this, I've got the scars to show, 320 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:05,280 I've got the medals to prove that I've already conquered that 321 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,240 and if I did it, you can do it too. 322 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,440 You need people to speak faith into you 323 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,080 and shake you out of your negative thinking 324 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,600 and tell you it's gonna be all right, amen. 325 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,200 I need a Barnabas, how about you? 326 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:23,200 Number three, they help you step into your calling. 327 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,120 Every one of you is called, every one of you. 328 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,440 No one shows up into this world without a calling 329 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,640 on their life, whether they reach it or not is the question, 330 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,560 but God has called each and every one of us 331 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:41,120 that are here today and a Barnabas can give you the wisdom 332 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,280 and the knowledge you need to fulfill your God given calling. 333 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:50,280 So let us not overlook the influence and the impact 334 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,640 that a Barnabas can have in your life. 335 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,440 They could be a family member, but not always. 336 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,240 They can be someone outside of it. 337 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,240 In fact, sometimes it's good to have someone outside 338 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,680 of the family who can talk to you this way 339 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,760 because then you know they're gonna be completely objective 340 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,680 and unbiased about what they see in you and what they, 341 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,320 because sometimes even your own family members, 342 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,160 they have you pigeonholed in a certain thing, 343 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,280 well, I just always thought you were gonna be this 344 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:15,480 and they have a hard time accepting 345 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,040 what God's really called you to be 346 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,920 and so sometimes you need an outside voice, 347 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,880 a Barnabas to say, no, this, I'm here to tell you 348 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,320 and encourage you that you're an apostle, Paul. 349 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,400 You're not just Saul of Tarsus anymore. 350 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,080 You've got a greater destiny in your life. 351 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,560 So you need a Barnabas and number two, 352 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,120 this brings us after you have an advisor, a mentor, 353 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,400 you need a Silas. 354 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:38,640 You need a Silas. 355 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:39,880 Someone say Silas. 356 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,240 Silas is an important figure that we need, 357 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:45,840 important relationship in our life. 358 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:47,440 He is an associate. 359 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,240 So you need an advisor and you need an associate 360 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,400 or a companion. 361 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,520 See, a Barnabas is someone that walks before you, 362 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,920 but a Silas is someone that walks besides you. 363 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:02,520 Barnabas is not always gonna be there 364 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,000 through like every battle, okay? 365 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,960 Barnabas has got like other stuff he's gotta do too, you know? 366 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:09,640 You're not the only one, maybe he's mentoring. 367 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,840 He might be helping somebody else out, 368 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:16,840 but a Silas is somebody who will stick to you like glue. 369 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,640 So you gotta be careful who you choose. 370 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:21,480 Amen. 371 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,480 Silas came into Paul's life at a crucial time, 372 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,160 at a crucial time during one of his, 373 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,600 it was actually his second missionary journey. 374 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,160 And we read in Acts chapter 15 and verse 40, 375 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,920 but Paul chose, watch this, Paul chose, 376 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,680 because you have to, you gotta choose them sometimes. 377 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,600 You don't just wait for them to come into your life. 378 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,280 Oh, you just stumbled into my life. 379 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,400 That's not always gonna happen like that. 380 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,960 Sometimes you gotta seek it out. 381 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,480 Sometimes you gotta seek it out, he chose Silas 382 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,280 and they departed being commended by the brethren 383 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:55,400 to the grace of God. 384 00:17:55,400 --> 00:18:00,040 Silas came alongside Paul when he needed a fresh start 385 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,800 and he needed a companion who would share his passion 386 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,200 and his commitment. 387 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,640 Here's the thing about a Silas, 388 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,240 and this is why you have to be careful who your Silas is. 389 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,320 Not everyone in your life is qualified to be your Silas. 