CODE EXAMPLE FOR JAVA

action bar message spigot 1.8

public static void sendMessage(Player p, String message) {
	PacketPlayOutChat packet = new PacketPlayOutChat(ChatSerializer.a("{"text":"" + message.replace("&", "§") + ""}"), (byte) 2);
	((CraftPlayer) p).getHandle().playerConnection.sendPacket(packet);
}