He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Acts 11:24
“A good man, according to the doctrine of Scripture, is a follower of the blessed Jesus. He loves to imitate the bright example He hath given, “who went about doing good” [Acts 10:38]. He feels a deep concern for the salvation of immortal souls, and pities the many thousands of his fellow men, who are seeking death in the error of their ways. He is ever ready to sooth the sorrows of the afflicted, and shows a tender sympathy toward the distressed. He learns of the Lamb of God, who was meek and lowly of heart, to exercise patience, submission, and humility, and although his fears are often many, and great, his hopes of pardon and acceptance with God, are ever derived from the vicarious sacrifice of the blessed Jesus, who made atonement by his blood to expiate our guilt; and also in His life “gave” us an example, that we should tread in “His steps” [1 Peter 2:21]. This was evidently the character of Barnabas: he recommended the gospel in his life, as well as in his doctrine — “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
George Ford in a funeral sermon he preached on 19 June 1796 for Rev. Samuel Brewer entitled, “The Good Man, and Faithful Minister, Made Eminently Useful” (London: W. Smith, 1796) 14-15.
I’m thrilled to be home to enjoy the weekend with my wife and to greet our house guests who arrived a couple days ago from Connecticut, Mark and Kate Whitsitt, along with their three growing children. I’m thankful for friends like Mark because like Barnabas, he is a good man, full of Holy Spirit and faith! Mark is visiting to check out Denver Seminary and thinking of moving his family to Colorado to attend. Like Ford put it, Mark’s “fears are often many” but he is “ever ready” to show love and service to others because of the “sacrifice of the blessed Jesus” for Him. Regardless of where God leads Mark and his family, I know He will follow in the steps of Christ, and because of that, a great number of people will be brought to the Lord.
What about you? Are you a good man or woman, full of faith and the Holy Spirit and leading others to the Lord? If that’s your desire but you feel like you need help to get off the proverbial sidelines and into the game, check out Good and Faithful: Ten Stewardship Lessons for Everyday Living. The videos stream there freely and you can get the study guide for yourself as an individual, to go through as a couple, or for your small group. I plan to give a copy to the Whitsitts as I know their whole family will go through it!