390 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:15,600 I don't care, you can get along, 391 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:16,440 you can do a lot of things, 392 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,000 and say, hey man, we like the same team 393 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:19,440 or we don't like the same food. 394 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,640 It's gotta be deeper than that. 395 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,080 It's got to be deeper than that. 396 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,800 It's not just, you know, we get along. 397 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,960 We get along, you can get along with a lot of people, 398 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,400 but that doesn't mean they're your Silas. 399 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,760 The Silas in your life is the person who can challenge you. 400 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,040 Amen, somebody. 401 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,920 The Silas in your life is the person who comes alongside you 402 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,160 and like iron sharpens iron, 403 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,600 is able to encourage or push you, 404 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,440 but be there with you along the way. 405 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:53,520 When Paul and Silas came together as friends 406 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:54,960 and they started this journey together, 407 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,240 I'm not sure that either one of them 408 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,280 knew where this friendship would take them, 409 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,880 but what a wild ride it was. 410 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,120 What a wild ride it was. 411 00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:04,360 I don't know if either one of them knew 412 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:06,040 what they were signing up for, 413 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,040 but when they went on that journey together, 414 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,920 they were in it together. 415 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,280 One most notable story of their friendship 416 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:15,800 is found in Acts chapter 16, 417 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,760 where the Bible says that they were jailed 418 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,720 for praying for a girl who was freed from an evil spirit. 419 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,080 Paul and Silas, they were ministry partners. 420 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,480 They shared a passion for the gospel. 421 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,640 They shared a passion for apostolic ministry. 422 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,200 And so the two of them were working side by side 423 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,680 and they happened to come upon this girl 424 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,560 who was possessed by an evil spirit. 425 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:39,960 And when they ministered to her, 426 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:41,920 she was set free from that spirit, 427 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,240 but the people who were profiting off of her, 428 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,520 because she was a fortune teller 429 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,800 and there were men that were profiting, 430 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,240 she was really a slave to them, 431 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,520 she was being human trafficked in that way, 432 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,760 and so she was set free from that. 433 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,440 And they didn't like it because it put them out of business. 434 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,360 They were making money off of this girl. 435 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,800 Well, she's free and it caused a ruckus among these people 436 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,240 and they got Paul and Silas thrown in jail. 437 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,440 So imagine this, Paul and Silas went from the mountain top 438 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,160 to the valley in a matter of moments. 439 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,840 They went from being like the talk of the town 440 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,040 to having their name on a wanted poster. 441 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:26,840 They went from being apostolic ministry 101. 442 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,240 I mean, they went from just doing great things 443 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,280 and all of a sudden they found themselves public enemy, 444 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,520 number one, and now they're in jail. 445 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,840 But what I like about this tandem, 446 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:42,320 what I like about this duo, this Paul and Silas, 447 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,280 these two associates, is that through the ups 448 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,040 and through the downs, they did not abandon each other. 449 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,200 They did not abandon each other. 450 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,840 And this is what the Bible says in Acts 16, 451 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,520 watch this, it said already, as they were in jail, 452 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,840 this has got to be one of the lowest points 453 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:03,160 in both of their lives, 454 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:04,920 but we're focusing on Paul here, right? 455 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,480 This got to be the lowest point in Paul's life. 456 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,200 They're now in jail, what are they going to do? 457 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,120 But the Bible says, but at midnight, 458 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:15,960 Paul and Silas were, what were they doing? 459 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:18,280 Oh, come on now, what were they doing? 460 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,080 They were praying, they weren't complaining. 461 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,640 They weren't talking about how woe is me. 462 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,680 They were praying and they were singing hymns to God. 463 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:29,960 You need to find, you know who your Silas is? 464 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:31,920 The person that will pray with you, 465 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,280 that will praise with you. 466 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,560 They're your prayer partner, they're your praise partner. 