The function of Gods Word is to build-up, lift-up, fix-up, encourage and bring us to the place of our inheritance. Knowing this to be the truth, I ask these questions. Why is it that as children of God, we find it so challenging to build-up, lift-up, and encourage each other? Why do we focus primarily on reaching our own personal places of inheritance? Too many times we reach our places of inheritance by tearing down, putting down and discouraging others along the way. Is it not time for us to make a collective effort so that we all can reach our inheritance with as few scars and bruises as possible? Do we not understand the basic rule of sowing and reaping? Do we not understand that when we build-up, lift-up, encourage and disciple others, we will reap priceless blessings? The Spirit of Christ is demonstrated in servanthood. In His serving Jesus always built-up, lifted-up, and encouraged people.

Jesus left behind an amazing servant called Barnabas. Barnabas lived what Jesus taught, and we need a better understanding of just who Barnabas was and how he lived. This knowing will change supernaturally how we serve others. John 13:17 says, If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Barnabas original name was Joseph. He was a Levite businessman with some wealth. We know this because his intimacy with Jesus led Barnabas to sell some of his land. He brought the money and placed it at the apostles feet. This money was to be used to help people in need. Barnabas showed us his liberality in regards to the needs of others. Barnabas possessed the heart of God. He was the only man in the whole bible that was labeled a good man full of faith. His faith was not only toward God, but also toward other people. Barnabas understood that God believes in people. We too must understand that God believes in us even when we do not believe in ourselves. As believers, we need to be like Barnabas. We should believe in the good things that we do, and stop majoring in the bad things.

The Song of Solomon 2:15 states that the little foxes spoil the vineyard. Lets examine two of the little foxes. These little foxes are blame and shame. Blame is so detrimental because it keeps us locked into where we were instead of where we are now. The blame game started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. As believers we must know that blame is a lie from the enemy that keeps us out of touch with our true selves.

Shame on the other hand is where blame goes. When we are made ashamed, it causes us to think that we are worse than we are. It makes us unable to see the good within us. We need to define ourselves by the truth we know in our own hearts. This is important because it shows generosity toward ourselves. Shame causes us to live a life of denial. Criticism we take to heart, but a compliment we will not accept. When we show love towards other people and ourselves, we are acting in the grace given to us in the Word of God.

Barnabas was a man who took Paul to the apostles before Paul was accepted. The name Saul means to tear down and the name Paul means to build up. Barnabas being prophetic was able to show love toward Paul before the world knew that the old Saul who tore down believers no longer existed. He knew that Pauls purpose was to build-up believers for all times. Barnabas loved Paul because Barnabas loved people. To be in the Ministry of Barnabas is to love those people that other people cannot stand or do not love.

Barnabas was the Son of Encouragement. He was a bridge that brought people toward each other. He was a Holy Ghost dealer and a person that other people were happy to see. Barnabas told people that they were something even when they did not deserve it. He could see the act of God in the lives of others. His ministry of lifting-up caused Paul to obtain the path to the inheritance that God had mapped out for him.

Jesus can use us when we operate in the Ministry of Barnabas because it exemplifies the attributes of Christ. Functioning in the Ministry of Barnabas causes us to encourage, lift-up, comfort and counsel others. We are continuously adding to the lives of others, and never detract from them. When we take the time to see the good in individuals in spite of all their faults, we get a clearer picture of who they truly are. We see victories instead of failures. We teach them to focus on successes, and to feel no blame or shame because of past failures. Everyone involved in this type of relationship has a direction that is focused on the future.

One exceptional quality of Barnabas was that he was able to have no jealousy over Pauls success in ministry. Barnabas started out as the leader of the two-man evangelistic and apostolic team. As he and Paul ministered together, Paul became the stronger of the two. Paul later went on to write a major part of the New Testament. Paul learned well from Barnabas because his scriptures are filled with building-up, lifting-up and encouraging the Body of Christ. They clearly teach us the direction that we must go in order to possess our place of inheritance. It is essential that we learn the following lessons in the body of Christ: 1.) We must let others lead after we have taught them; 2.) It must not matter to us that they are now the ones in the lead position; 3.) We must set aside envy, jealousy and competition.

I encourage each one of us to examine our motives on a regular basis by taking the following test.

TEST QUESTIONS: Circle Yes or No.