“BE A BARNABAS” Acts 9:26-31
FBCF – 8/5/20 Refresh
Jon Daniels
Most of book of Acts focused on a couple of the “big guns” of our faith – Peter & Paul (mostly Paul) - & rightfully so. They made huge contributions to the early Church & even to our faith today.
But there are some other less prominent folks scattered throughout the book that deserve our attention & study. Already looked at some of them:
- John was w/ Peter in Acts 3 when lame beggar was healed.
o He was arrested w/ Peter
- Stephen – Acts 6-7
- Philip & Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:26-40
And there’s another one mentioned a several times who deserves our attention & from whom we can learn some very important things.
- First mentioned in Acts 4:36
- Then mentioned Acts 9:27
- Then he plays a major part in the ministry & mission work with Paul in ch 11-15
- Talking about Barnabas
Years ago, was trying to get into running. Had been diagnosed w/ high BP. Needed to take better care of myself.
- Dr. Lee Cope – my hero/role model
- PK in DC – Invited me to go on a run w/ him & a couple of other guys.
- At first, I hesitated & tried to get out of it.
- But, he insisted I go w/ them.
- Encouraged me before the run, all throughout the run, & after the run was over.
- Ended up running over 7 miles, which was the longest run I had ever done at that point.
We all need encouragers in our lives. We need those people who will run beside us & encourage us all the way. And that’s what Barnabas is most known for. He was an encourager.
Barnabas truly lived out a lifestyle of encouragement, so much so that the apostles changed his name from Joseph to Barnabas—which means, “Son of encouragement.” In the New Testament, the word most often translated “encouragement” is the word paraklesis. It comes from two Greek words: para, “alongside of,” and kaleo, “to call.” So the word encourager means “someone who is called to come alongside of you to help renew and comfort you.” Think about it. What is one of the Greek words for the Holy Spirit? Parakletos—which is very similar to the word for encouragement; paraklesis. What a wonderful thing it is when a Christian is yielded to the Holy Spirit. He then can be a source of encouragement to others.
That’s who Barnabas was & that’s how he lived his life. So as we look at this life, what can we learn about being the encouragers that we need to be to one another (goes along w/ our “Joy of Godly Relationships” sermon from Sunday)?
WE CAN ENCOURAGE BY OUR GENEROSITY
Acts 4:36-37 – Barnabas sold a field & gave the money to the apostles to do the Lord’s work. He embodied the spirit of generosity that was being seen throughout the infant Church as the believers took care of one another (Acts 2:45).
- They sacrificed for one another
- They shared w/ one another
- When the HS is at work, giving is a blessing & not a burden.
But Barnabas didn’t just give his $ - he gave his all to the Lord. He was filled w/ the Spirit, yielded to the Spirit, obedient to the Spirit, & allowed God to use him in some special ways in the lives of other believers.
WE CAN ENCOURAGE BY OUR PERSONAL WALK W/ THE LORD
Acts 11:23-24 – Persecution had scattered believers all over the place, Verse 21 tells that the a bunch of folks had gotten saved at Antioch. When the church leaders in Jerusalem heard about it, who did they send to encourage those new believers? Barnabas.
Why send Barnabas?
- Look at description of him in v. 24a:
o “A good man” – generous, kind, desirable
o “full of the Holy Spirit”
o “full of faith” – solid in doctrine, trustworthy, could trust him
o Wiersbe: “New Christians & new churches need people like Barnabas to encourage them in their growth & ministry.”
B/c this was who he was, the church leaders knew they could count on him to encourage the new believers at Antioch. Barnabas’ walk w/ the Lord would in & of itself be an encouragement by the example of his passionate walk w/ the Lord. And b/c he was so close to the Lord, this is what he did:
- He was one who would rejoice w/ them – v. 23 – “…he was glad” – He rejoiced w/ them. He was delighted in what he saw God doing in them & among them.
- He was one who would “exhort” them – v. 23 – Same word for “encouragement” – parakaleo – He came alongside them to encourage, strengthen, excite, & urge them on.
- He was one who wouldn’t miss an opportunity to share the Gospel w/ the lost – v. 24b
- He was one who would make sure that the believers were fully equipped to do the work they needed to do there in Antioch – v. 25-26
o Formulated a plan for discipleship
o Went & got Saul/Paul & brought him back to Antioch
o They teamed up for “a whole year”, just pouring into the lives of the new Christians there.
o Talk about an example of discipleship.
o And all of these flowed out of who he was in Christ – v. 24a
WE CAN ENCOURAGE BY BELIEVING THAT GOD GIVES PEOPLE 2ND CHANCES
Back to original verses – Acts 9:26-27.
“Saul’s greatest obstacle in the Church, at this time, was his own past. The Jerusalem Christians refused to believe his claims of conversion. He was in the position of a man just out of prison after serving a long term. No employer will hire him b/c of his past mistakes & criminal record.
All of us make mistakes, do foolish things, & sin. We repent, God graciously forgives us & forgets our past. But men are not always ready to forget, & it may take a Christian a long time to live down wasted years or even a moment of folly or a few careless words.” (Henry Jacobsen, The Acts – Then & Now, p. 82).
If there is ever a word that the Church needs to hear & heed, it’s this one. If there is ever an example that the Church needs to follow, it’s this one.
- “When someone has a wreck on life’s highway, we need to send an ambulance, not a firing squad.” (Frank Pollard)
Look at how Barnabas gave Saul the much-needed 2nd chance & encouragement:
- Barnabas was willing to take a risk w/ Saul
- Barnabas personally took Saul to the apostles
- Barnabas gave his own testimony about how God had changed Saul
It’s no wonder then that the Church “had peace & was being built up.”
It’s no wonder then that the Church was “walking in the fear of the Lord & in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”
It’s no wonder then that the Church “multiplied.”
When we are willing to believe that God can give people 2nd chances & we act on that belief, it will impact a lot more people than just the one who needs the 2nd chance.