467 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,640 They're the people that'll stay with you 468 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,320 in the thick and the thin. 469 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:46,320 And they were, and the prisoners were listening to them. 470 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:50,320 This is what we need in our life. 471 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,280 If you're gonna make it, if you're gonna make it, 472 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:54,080 if you're gonna endure to the end, 473 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,680 if you're gonna be all that God has called you to be, 474 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,160 if you're gonna steward your relationships, right? 475 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,080 You need a Silas. 476 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:02,560 Why do you need a Silas? 477 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:07,040 Number one, a Silas is a peer who walks alongside you 478 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,200 in your journey of faith. 479 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,200 They refuse to let you walk alone. 480 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,360 They are agreeable and they are available. 481 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,040 Bible tells us in Amos, Book of Amos chapter three 482 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,120 and verse three, can two walk together 483 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:27,120 unless they are agreed. 484 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:30,960 That's your Silas. 485 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,080 Your Silas is that person that walks with you, 486 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,680 alongside you, and they refuse to let you alone. 487 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,840 They're, like I said, they're like glue, 488 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,440 they're like Velcro, they're there with you. 489 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:46,320 And this brings me to the second reason 490 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,840 why you need a Silas is that they help you stay strong 491 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,960 during trials, encouraging you to press on. 492 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:55,560 You need people like that, 493 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,280 that are not gonna let you give up. 494 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,120 Hmm, my Lord. 495 00:22:59,120 --> 00:22:59,960 Oh, help me, Lord. 496 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:01,360 You need people in your life 497 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:03,000 that are not gonna let you give up, 498 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,360 that are not gonna let you throw in the towel, 499 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:10,200 that are gonna be there to support you, to encourage you. 500 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,680 Let me tell you, in the day of Facebook and Instagram 501 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,720 of a bunch of disposable friendships 502 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:17,240 and people that are falling in and out 503 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:18,920 of friendship nowadays, you know, 504 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:20,280 they, you know, you say one thing 505 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:21,840 and then now they're not your friend 506 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,240 and then they block you, you know, or they unfriend you. 507 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,240 Man, I don't know, that's kind of a new kind of thing 508 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,360 in our day and age, 509 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:32,080 but in an age where kind of people just are still flipping 510 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:33,280 with their friendship, 511 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,440 you need to watch out for fair-weather friends, 512 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:37,720 those friends in your life 513 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,800 that'll only be your friend when you agree with them, 514 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,360 that'll only be your friend when things are going good, 515 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:46,720 that'll only be your friend, oh my God, 516 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:48,280 when things are going well, 517 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,520 but the Bible tells us in Proverbs 17, 17, 518 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:55,240 that a friend loves at all times. 519 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:56,880 At all times. 520 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,240 At all times, someone say all times. 521 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,600 All times, that's right. 522 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,440 You gotta watch out for those fair-weather friends 523 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:06,840 who, you know, who just, 524 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,400 and you know the type, right? 525 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,200 They just show up, ooh, you got that promotion, 526 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,200 they wanna know where we're going for lunch. 527 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:16,440 Where were you when I lost my job? 528 00:24:17,780 --> 00:24:19,280 When I needed some help? 529 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,480 Man, I was sending subliminal messages 530 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,280 and you just ghosted me on Instagram, you know? 531 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,280 Where were you then? 532 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,840 And they wanna ride, it seems, 533 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,160 now that you're doing better, 534 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,400 now they wanna maybe ride the coattails, you know? 535 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,600 No, a silas will be with you 536 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,320 when everyone loves you and likes you 537 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,480 and they'll be with you 538 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,800 when you might be the most unpopular person. 539 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,880 You can't buy a friend. 540 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:49,840 They say, you're stuck with me. 541 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,000 They're your ride or die. 542 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:52,920 I'm with you. 543 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:54,600 We're gonna make this, we're friends till the end. 544 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:55,840 And this was a silas. 