The Positive Power of Encouragement - Part 1
Acts 11:19-26
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - May 6, 2009
*Can you remember the last time someone encouraged you? -- Going out the door Sunday, a couple of people told me they love me. Now, that was encouraging! I know you love me, but people don’t usually say it going out the door, and it gave me a real boost. Can you remember the last time someone encouraged you? -- Maybe it was through a card or a call or just a few kind words. Didn’t it lighten your load? Didn’t it make your day a little brighter?
*Over the next two weeks we are going to talk about encouragement. Next week we will look in God’s Word to find some very specific ways we can encourage people. But tonight we are going to focus on the amazing power of your encouragement.
1. First: Your encouragement can help carry someone through a crisis.
*Vs. 19 reminds us that these early Christians were going through a terrible crisis: “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.”
*This was a most difficult time for the church. One of their best leaders, Stephen, had been cruelly murdered. That alone was a terrible blow to the church. But the crisis did not stop with Stephen’s death. On the contrary, his murder opened the floodgate of persecution on the other believers. Before he got saved, the Apostle Paul was one of the ringleaders. His original name was Saul, and Acts 8:3-4 tells us that: “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
*People were being beaten, thrown into jail, even killed, just because they were followers of Jesus Christ. People had to run for their lives! The church was scattered. But as they went, they preached the Good News about Jesus, and many people turned to the Lord. So in vs. 22, the church in Jerusalem sent a man to help out in Antioch. He first came on the scene in Acts 4, and his name was Joses. But he was such an encourager that they gave him a nickname: “Barnabas, The Son of encouragement.” And his encouragement helped these people through their crisis.
*Over 50 years ago, R.A. Bosshardt and a man named Hayman were taken prisoner by the Communists in China. They sat on the freezing ground one December day, no fire, just a little rice and vegetables to eat. They were forbidden by the cruel guards to even speak.
*Things couldn’t have seemed more gloomy and dismal. But the Holy Spirit sent a one word message to R.A. that made a world of difference. That word was “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” It was one of the names given to Jesus, because He truly is God with us. -- God with all who trust in Him.
*R.A. wanted to pass his joy on to Mr. Hayman, so he formed the letters on the ground with pieces of straw. It was just one word on the cold, hard ground, written in pieces of straw. But that one word of encouragement turned their cell into a place of great joy. (1)
-And your encouragement can help carry someone through a crisis.
2. But it can also make a blessing even better.
*In spite of the crisis (and partially because of the crisis) great things were happening in Antioch. We see this in vs. 20&21:
20. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
*Great things were happening in Antioch, -- the greatest blessing of all: People were believing in Jesus, turning to the Lord and getting saved! But encouragement can make a great blessing even better. So in vs. 22-23, the church sent Mr. Encouragement to Antioch:
22. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
*The church sent Barnabas to Antioch. And God wants to send you to encourage somebody. Are you willing to go? I hope so because your encouragement can make a blessing even better.
3. And it can help someone stick closer to the Savior.
*That’s what Barnabas encouraged the new Christians to do in vs. 23: “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”
*The KJV says “cleave unto the Lord,” and I like that better. The NIV says he encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. The Amplified Bible says he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.
*The idea is to be intentional and persistent about holding on to the Lord, remaining close and loyal to the Lord. This is necessary as long as we live in this world, because although believers are born again with a new nature in Christ, we also have the old nature lurking about in us. The Bible calls it the flesh or our old man. And although Romans 6 tells us that our old man was crucified with Christ, -- it doesn’t always seem to get the message. So we need to “cleave to the Lord.” Keep following Jesus! Stay true to Him.
*And encourage other Christians to hang on to Jesus with all their hearts! Your encouragement can help them do it. Encourage them to hang on to Jesus because He is worthy of our trust and devotion. Your encouragement can help someone stick closer to the Savior.
4. And it can help lead more people to the Lord.
*This is one of the best things your encouragement could ever do, and we see this in vs. 23-24:
23. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
24. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
*“Many people were added to the Lord.” They were saved! Why did that happen? One reason is because people could see that Barnabas was a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit. There was something special about Mr. Encouragement. He was overflowing with the goodness of God. People could see Christ in him, the hope of glory. What do people see in you?
*Sue Kidd tells about the time her little girl got a part in the Christmas play. She was the Star of Bethlehem. After her first rehearsal, the little girl came running through the door with her costume. It was a big, shiny, golden star, which hung over her shoulders. Mom asked her, “What exactly will you be doing in the play?” And her daughter answered, “I just stand there and shine.” (2)
*That’s what we need to do. In a cold and gloomy world we need to show other people that there is a better way. We need to shine for Jesus! Are you shining?
*But that’s not enough. Barnabas also had to share the good news about Jesus. Vs. 24 tells us that he was full of faith. Barnabas believed in Jesus Christ. He believed the Good News. He was full of faith. And that faith couldn’t help but overflow. So Barnabas shared the truth. He told people about the cross:
-How Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.
-How He rose from the dead.
-How He saves all who trust in Him.
-And how Jesus is Lord of all.
*Barnabas did all he could to share Jesus, and so should we. But here’s the amazing truth: Just a few words of encouragement from you can help someone go to Heaven. Tell somebody what Jesus means to you. Invite them to church. Perform an act of random kindness, and tell them it’s just a small way to say that God loves you. There are many ways to share the Good News about Jesus. And your encouragement can help lead more people to the Lord.
5. But it can also bring new friends into the fellowship.
*We see Barnabas doing this in vs. 25-26. “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.” Barnabas went to look for Paul. He went all the way to Tarsus to encourage Paul to come help in Antioch. That was a trip of 100 miles by sea or 150 miles by land. And beyond the distance, this was a big stretch because remember that Paul was one of the chief persecutors of the church. Acts 9 starts out by telling us that before Paul got saved he was breathing out threats and slaughter against the Christians. Even after Paul got saved, the church was not too eager to accept him. But by the grace of God, Barnabas saw the change and the potential in Paul. So, Barnabas vouched for Paul before the church in Jerusalem. And now he brings him back to Antioch to help with the work.
*I’m so glad Barnabas did that! He brought a new friend into the fellowship. And Paul’s faith still shines today. What would you be willing to do to bring someone new into the fellowship? How far would you be willing to go? How long would you be willing to look? Your encouragement can bring new friends into the fellowship.
6. And it can help Christians grow into fully devoted followers of Christ.
*We also see this in vs. 26: “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
*Paul and Barnabas taught the believers. Christians grew strong, because Mr. Encouragement had come to town! Now you may not be a teacher, but your encouragement can help believers grow in grace. Your encouragement can make an amazing difference in someone else’s life.
*Come back next week to search God’s Word for good ways to encourage other people. But as we close tonight I want to give you a chance to share how someone else has encouraged you.
*(This was the high point of the service as 5 or 6 people gave brief testimonies about how someone else had encouraged them.)
1. Gary Bowell p. 46 - http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+1330
2. Sue Monk Kidd in her book “Where the Heart Waits”
