A Good Man

At a marriage seminar we considered hypothetically how each one would eulogize his or her spouse. It was an exercise designed both to provoke thought and to provide encouragement. Many nice things were said about our respective spouses. But nothing could have been said that would have surpassed what the Holy Spirit affirmed in describing one of the early church’s leading men. Barnabas rejoiced at the work of God in Antioch and exhorted the believers to fidelity, and the sacred text makes this observation: he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24).

Of course he was not inherently good, but became so as a result of the Spirit’s presence and faith’s exercise. With the blessed Promise filling his heart, he was divinely enabled to believe – it was granted to him (Php 1:29) – and in so doing he was able to receive and rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what made him good. That is what enabled him to rejoice in and work for the Kingdom. And that is why he was recognized and esteemed as a son of encouragement (Acts 4:36). In Barnabas we see an example of divine prophecy fulfilled. I will give you a new heart… and I will put My Spirit within you (Ezek 36:26-27). His soul and life were undeniably transformed by means of the gracious and powerful influence of the Holy Spirit. The same is true of every believer. Like Barnabas we have within our hearts a Presence that sanctifies and sweetens life. He sanctifies even to the extent that wicked sinners can now be classified as good. What a stunning transformation! What an amazing gospel! The Father chose us for this. The Son lived and died and rose again for this. The Spirit descends and indwells and disinfects for this. All of it unfolds for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Heaven's Breeze

Some lament, “Why does it seem that so few in our day believe?” Perhaps the more appropriate question is, “Why does anyone in our day believe?” Everything seems stacked against it. The world’s temptations, the devil’s malice and the weaknesses of fallen humanity (“the flesh”) all conspire to prevent sinners from accepting the free offer of grace. We are no match for these foes. The enemies of our salvation are too powerful for us. Our great Champion has won salvation at the cross, but unless some mighty Advocate applies that amazing victory to each of us individually, it will be to no avail. In other words, apart from being delivered, rescued, liberated, we will perish.

The apostle John assures us that sovereign grace will prevail. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1Jn 4:4). Take, for instance, the crucified yet believing thief. Hanging from nails, struggling for breath, defending our Lord, he expressed a simple but firm confidence in the majestic royal priesthood of Christ. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Lk 23:42). The man somehow overcame all odds to believe this King would intercede for him in heaven! In fact, the very charge for which the Lord Jesus was sentenced by the religious elite served as a basis for this man’s faith. Christ is King! How did the thief embrace such a conviction? The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes (Jn 3:8). The Breeze of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, blew into this man’s soul, gliding sweetly into its innermost recesses, implanting faith in his heart, bringing life to his spirit and securing his eternal dwelling in paradise with Christ (Lk 23:43). We believe in the Holy Spirit, that heavenly Zephyr whose grace is invincible.