Last week we began a series of messages concerning relational living and we discussed the impact of LOVE on any relationship. Today we take the next step to better our relationships by talking about ENCOURAGEMENT. What a great way to strengthen any relationship by offering encouragement. PRAYER
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We have been encouraged since we were little to take our vitamins. And so, we do. Research shows that since the 1940s, Americans have been taking multivitamins every day. We know that we need these important vitamins and minerals for our bodies to function properly. And with all the fast food and junk food available nowadays, we need a good source of nutrition. A daily dose is good for us.
We could use a daily dose of something else, too. We’ll call it a spiritual and emotional vitamin: the vitamin of encouragement. We were created to live in a relationship with others. And whether you know it or not, we hunger for the affirmation of others. We need a healthy supply of encouragement from others in order to grow as God intends.
Unfortunately, too many of us face a deficiency in this area. Our lives can grow weak without encouragement. And so can our relationships. We’re going to use several passages of Scripture to bring to light how important encouragement is in any relationship. We’ll meet a man named Barnabas who was a natural encourager. His life challenges us to be an encouragement to others. And a relationship will grow stronger as we support the other person and look for ways to offer encouragement.
A father’s 4 children were in the driveway shooting hoops when they asked good old dad for some pointers on proper form. Dad had to go back in time in his mind as he tried to remember his junior high basketball drill. So, he gave the kids his best lecture on the mechanics of a free throw.
Following his 2-minute speech, the kids stood there staring blankly at dad. One of his daughters acting as spokesperson asked, “Could you like, show us what you’re talking about, Dad?” He turned and took one shot, and their confusion vanished and the game went on.
Most times, the simplest way to learn is to watch someone. The old adage says, “Some things are more caught than taught.” And Barnabas is someone worth watching. By his example, he showed us some ways we can encourage others.
Let’s turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:11. READ. Barnabas first pops into Scripture as Joseph of Cyprus in Acts 4:36. The apostles had given him the nickname “Barnabas” which means “Son of Encouragement.” Apparently, this man had developed a reputation of building others up with loving words, generous acts, and even affirming looks. Whenever people in the early church thought of an encourager, they thought of Barnabas, and so the nickname stuck.
Barnabas noticed people and made the effort to invest in them. He left a significant mark on other’s lives. And you know what? We can, too.
Do you know someone who is starving for encouragement? Chance are you do.
Can you think of someone who would really benefit if you lifted them up with a word of encouragement?
You may never know the difference you make in someone’s life when you simply extend the hand of fellowship and invite them into your world. Turn to Acts 9.
In Acts 9, Saul was well-known as a persecutor of Christians. In fact, he was on his way to the city of Damascus with the ok to round up more Christians. On his way, the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. Saul was told to go on to the city and he would receive instructions on what to do. Saul got up to go but was blinded for 3 days.
While in the city, God spoke to a man named Ananias and told him to go to Saul and touch him so that he might regain his sight. At the same time, Saul had a dream of Ananias coming. Ananias did as the Lord instructed and Saul regained his sight and from that moment on became a powerful witness for Jesus Christ. The Lord told him to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
Saul was known as a persecutor of Christians so you can imagine that he wasn’t accepted very well. So, God used Barnabas to bring Saul to a prominent place where people would trust him as a messenger bringing the gospel.
The apostles may not have rejected Saul outright, but you can be sure that they kept their distance. Based on his past record, Saul wasn’t the kind of a person a Christian would want to be around. Christians were known to end up in trouble—or dead—when Saul came around. But now, even though Saul’s heart had been changed completely after he had his personal encounter with Jesus, the believers in Jerusalem didn’t dare trust him.
But Barnabas saw Saul as a man truly changed. So, Barnabas stuck his neck out and vouched for Saul. He encouraged the apostles and believers to reconsider their skepticism and take a risk on this guy.
The disciples may not have trusted Saul just yet, but they trusted Barnabas; so, they opened the door and their hearts to Saul, and he soon became a dominant force in spreading the gospel.
Imagine how different your faith would be if Saul had been rejected by the disciples. If Barnabas had refused to endorse Saul, a large section of the New Testament wouldn’t exist. Saul, who became Paul, the great apostle who was called by God to carry the gospel to the Gentiles and was inspired by God to write 14 of the books in the New Testament. Without Paul, the 2nd half of Acts simply falls off into the sea. Through this man, the early church became very zealous about sharing the gospel message. Through the ministry of this one man, the gospel of Christ made it to Rome and to western civilization.
Now, whether Barnabas had a feeling that Paul would become a great missionary or not, whenever Barnabas sniffed potential in somebody, He encouraged that person in Jesus. Without Barnabas, it’s likely that Saul would have remained only a small bud in the blossoming ministry of the church. But God used an ENCOURAGER to help Paul’s ministry flower into greatness.