545 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:57,600 They are friends, number three, 546 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,600 they are friends who push you to be better 547 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,800 and they also hold you accountable. 548 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,360 Say, hey, you said we were gonna do this and that, 549 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:09,320 but now you're not doing it. 550 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,000 What's up? 551 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,560 Oh man, I thought we were friends. 552 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:13,920 Well, yeah, I'm your friend. 553 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,240 I'm holding you accountable. 554 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,040 We said we were gonna do this together. 555 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:19,720 What happened? 556 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,880 Oh man, yeah, you know, I gotta get mad. 557 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:23,040 And vice versa. 558 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,920 And then in the next season, the tables will turn. 559 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,720 And then it'll be you telling them, hey, come on, 560 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,520 let's do this together. 561 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,880 Pick up your head, get your chin off the floor. 562 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,960 Come on, we've gotta do something for God. 563 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:37,720 We've gotta do things for the Lord. 564 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,880 We, you know, the life's too short for this stuff. 565 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,600 Real friends, don't just go along to get along. 566 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:44,440 Well, I don't wanna say nothing 567 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:45,760 because then it's gonna make it awkward. 568 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,240 No, make it awkward. 569 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:49,960 I don't wanna say it's gonna make it awkward. 570 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:52,160 And then, you know, then it's gonna change things. 571 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,280 Maybe that's what your friendship means. 572 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:55,800 It needs to get real. 573 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:57,080 It needs to get awkward. 574 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:58,880 It needs to get a little uncomfortable 575 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,760 because what good is a friend 576 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,480 if they're never gonna speak the truth and love? 577 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,480 What good is a friend if they're just gonna walk? 578 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,880 Does a friend let a friend just walk off a cliff? 579 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,280 So, oh, but they're happy. 580 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,480 Let them be happy as they walk off a cliff. 581 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:16,640 What? 582 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,000 I don't want people like that in my life. 583 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,240 I want people to say, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. 584 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:22,320 Even if you get upset, 585 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,360 you go ahead and get upset with me right now. 586 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:26,480 You might think I'm your enemy. 587 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,200 You may not like me for a season, 588 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,000 but it's because I love you 589 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,840 and I said I've got your back 590 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:33,680 and I said I was gonna pray for you 591 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,880 and I said I was gonna praise with you. 592 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:37,520 Oh, thanks be to God. 593 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:38,360 Hallelujah. 594 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:41,680 No, that's truthful. 595 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:42,600 That's honesty. 596 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,880 And Paul had a silas in his life. 597 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,280 Who's your silas? 598 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:48,400 Who's your silas? 599 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,480 I wouldn't be here today if I didn't have a Barnabas 600 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,640 and if I didn't have a Silas in my life. 601 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,880 And sometimes, sometimes Silas is my change. 602 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,400 If you're blessed to have a friend, 603 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,240 a lifelong friend all your life who said, 604 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,920 well, praise God, but sometimes it comes in waves 605 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,160 and then you may have a Silas in one season 606 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,920 that is different in another season of life. 607 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,360 But as long as you have that person 608 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:16,040 or those people who will push you along. 609 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,080 So build and steward those friendships. 610 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:20,640 Treat them well. 611 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:25,280 Build each other up who share your values and your mission. 612 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,800 And I said, not just anybody can be your Silas. 613 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,000 There has to be somebody who shares a common value, 614 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,280 a common mission. 615 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,720 The Bible says that do not be unequally yoked 616 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,040 with unbelievers. 617 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:40,600 So you gotta get a believer, 618 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:42,360 a person of faith in your life 619 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:45,120 that shares the same passion that you have 620 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:47,240 for the things of the Lord, amen. 621 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,040 So these relationships will encourage you to keep the faith. 