BARNABAS: THE ENCOURAGING FRIEND
FULL MANUSCRIPT
By Dr. Rik B. Wadge, Ph.D.
Introduction:
+A 200-year-old church was being readied for an anniversary celebration when calamity struck: the bell ringer was called out of town.
The priest immediately advertised for another.
When the replacement arrived, the priest took him to the steps leading to the bell tower, some 150 feet above them. Round and round they went, huffing and puffing all the way. Just as they reached the landing, the bell ringer tripped and fell face-first into the biggest bell of all. Bo-o-o-o-ong!
Dazed by the blow, the bell ringer stumbled backward onto the landing. The railing broke loose and he fell to the ground. Miraculously, he was unhurt—only stunned—but the sexton thought it best to call an ambulance.
“Do you know this man’s name?” the paramedic asked.
“No,” the Priest replied, “but his face sure rings a bell.” + +
This morning we’re talking about encouragement, let me encourage you to keep your head out of a large bell.
William Barclay writes: +"One of the highest of Christian duties is the duty of encouragement. It’s easy to pour cold water other’s enthusiasm; it’s easy to discourage people. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a Christian on his feet.
Today we’re going to look at Barnabas. + Even the name Barnabas means +encouragement. Lit. +"son of encouragement"
Everything that the New Testament tells us about Barnabas is encouraging.
The proper Definition of Encouragement: +"To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; To give support to; to foster; To stimulate; to spur on."
We’re going to look at 3 separate events in the life of +Barnabas which brought encouragement.
I think we’ll have a better understanding of what it means to be an encourager.
+I. Barnabas Encouraged the Church by his Giving.
Acts 4:36-37
(Acts 4:36-37 NIV) +"Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), {37} sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet."
Comments:
Poor churches in Asia Minor needed food, and help.
+Acts 20:35 ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
+Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.""
Cartoon: Man stands, hat in hand, in pastor’s office. "Hello. I’m here to get personally involved by using all of my gifts in a ministry of sensitivity and extreme sacrifice to challenge a secularized, value-impoverished society with the radical claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Great, the Pastor says, when can you start? I have Thursday afternoons free, from three to four P.M."
Our generation doesn’t have a clue of what it means to sacrificially give in regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scripture tells us that:
+* Giving encourages us to practice unselfishness.
+* Giving keeps us from becoming too attached to material things.
+* Giving models the life that Christ lived.
+* Giving results in eternal rewards.
+* Giving teaches us the value of servanthood.
+* Giving makes us more cheerful, caring people.
+* Giving prompts greater sensitivity toward others.
+* Giving provides an example for others to follow.
Is it any wonder that the apostle Paul wrote that +"God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7b).
Sir John Templeton, founder of the Templeton funds with currently over $15 billion under his stewardship and management. His greatest living legacy is the Templeton Prize and progress in religion. He makes the following observation: +"I have watched 100,000 families over my years of investment counseling. I always saw greater prosperity and happiness among those families who tithed than among those who didn’t. Tithing is simply an outward expression of spiritual growth, and spiritual growth leads to material growth."
* Giving also brings relief and encouragement into the lives of others.
One man wrote: +"The Lord loves a cheerful giver but He’ll even accept it from a grouch!"
+II. Barnabas Encouraged the Church by his Faith.
Acts 9:26-28
+ (Acts 9:26-28 NIV) (Saul)"When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. {27} But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. +{28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord."
Acts 11:24-26
+"{24} He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. {25} Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, {26} and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people…"
Because Barnabas had faith in Christ, Barnabas could exercise his faith in Paul.
In +Mark 9:23 Jesus said, "Everything is possible for him who believes."
If you want a person to see what’s possible in their life? Then you must believe in them.
Faith for some of us seems obscure.
+Woody Allen - Faith would be easier if God would just show Himself by depositing
a million dollars in a Swiss bank account in my name.
+Hebrews ch. 11 in the Living Bible says this "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."
Faith we’re told will bring healing to the sick, sight to the blind, strength to the lame, and salvation to the soul.
And faith was a central factor in Barnabas being an encourager for the Church.
+III. Barnabas Encouraged the Church by his Compassion.
Acts 15:36-41
+ (Acts 15:36-41 NIV) "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." {37} Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, {38} but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. +{39} They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, {40} but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. {41} He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."
John Mark turned out to be a great asset to the ministry, because of the Compassionate heart of Barnabas.
Over and over again we see in the Gospels that +"Jesus had compassion on the multitudes." Therefore he healed them, he taught them, he fed them, and he spent time with them
The Bible says about being a Friend:
+(Eccl 4:9-12 NIV) "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: {10} If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! {11} Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? {12} Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Conclusion:
+We show our friendship to our Christian brothers and sisters… to our Church by:
1. +Our giving.
2. +By Our Faith… in Christ and in them.
3. +By Our Compassion for each other.
Every man and woman in the Bible have had times in life when they needed a Barnabas.
Noah; Abraham; Sarah; Jacob; Rachel; David; Abigail;
+We have all needed someone who would help meet us where we’re at. Someone who would be there to Encourage us, someone who would have faith in us.
Every person has had an experience in their life where they’ve needed someone to stoop down, and reach out a gentle hand and pick them up after they’ve goofed. Everyone needs an encourager.
Illustration:
Allan Emery, had an experience which made a deep impression upon him. His father received a call saying a well-known Christian had been found at a certain place drunk on the sidewalk. Immediately his father sent his chauffeured limousine to pick the man up, while his mother prepared the best guest room. My friend watched wide-eyed, as the beautiful covers were turned down on the exquisite, old, four poster bed, revealing the monogrammed sheets.
"But, mother," he protested, "he’s drunk. He might even get sick."
"I know," his mother replied kindly, "but this man has slipped and fallen. When he comes to, he will be so ashamed. He’ll need all the loving encouragement we can give him."
It was a lesson the son never forgot.
Barnabas brought this kind of compassion into the 1st Century church. Barnabas has been an example to 20 centuries of Christians in need of a refresher course in Encouragement.
Anonymous Quote: Real friends are those who, when you make a fool of yourself, don’t think you’ve done a permanent job.
Famous writer Emerson wrote this: "What I need most is something to make me do what I can." +One of the most rewarding, experiences you can ever have is to be that "something" for someone - to be the catalyst that dispels the inertia and brings out the best in someone you know. The thing that brings out the best in most people is encouragement, and you - no matter what your circumstances are - can provide those around you with this precious moral plasma. Think encouraging thoughts, speak encouraging words, and , most important of all, adopt an air of confident expectancy toward those you are trying to help. Be genuinely interested; let your attitude be more eloquent than your words. In this way, you can be, in truth, a "best" friend…. There is no happiness quite comparable to the happiness you can earn in this way."
