Preached Oct 21, 1998, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
    By Pastor Steven Mays

    OUR SPIRITUAL LEGACY

    TEXT. Rev 14:13

    And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

    LEGACY -- MY DICTIONARY DEFINES THIS WORD IN SEVERAL WAYS.. ANYTHING OBTAINED FROM A PREDECESSOR OR ANCESTOR.

    AFTER YOU'RE DEAD, WHAT WILL BE YOUR SPIRITUAL LEGACY? WHAT WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED FOR? WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND SPIRITUALLY? WHAT LASTING DIFFERENCE WILL YOU HAVE MADE?

    TONIGHT I WANT TO ILLUSTRATE SOME FOLKS IN SCRIPTURE WHO MAY NOT BE ON EVERYONE'S SPIRITUAL "ALL-STAR" TEAM BUT THEIR WORKS SURE DO FOLLOW THEM....

    I. THE MAGNITUDE OF SOMEONE WITH A LEGACY

    TONIGHT I COULD LOOK AT 50 DIFFERENT LEGACY'S TO BUILD. I COULD SHOW YOU 50 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SOMEBODY DID AND IS REMEMBERED FOR IN A SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL WAY IN THE WORD OF GOD. BUT I WANT INSTEAD TO FOCUS ON ONE MAN AND HIS LEGACY.... THEN I WANT YOU TO NOTE SOME "WHAT IFS" IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS GUY... TURN TO

    Ac 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
    37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

    WE MEET THIS MAN BY HIS DEEDS AND NAME....

    ACTS 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
    27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
    28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
    29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
    30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

    NEXT WE SEE THIS MAN BELIEVING IN SAUL WHEN NO-ONE ELSE DOES... TAKING HIM ON WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL.... SADLY THOUGH, THE BRETHREN SENT SAUL OFF... DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN HIM YET... SO HE LEAVES CAESAREA AND GOES TO TARSUS... (LOOK AT YOUR MAP, LOCATE CAESAREA, TARSUS, ANTIOCH)

    ACTS 11:19 ¶ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
    20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
    21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
    22 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.
    23 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.
    24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
    25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE TURNING POINT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT)
    26 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.
    (NOTICE WHAT TAKES PLACE AFTER A YEAR OF MINISTRY WITH BARNABAS)

    And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

    NOW WHAT'S HE DONE? HE'S TRAVELED 400 MILES... MAP 13 CAMBRIDGE WIDE MARGIN; AND HE'S GONE AND GOT SAUL OF TARSUS BACK... HE'S BROUGHT HIM TO ANTIOCH WHERE GOD IS REALLY MOVING... AND AFTER A YEAR OF SERVING GOD THERE WHAT HAS HAPPENED? NOW BELIEVERS ARE CALLED CHRISTIANS... LET'S DISCUSS THIS A MINUTE.... WHERE IS PAUL IF IT WASN'T FOR BARNABAS? WHERE ARE YOU IF IT WASN'T FOR PAUL? NOTICE ONE LAST THING ABOUT BARBABAS..... Acts 15:36

    And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
    37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

    39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

    IN THE END, PAUL AND BARNABAS SEPARATE BECAUSE BARNABAS IS WANTING TO GIVE JOHN MARK, (HIS NEPHEW) ANOTHER CHANCE. WHAT A LEGACY...

    CAN YOU MAKE A SMALL DIFFERENCE? PLEASE LET ME READ YOU A STORY THAT INSPIRED ME TO DELVE INTO THE SUBJECT WE ARE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.

    II. THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE WITH A LEGACY

    Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

    A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, baseball cap in place, toting ball and bat. He was heard to say, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world." Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it and missed. "Strike one!" Undaunted he picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, "I'm the greatest baseball hitter ever," and he swung at the ball again. And again he missed. "Strike two!" He paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. Then a third time he threw the ball into the air. "I'm the greatest hitter who ever lived," he said. He swung the bat hard again, missed a third time. He cried out, "Wow! Strike three! What a pitcher! I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"

    YOU MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST SS TEACHER... BUT PICK THE BALL BACK UP AND TRY SOMETHING ELSE... YOU'LL NOT HAVE A LEGACY IF YOU QUITE AT EVERYTHING... UNLESS THAT'S YOUR LEGACY...

    William Carey, sometimes called "the father of modern missions," always seemed to have a humble spirit. In young manhood he had a job repairing shoes. As the years went by, honors were heaped upon him because of his many accomplishments. Yet this unassuming man would only accept positions and appointments that opened the way for him to do more work in Christ's service At a state dinner given in his honor. With a sneer a jealous English officer asked the host, "Wasn't your great Dr. Carey once just a shoemaker?" Before the man could reply, the renowned missionary, who was near enough to hear the remark, answered with quiet dignity, "No, sir, I was not that skilled. I was only a cobbler."

    III. THE FORTITUDE OF THOSE WITH A LEGACY

    1Co 15:58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, Forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

    READ THE POEM.... "AND GOD SAID NO..." COMMENT... THOSE WITH A LEGACY ACCEPT NO AND KEEP PLUGGING...

    I enjoy the story of the businessman who read a little book entitled Men of God. He was so moved that he determined to secure copies for all of his employees. He wired the publisher in Chicago: "Send 125 copies of Men of God." The publisher wired back, "Chicago is out of Men of God, try Los Angeles." What about your town? Does it have any men of God? IT TAKES SOMETHING TO BE SOMETHING....



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