622 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,880 And here's the third, here's the third, 623 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,960 because this is where we're gonna bring it home right here. 624 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,960 Amen, can you give me just a few more moments, amen? 625 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,720 Is the third, number three is that you need a Timothy. 626 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:03,360 You need a Timothy. 627 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,400 Okay, so let me put it on perspective for you. 628 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,160 You can have a Barnabas, praise God, wonderful. 629 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:12,160 Have a mentor and advisor. 630 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:13,800 You can have a Silas, you're ride or die, 631 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,000 the person who's there with you. 632 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,280 Great, but my question is, after an advisor, 633 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,640 after an associate, do you have an apprentice? 634 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,540 Someone who you are discipling. 635 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,360 Paul's relationship with a young man named Timothy 636 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:36,160 is one of the most powerful examples of mentorship 637 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:37,840 in the Bible. 638 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,540 Timothy was more than just a friend. 639 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:43,880 He was Paul's protege. 640 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,960 He was his spiritual son. 641 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:49,760 Their bond was special. 642 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:54,760 It began when Paul met him in a little town called Lystra 643 00:28:55,900 --> 00:28:57,400 in Acts chapter 16. 644 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:03,360 And Paul recognized something in Timothy. 645 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:09,920 He saw the sincere faith in him that had been deposited 646 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:14,920 in him from his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. 647 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:21,440 Timothy was a young man who had an excellent reputation 648 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,760 in the church, who had made a great impression 649 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,760 upon the believers, young and old. 650 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,560 And Paul saw this young man and said, 651 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,820 man, that kid's got something. 652 00:29:31,820 --> 00:29:32,660 That kid's got something. 653 00:29:32,660 --> 00:29:36,200 There's something about him, something special. 654 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:41,200 And so Paul sought him out and he, just like Barnabas, 655 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,240 watch how this thing comes to full circle. 656 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:50,560 Just like Barnabas put his arm around Paul, 657 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,360 took him under his wing. 658 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:56,920 Now Paul is paying it forward by taking Timothy 659 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:58,560 under his wing. 660 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,480 And it continues from there. 661 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:06,680 And he begins to pour into him. 662 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,920 And he takes him on a missionary trip 663 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,160 and he starts to mold him. 664 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,160 He starts to disciple him. 665 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:19,160 He starts to train him up in the ministry. 666 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:23,760 He starts to train him into being an apostolic preacher 667 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,040 of the gospel. 668 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,480 And their relationship blossomed to the point 669 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:32,480 that Paul called him in 1 Timothy 1-2 a true son in the faith. 670 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,880 He said, Timothy, you're like a son to me. 671 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,200 I'm not, you know, he wasn't trying to replace 672 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,360 his biological father in any way. 673 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:44,920 Timothy had a father. 674 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:46,680 But he said, you're like a son to me. 675 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:47,980 That's how I love you. 676 00:30:47,980 --> 00:30:51,440 That's how invested I am into you. 677 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:55,840 That's how committed I am to this relationship. 678 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,480 And so Paul began to invest in him. 679 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:00,120 Why do you need a Timothy? 680 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,000 Let me tell you why before I close. 681 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,520 A Timothy is someone you pour into. 682 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:11,880 A younger or newer believer who looks up to you. 683 00:31:13,180 --> 00:31:16,000 Can you imagine what Timothy felt like 684 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,540 when the Apostle Paul, like the great Apostle Paul 685 00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:20,720 took notice of him? 686 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:23,480 Can you imagine what that did for his self-esteem? 687 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,400 Can you imagine what that did for Timothy? 688 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:29,260 Like, you want to mentor me? 689 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,880 That must have just, that must have made 690 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:35,600 such a strong impression on him 691 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,480 because Paul had taken that time to bring him under. 692 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,980 This is someone who is teachable. 693 00:31:42,980 --> 00:31:45,120 So how do I know if this is Timothy? 694 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:46,700 Well, do they listen or not? 695 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:49,720 Are they open-minded? 696 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,720 Or do they act like I know it all? 697 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:57,720 There have been people in my life who I have wanted to, 698 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,680 at different points, bring in as a Timothy. 