A Barnabas or Silas

We already looked at the role Barnabas played in Paul’s life:

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. (Acts 9:26-28 NIV)

Saul would not have been accepted at the Church in Jerusalem were it not for Barnabas.  Barnabas was not someone who needed to be mentored by Paul.  Paul was not someone who needed to be mentored by Barnabas.  They were both believers, walking together with God.  They did, however, need one another in ministry.  Remember how Jesus sent out the twelve?

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. (Mark 6:7 NIV)

How about the seventy two?

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1 NIV)

There is something powerful about working together with another person in ministry.  Jesus sent them out two by two.  Jesus also told them the power that would come when they were together with others.

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV)

The two do not need to be mentor and protégé.  In fact, the two can simply be family or friends.  Paul and Barnabas were two who ministered together for a season.  In another season of ministry, Paul and Silas were these friends.

Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. (Acts 17:4 NIV)

They spurred one another along.  They helped each others.  They walked together as they walked with God.

How about you?  Do you have friends who spur you on as you spur them on in the faith?  Do you walk together with them as you walk with God?