Sermon – Being a Barnabas in a World Where Everyone Wants to be Paul
Scripture - Acts 11:20-24 “However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.”
Introduction: Every group needs an encourager because everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. However, the value of encouragement is often missed because it tends to be private rather than public. It surprises me that few people recognize that Barnabus is a nickname. Joseph was his real name, but the Church called him Barnabus, the son of consolation. Barnabus was a great help to those around him. When there was a need He was the first person to step forward. He was the first to sell his property and lay the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. He was the first to recognize what God was doing in the life of Paul and encouraged the Apostles to receive Him. He was send to Antioch to see what God was doing among the gentile believers. He encouraged them. When John Mark was on the verge of being left out, He encouraged Paul to give him another chance. Barnabus saw too much value in Mark to leave him behind.
The book of Acts reveals Barnabas’s mentoring relationship with Paul, Mark, and the leaders of the Christian Church as a significant factor in the development for influential leaders in the early Christian church. Today, we need more Barnabuses in a world where everyone wants to be Paul. Barnabas was an early leader in the Christian church through his financial gift to the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36), his selection as a representative of the Jerusalem church to confirm the work of God in Antioch (Acts 11:22), and the prominent position his name occupies in the list of leaders in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1). Barnabus was a mentor, a hero maker. Mentoring is described as “a relationship in which a more experienced leader helps a less experienced candidate to succeed. Barnabas’ relationship with Paul began when he introduced him to the apostles in Acts 9, but his mentoring relationship started in earnest when Barnabas recruited Paul to help him teach the new followers of Christ in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas guided Paul during his development from a novice follower of Christ to the greatest propagator of the faith in the early church. Senior leaders today can follow the example of Barnabas and contribute to the development of the next generation of leaders.
Recently, I was on a call discussing the need for encouragement in this season of life and ministry. Many of our friends and colleagues are walking away from ministry and the church. It can be overwhelming to think about the changes that need to be made as we look ahead to a post-covid world. In the midst of all that, a wise friend encouraged me to be a Barnabas in a world where everyone wants to be Paul. He encouraged me to use my influence, skills, and gifts to encourage others and let them have center stage. Many people want to be center stage – perhaps especially ministry leaders! – but there is also a significant role to play as “the son of encouragement.” Observe in Acts 11:22-24, how Barnabus encouraged the believers around Him toward renewal. Then on the first missionary journey that began with Barnabas and Paul soon became Paul and Barnabus. Without fanfare or drama, Barnabus pushed Paul to center stage. It takes a special kind of person to be an encourager of others. The text says, “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.” What lessons can we learn from this son of consolation? Encouraging people are available to be used.
Lesson 1: Encouraging People Are Available to be Used.
In verse 22, the church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas to Antioch. Encouraging people are Available to be used. Whether that’s on a dangerous mission or to step out in faith or giving a special gift for the success of others, they are ready. They get their encouragement directly from Christ, our source, and they extend it to others. We talk a lot about red, yellow, and green light people in the Renewal Lab. Encouragers are green light people – they are ready to take risks for the Kingdom in order to learn and grow. They do so with humility and love for God. It has been said, “the hardest instrument to play in the orchestra is second fiddle.” Paul wrote most of the epistles and Mark had a Gospel in his name, Barnabas had to settle for a nickname and remain in the background. Can you be a Barnabas in a World Where Everyone Wants to be Paul? Encouraging people are observers of what God is doing and who God is Using.
Lesson 2: Encouraging People Observe What God is Doing and Join in.
In verse 23, Barnabas observed “what the grace of God had done.” Sometimes it is just slowing down, sitting back and having our eyes opened to the wonders God has wrought. It is His work, His mission, His renewal, and His people. If we are always looking to advance ourselves or always looking solely to other people for encouragement, we will be disappointed. Human beings are fickle, but God is faithful. Watch what the grace of God is doing in your community and be an encourager and be encouraged! Yes, God is working in your life, but God is also working in others, in new ways, and in unexpected ways. God is working in mature saints and in immature saints, in seasoned ministers and in novices. Can you see a diamond in the rough? Some people can only see chaos, confusion and lack. Barnabus saw potential! He saw acres of Diamonds. The lesson from Russell Conwell’s story, Acres of Diamonds is simple: You don't need to look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement or fortune. All of the opportunities you could possibly want can be found where you are now — in the people around you, in your present community, job, family and other circumstances. Encouraging People Observe What God is Doing and Join in to maximize the potential around them. Barnabus saw something in the early Church, in Paul, in Antioch and in John Mark. He saw an acre of diamonds. What do you see in those around you?
