Book Summaries

Recently I heard a statement that caused me to really think. It went something to the affect of “It’s more important what you become than what you accomplish.” In other words, God cares more about what you become for Him than what you do for Him. I believe the same can be said about all those closest to you. Your spouse, children, and those you serve would rather see your faithfulness instead of your fruitfulness. By all means, work at being fruitful and accomplishing much, but don’t do it at the cost of your integrity and losing those around you. Below I want to share a few areas we should focus on “becoming” as opposed to “accomplishing.”  

1. Continue Growing — Ecclesiastes 10:10; 2 Peter 2:1-2

In your spiritual life, keep growing. In your marriage, as a parent, as a friend, and in every area of God-given responsibility, continue growing. Don’t become satisfied when God has given you tools to grow into a better and stronger individual for the Lord. 

2. Stay Sensitive — Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19

God speaks about not grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit. Our words and actions can hurt our Heavenly Father, and they can hurt others as well. Stay sensitive to seeing the need of those around you. Stay sensitive to the fact that people are in need of a Savior, people are hurting, your family needs you, and God wants to speak to you. Life has a way of beating you up, but do not become cold, calloused, and calculated that you lose a sweet and sensitive spirit. Stay sensitive if you want to become who God wants you to become. 

3. Be Consistent — 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9

There’s certainly a need to change and improve, but when it comes to what is right and righteous, be consistent. God warns about those that are “given to change”. (Proverbs 24:21) Unstable, inconsistent people will hurt themselves and those around them. Be consistent to work hard, love others, follow Christ, stay in His Word, and do what He has placed in front of you. It’s easy to quit, give up, walk away, and pick up the next novelty, but be consistent where God has placed you. 

4. Discipline Self — 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 12:11

Discipline is doing what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not. Desire might kickstart you, but discipline will keep you going when the desire fades away. Discipline is needed to accomplish something, but it’s also needed to avoid becoming what you should not become – lazy, careless, apathetic, unloving, hardened, and unfocused. Discipline yourself to not lose track of what God has placed in front of you, what your responsibilities are, and what matters in life. Don’t let your emotions drive you. Stay disciplined and do what’s right, no matter the effort or time required. Discipline yourself to become what God wants you to become. 

It’s a mirage to work like crazy to accomplish the goal, and knock down anything in your way to attain that goal. While you should most certainly work hard, if you will prioritize on being who you should be, the accomplishments will most likely take care of themselves. 

“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” — Acts 11:22-26

God was doing a great work amongs the Gentiles in Antioch. When the church in Jerusalem heard what was going on, they determined to send help. This help came in the form of sending Barnabas. Notice some very specific characteristics of his life that made him the great blessing that he was: 

1. When there was a need, the person that came to mind was Barnabas. — vs. 22. 

He was a blessing and help everywhere he went. Be brutally honest to ask yourself if there was a need, would others know you could help? Would they think you’d be more of a burden than a help? 

2. When he arrived, he first observed, and then exhorted. — vs. 23. 

He gave them what they needed. He wasn’t full of himself, he was full of the Spirit and the Word. He shared from an overfilled life of God. The best advice and encouragement comes from the overflow of a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. He was considered a “good” man. — vs. 24. 

There are only a few people that God calls good. Barnabas wasn’t sinless, but his dependence was on God. 

4. He was filled with Holy Ghost and faith — vs. 24. 

Scripture reveals there were times Jesus couldn’t do things because of the lack of faith (Matthew 13:58). Faith is required to serve God (Hebrews 11:6). It’s easy to proclaim we have faith in God, but what about when it comes to our children’s safety or their future? Do we have faith we can learn a language, share the Gospel, see God provide for the financial needs, and help get through the hard times? May we be wise enough, as the apostles requested, to ask God to “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). 

5. His time there caused “much people” to be added unto the Lord — vs. 24. 

The point is not numbers, rather fruit for the Lord. We should never live life just trying to get through, or buying our time. We should seek to be busy about our Father’s business. We should be faithful and fruitful with our time and life for the Lord. 

6. He recruited help — vs. 26. 

We’re not told if he had been corresponding with Paul, or just remembered the testimony, boldness, and zeal of this newer Christian. But when Barnabas needed help, he decided to recruit others. 

It is interesting that the Scripture does not say he asked Paul if God was dealing with his heart, it appears he goes and tells Paul the need, the opportunity, and his desire to have help. This was enough to convince Paul to jump at the opportunity. Every minister should seek to involve and include others in the work of God. As for Paul, he took the opportunity offered to him and God used it to begin the missionary journeys. 