699 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:03,600 But one of the things that tell me is, 700 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:05,280 at least you're not my Timothy, 701 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,880 is that when you have a know-it-all attitude already, 702 00:32:09,140 --> 00:32:12,500 if you are already a mister or a missus know-it-all, 703 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:13,600 guess what? 704 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:15,320 You might have to go through some experiences 705 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,120 to realize that you actually don't know it all, 706 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,320 but until then, you can't be a Timothy. 707 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:23,000 A Timothy has to have a mind like a sponge 708 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,040 and be ready to absorb what it is that you're telling him 709 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:30,040 and be teachable and moldable and correctable in that way. 710 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:33,560 This relationship, number two, reinforces your own learning. 711 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:34,560 You know what I've discovered 712 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:36,400 about having a Timothy in my life 713 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,240 is that it forces me to stay sharp. 714 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:44,360 You don't realize how slack and how, oh, 715 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,760 how stale you've become in your own faith, 716 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,200 in your own walk with God, 717 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,920 until you have to start molding and mentoring someone else. 718 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,000 Because you're like, wow, I thought I knew it. 719 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:54,920 And I have to go back. 720 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:55,760 You know why? 721 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:56,580 Can I tell you? 722 00:32:56,580 --> 00:32:57,420 They start asking you questions 723 00:32:57,420 --> 00:32:58,960 that you don't have the answers to. 724 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,560 You're like, uh, and that's a little embarrassing at first. 725 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,560 You're like, man, I'm supposed to know this. 726 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,720 And then you say, well, let me get back to you 727 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:10,580 and I'll tell you. 728 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:13,240 And if you've got a good relationship with them, 729 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:14,920 they'll let you do just that. 730 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:16,600 But it keeps you sharp. 731 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:17,980 There's been times in my life 732 00:33:17,980 --> 00:33:21,320 where I've had to say, let me get back to you on that. 733 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:23,360 And it forces me to stay fresh. 734 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,720 It keeps you from becoming stagnant. 735 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:28,920 And so if you have a Barnabas, praise be to God. 736 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:29,760 God bless you. 737 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,080 If you have a Silas, God bless you. 738 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:33,260 Who's your Timothy? 739 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:35,520 Who's the person that you're, 740 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,700 that new or young believer that you are pouring into, 741 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:43,440 amen, to help you stay fresh in your own faith? 742 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:47,800 Number three, it fulfills the biblical mandate 743 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,120 to go and make disciples. 744 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:54,880 I'll invite the musicians to come up here, but listen, 745 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:57,320 this is what it all comes down to. 746 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:00,880 God has given each and every one of us a mandate to go. 747 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:01,720 Did he not? 748 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:02,760 Someone say, amen. 749 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,960 He gave us a mandate to go and make disciples. 750 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,800 Finding and mentoring your Timothy 751 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:11,680 is about fulfilling the great commission 752 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:16,440 to go therefore in all the world and make disciples. 753 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,640 Baptizing them in the name of the Father, 754 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:20,240 the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 755 00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:22,640 teaching them to observe all things. 756 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:23,640 What is this about? 757 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:24,680 Can I tell you? 758 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:26,040 Someone say, what is it about? 759 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:28,800 It's about tomorrow. 760 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:32,300 It's about the future. 761 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:38,680 It fulfills the divine call to pass the baton. 762 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,760 God forbid that we live and die 763 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,880 with the baton still in our hands. 764 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:49,240 God forbid that we go through our life 765 00:34:49,240 --> 00:34:54,240 never passing the torch to someone else 766 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,640 and say, now you take it even further. 767 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:07,640 You go places where not even I could have gone. 768 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:10,120 But what I'm describing here 769 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,760 is gonna require a commitment from you. 770 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:17,760 See, it's like many Christians, they love the idea. 771 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:23,760 They're sold out to the idea of taking a Timothy 772 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:25,880 and discipling somebody. 773 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,720 But when the rubber actually meets the road, 774 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:33,600 and now it's gonna inconvenience your life 775 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,840 in some big way, 776 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:36,680 and now it's gonna, 777 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,360 because you're gonna have to pay for them to eat sometimes. 