Lesson 3: Encouraging People Know How To Celebrate Others
In the middle section of verse 23, it says that Barnabas “was glad and encouraged them” Another translation says that Barnabas “threw himself in with them” and “got behind them.” What project or group of people in your church or neighborhood are you getting behind? I love the sense of gladness, joy, and celebration that I see in Barnabas. He and so many others were blown away by what the Holy Spirit was doing in their time and place. There was passion, enthusiasm, and excitement. While there is beauty in steadiness and faithfulness over the long haul, many of us have lost our passion for the gospel. When God is moving powerfully, we should celebrate, we should be filled with joy and we should encourage all those around us! When Barnabus met Paul, a novice, in the rough, he celebrated what God had done and he celebrated what God was going to do. When he saw what God had done in Antioch, he celebrated what God had done, and went to find Paul to come assist him in teaching because he saw what God could do in the church and in Paul. Notice Barnabus knew where Paul was and kept tabs on him. Then when John Mark returned home in the middle of a mission trip. Barnabus celebrated his courage to join them in the first place and said the next time you will be better. Encouraging people know how to celebrate others.
Lesson 4: Encouraging People Point Others To The Truth
We have all been around exciting people who are passionate about the wrong things. What did Barnabas encourage them towards? “He encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (verse 23c). Perhaps this was his way of saying: Remember this day always. Remain true even when temptation comes. Remain true when the culture goes against you. Remain true when you are threatened with your life (a reality for the early church and for many believers around the world today). Barnabas had a beautiful way of encouraging them toward the truth of the Lord, who loves us with all His heart.
The best way to stay true to the Lord is by abiding in His word. Barnabus and Paul spent a lot of time teaching the church at Antioch. Emotions were running high, prophecy was all around but they must stay true to the Lord. An understanding of God’s word is the measuring stick for truth. Sincerity is not a measure of truth; positive thinking is not the measure of truth. Truth is the only measure of truth. We must remain true to the Lord, even when the world is changing and full of compromise. When Barnabus arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.
Lesson 5: Encouraging People Are Good People Full Of The Holy Spirit and Faith.
The first half of Acts 11:24 is simply a description of Barnabas as a person. “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” The Holy Spirit is always pointing us to Jesus and reminding us of everything that Jesus taught. When we call to mind Jesus’ words, we have a great foundation for encouragement. Sometimes it is best to just share His words, not try to make up our own! His words have power and will work. Barnabas was a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Many of our churches have been stuck for a long, long time. It feels like nothing is going to change. But when we get a new and fresh look at Christ, we know that He is the source of faith. He gives that faith out generously to His people. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 has been traditionally taught to mean that you can have your miracle if you can believe. I am still a believer! Jesus is talking to a dad who is needing a miracle for his son. The dad was struggling with doubt and unbelief concerning whether Jesus could heal his son. Jesus responded to his doubt by saying that anything is possible if a person believes. Things looked bad, the disciples had failed, the boy was in the dirt and the Father was in unbelief, yet Jesus said, only believe! I still believe! What a great, simple reminder that nothing is too hard for God. Encouraging People Are Good People Full Of The Holy Spirit and Faith that remind us all is not lost. You can get up again! You can make it. Your journey ends with victory.
Lesson 6: Finally, Encouraging People Often See Incredible Renewal!
There are many instances in the Bible where people who prayed for renewal didn’t get to see it, but the book of Acts is just the opposite. After Barnabus laid his offering at the Apostle’s feet, many people were helped, and great numbers were added to the church. After Barnabus sponsored Paul, the Apostles accepted him, his teaching gift was enhanced, and many people were added to the faith. After Barnabus encouraged the Church at Antioch, growth exploded, and the church sent missionaries to the world. Acts 11:24b says, “A great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Isn’t that why we’re doing this? Isn’t that why we get out of bed in the morning? I am not encouraged by the process of growing my reputation for its own sake. I am not graving for center stage or the spotlight. But I will give my life to be part of a movement that sees “a great number of people brought to the Lord.” That is why we pray, meet, send out these newsletters, use social media and sacrificially give. We want to see new believers come to faith and nominal Christians experience the power of gospel renewal. I hope that you were encouraged by the son of encouragement today! Be a Barnabas in a world where everyone wants to be Paul. Be a supporting cast member when everyone wants to be the star. How different the early church would have been without Barnabus. Barnabus did for Paul, John Mark, and the church at Antioch, what Priscilla and Aquila did for Apollos, what Andrew did for his brother, Simon Peter. What the late Rev. Erskin Lowe did for me, as my father in the ministry, and what I must do for others.
This is what you must do if you are on the center stage right now. Seasons of ministry and life will change. In your spring take advantage of your opportunities, in the Summer guard and protect what you have planted, in the Fall, accept your harvest, and in the Winter become an encourager! Do it with grace! Do it with love! Do it with humility! Then you can finish by saying, as 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” AMEN