7. He was the right influence to those whom he ministered — vs. 26. 

I do not believe it’s a coincidence that they were first called Christians at the same time Barnabas was ministering there. A test of ministry is changed lives. If all they had was a head knowledge, or outward change, it would not have lasted, and it would not have a God-honoring impact. Their lives had been changed by the Gospel teaching and influence so much that others were calling them “little Christ-followers.” What a compliment! The compliment was not only to the people, but also to Barnabas for teaching the people. 

Why would a church want to send a man like this? Why would a church send their best worker? The simple and clear explanation was that the church was more concerned with God’s work than their own work. They were building the Kingdom of God, not trying to build their own kingdom. We should always be more concerned with the Lord’s work instead of our own work. 

“For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” — Acts 24:5

At another time, the crowd accused Paul and Silas for being the people that were “turning the world upside down” (17:6). Now, there are additional accusations against Paul, that are actually very complimentary for any child of God: 

1. 1. He was accused of being a “pestilent (infectious, epidemic, contagious) fellow” (Acts 24:5). How great it would be to be known as contagious for God. The life and witness of a Christian should be with such fervor that it becomes contagious to all those around. 

1. 2. He was accused of being a “mover of sedition” (Acts 24:5). Sedition is an attitude of inciting people to rebel. Paul was accused of being a mover of rebels. He intentionally went against the world’s religious system in order to follow God, and he taught others to do the same. Every child of God should unashamedly move others to follow God’s path. And the spiritual leaders should be a mover, helping others to follow God. 

1. 3. He was accused of being a “ringleader” (Acts 24:5). A ringleader is one who initiates or leads. Paul lead in the “sect of the Nazarenes,” which is what the disciples, or followers of Jesus Christ, were considered. And spiritual leaders should initiate and lead others to serve the Savior. 

Overall, it can be said that Paul was purposeful and productive. No one should be a silent agent for the Lord. You have a purpose wherever God puts you, both now and later, whatever stage of life you find yourself. Paul wasn’t silent or timid, he was known for causing a stir about the right things. Everyone knew Paul was a child of God, and everyone should know that you are as well, by your words, your actions, and your lifestyle. Strive to be a fork in the road, that when the lost meet you they must decide to accept or reject Christ; and when Christians meet you, they want to get on fire for God, or stay away from you. 

by Jeffrey Bush

What do you do when you’re discouraged? How do you get over feeling lonely? What thoughts flood your heart when you feel like quitting? We all have our ways of trudging through the difficult moments of life (side note that during these moments, don’t make a big decision — whether to leave, move or say something via phone, in person, text or post. Reacting in discouraging moments usually result in regret and hurt.). Although we might differ on activities or hobbies we can use to lift us in hard times, we all agree that we need God’s help. I want to recommend that you look for and cling to one or more Bible verses as a lifeline to get you through a storm. I’m not saying to literally pull out the Bible when you’re sad, mad, or discouraged, rather reach within to a verse that can life-flight you out of the situation. Allow me to share mine as an example.

Philippians 1:6 has been my life verse, my theme and hope through many times and stages of life. The verse teaches that God started something in me the moment He saved me, and that He will faithfully continue it until He takes me out of this world. You know the principle, and might even know the verse by heart, but this verse has led me through foggy days in which I could not see the path in front of me. When I didn’t think I could make it out of high school because of bad grades, I remembered God’s promise that He had begun and would finish His work in me. I didn’t know if I could find someone to marry (I think my wife may have accepted me as a project lol). I remember thinking I may never make it out of college (many of us can probably fit the bill for dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, and other learning abilities.). I was unsure if I could raise support to get to Argentina. I didn’t think I could learn a language. I was nervous to start a church or believe God could use me to see others saved and His work advance where I was serving. Yet every time I was unsure, God always showed up! Philippians 1:6 gave me the boost to continue, the confidence to know it would work out and the hope to know God would not abandon me. 

So what is your lifeline? What one or two verses can you pull out and know you can use in difficult times of life? What verse can you personalize and know is God’s promise for you? The Bible is mere theory unless you allow it to be the “power that worketh” in you (Ephesians 3:20). You may remember how Pilgrim, the main character in Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress, was pinned down by Apollion and felt like he was at his end. At the moment he thought it was over, he remembered the scroll he had within. It was not until he pulled it out that he was freed from the grips of the evil Apollion. And so it is with us, we are held down by discouragement and difficulties in our lives. It is at the moment that we reach within to that verse, that truth and that God-given promise we can once again bounce back up instead of giving up. In theory, we have the knowledge, but our issue is application of that knowledge. That gap between knowing and applying is wider than the Grand Canyon. Hide God’s Word in your heart so you will not sin against Him (in word, deed or thought). You don’t have to give up, for you have a lifeline. Stop for a moment. What is your lifeline verse? Nail it down and hold it tight so the next time Apollion comes to pin you down, you can obtain the victory God has for His children!