778 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:40,680 You're gonna have to talk to them. 779 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:42,600 You're gonna have to invest in them. 780 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,440 Oh my God. 781 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:49,440 And it's like, that's where it gets difficult. 782 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,480 That's what, I don't know. 783 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:54,480 But I am here the last time 784 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:58,040 but I am here the Lord sent me here today to tell you, 785 00:35:58,040 --> 00:35:59,920 it's worth it. 786 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:02,680 It's worth it. 787 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,400 It's worth it to pass that baton. 788 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,880 If it's your children, absolutely. 789 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:10,040 You pass that baton to your children. 790 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:11,080 Outside of your children, 791 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,120 there are other people in your life that God, 792 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:18,120 let me tell you as I close that every Joshua needs a Moses. 793 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,080 Every Ruth needs a Naomi. 794 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,080 Every Elijah needs an Elisha. 795 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,440 Needs someone who's gonna show them the ropes. 796 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:33,520 Show them this is how you serve the Lord. 797 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:35,960 I invite you to stand with me here today. 798 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:37,880 Can we give God a hand, praise. 799 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,360 Thank you Jesus. 800 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:41,200 Hallelujah. 801 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:42,040 Hallelujah. 802 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,480 Church of God, I implore you today friend, family member, 803 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:48,920 I employ all of you today. 804 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:50,080 I implore you today, 805 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:52,560 I employ all of you today, I implore you today 806 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,600 in the Holy Ghost that we must do our part. 807 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:59,240 But among all things, there is a friend this afternoon 808 00:36:59,240 --> 00:37:01,080 that fulfills every category. 809 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:04,640 There is a friend that's a friend of all friends. 810 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,720 There is a friend that if you would meet this friend today, 811 00:37:07,720 --> 00:37:10,120 if you would draw closer to this friend, 812 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:12,920 this is the friend that will lead you 813 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:16,200 into every other friendship that you need. 814 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:20,000 And his name is Jesus Christ. 815 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:24,040 Jesus is the ultimate friend. 816 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:28,280 He is the one that fulfills all these aspects 817 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:29,320 of true friendship. 818 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:32,880 Like Barnabas, he'll give you the wisdom that you need. 819 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:36,480 Like Silas, he'll stick closer to you than a brother. 820 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:40,800 And for the Timothes, he'll give you the wisdom 821 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,560 to raise up Timothes in your life. 822 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:46,440 I invite you today as we begin to pray, 823 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:51,440 I invite you today to start with Jesus. 824 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:52,600 Mm, mm, my God. 825 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:54,800 Start with the Lord Almighty. 826 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:56,800 He said, well, what kind of friend is God? 827 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,200 What kind of friend is he? 828 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:02,560 Jesus said, greater love has no man than this, 829 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:07,200 that to lay down one's life for his friend. 830 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:10,600 Let me tell you about the friend of all friends today. 831 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,720 Oh God, let me tell you about the friend who loves, 832 00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:19,440 the friend who gives, who laid down his life for us today. 833 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,120 If you can connect with this friend, 834 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:26,080 if you can connect with the one who told his disciples, 835 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:30,440 I no longer call you slaves or servants, but friends. 836 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,720 If you can connect with that one today, 837 00:38:33,720 --> 00:38:35,920 he will guide you into all truth. 838 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:39,240 He'll set you up with the right people in your life. 839 00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:41,800 He'll hook you up with the right relationships 840 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:43,640 and friendships in your life. 841 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:47,360 He'll bring you into the right spaces and places. 842 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:50,640 He'll open up a whole new world of possibilities 843 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:52,680 and he'll lead you all the way to heaven. 844 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:54,320 I invite you right there where you are. 845 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:56,040 If you wanna close your eyes, 846 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:58,200 if you wanna begin to pray with me, 847 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,360 in fact, I'm gonna open up this altar today 848 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,720 for anyone who would just wanna draw closer 849 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:05,520 in prayer to God, but I wanna pray, 850 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,280 hallelujah Jesus, hola, mayasha. 851 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:11,040 I wanna pray that somebody today 852 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:13,040 would draw closer to the friend of friends. 853 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:16,040 Come on, would you help me pray as we get ready to sing.