In Acts 11, Barnabas returned to the stage. READ Acts 11:21-24. This time, Barnabas was commissioned by the apostles in Jerusalem to travel 300 miles north to Antioch. Many of the Jews in Antioch embraced Christianity and the believers had begun to spread the message to Gentiles as well. As a result, Greeks in the region were coming to faith in Christ. When the apostles got wind of the revival of sorts that was taking place, they sent Barnabas to assess the situation and to report what God had done.
As soon as Barnabas saw what God was doing, we are told in v. 23, “he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts.” The encouragement of Barnabas strengthened these saints to persevere for the Lord. The church needed that encouragement to persevere in the coming years as they would face persecution and famine.
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While I was in seminary, I was encouraged to continue my quest to graduate because I was told the seminary needs those who are pastors already to help encourage those students who hadn’t gone through the school of hard knocks.
Sure, the knowledge is good to have, but it is the experience that makes the difference. When I came on board here at SEBC, it wasn’t long before I faced many, many challenges and realized that my decisions would affect other’s lives.
The load got heavy a lot of times. But Praise God, I had more than one encourager that strengthened me to carry on with what God had called me to do. Without this encouragement, I could have easily given up and walked away, and many young pastors do walk away. It’s hard to imagine where I would be and where the church would be today if the Lord had not sent me my “Barnabases."
Let’s turn to Hebrews 10:23-24. READ. V. 24 is telling us, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
? “Wow, you’re really gifted with kids!”
? “You made my week with that beautiful song.”
? “How did you learn to teach the Bible so well?”
? “I can’t wait to get to church to hear the message each week.”
? “You make the most delicious desserts. If you charged a fee, I’d pay it.”
? “Your home feels so warm when we come in each week. Thanks for preparing the space and making us feel so welcomed.”
Simple little statements. These little statements may not sound like much, but over time, a plant grows tall through regular watering—and a believer grows strong through regular encouraging. A church should be the most encouraging place on earth. Homes committed to Christ should be greenhouses of growth for children growing up in them. Good words encourage growth. And they should encourage others to step up and serve.
Would you like to strengthen a relationship that you have with someone? Go and express your thanks to them for being a spiritual encouragement to you. And be specific about what they did that helped you.
I am blessed by you, my church family. Most all of you are a very encouraging group. You have that special way, that special thing you might say that encourages others to keep on keeping on. Yes, encouragement makes a huge difference in any relationship. When the writer of Hebrews says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,” I can honestly say that all of you are doing just that. And I am thankful for it.
READ Acts 11:25-26. We don’t know what Barnabas said to Saul, but as the church in Antioch began to grow, Barnabas went to fetch Saul from Tarsus. He brought Saul to Antioch to serve, to do what God had gifted him to do. They stayed in Antioch a whole year and taught large numbers of people. Revival was happening. Saul served because God had called him to do so. And Barnabas was his encouragement to keep on keeping on.
When Barnabas found Saul and led him to Antioch, he was leading Saul into the great mission of his life—sharing Christ with the Gentile world. Barnabas and Saul recognized that God calls people not only to faith in Christ, but He also calls them to discipleship—that is, sharing with others what you have learned.
You may not ever see the results of your encouraging someone but you have done your part. Barnabas’s encouragement produced very practical results. If you read on in Acts chapter 11, you will see the prediction of a famine throughout the Roman world, a disaster that would put many Christians, especially those with few financial resources, in danger of hunger or even starvation.
The church at Antioch responded to that need by giving as each was able to provide support for hungry Christians in Judea. Barnabas and Saul served as the messengers of this love in action. Because of what Paul and Barnabas did, Christians in Antioch now gave Christian brothers and sisters in need the same gift of encouragement they had received from Barnabas. They, too, had become disciples of the Lord and it was encouragement that played a part in it all.
So…., is encouragement important?
I close with this:
In the year 2000, we were having a new gabled roof built over our youth and children’s departments. Many of us old timers might remember that it used to have a flat roof. The construction began and much of the old roof was stripped away and the framework for the new roof was built. During this, a torrential rain came and flooded the entire building. Now the interior would have to be stripped down to the bare studs in the walls and rebuillt.
Tearing the old sheetrock and walls down wasn’t that difficult. Dust was everywhere as the carpet and tile were ripped up, walls were knocked down, ceilings and insulation was ripped out. I say that this part wasn’t difficult because absolutely no skill was needed. It doesn’t take much training to destroy something.
When this phase was completed, the remodeling began. This was the part that required skilled and trained people—those who knew how to construct, build, and refurbish. Their task was much more difficult and it took much longer than the demolition. In saying all this, I say:
Anybody can tear down, but not everyone can build up. It doesn’t take a genius to destroy something, but it does take some know-how to construct something of value. The unskilled can quickly take apart that which takes the skilled a lot of time to put together.
Now the question is, “Do you build or demolish? Do you criticize, or do you encourage?” Encouragement is something that will build up any relationship. God instructs us today, to work to be an encourager. You never know what good you may do by encouraging someone. It could even save a life.
So, let’s heed God’s Words today and work at being the best encourager we can be. And then see what a difference it makes in all your relationships.
An encourager will always leave people better than they found them.
