To Make It In Life, I Need To Give Encouragement And Appreciation

To Make It In Life In Need To Give Encouragement & Appreciation

Luke 17:11-19 Acts 4:32-37 10/21/2018

If you want to get more out of life, there are two traits that you will need to be a blessing and to be more blessed. Is there anyone here who does not want to receive all the blessings that God has for them. These two things will work for you whether you are a follower of Christ or not. They will leave you with far fewer regrets.

I can remember when I was about 12 years old. My mother wanted me to be able to earn some extra money so she sacrificed and brought be a brand new lawn mower so that I could do the neighborhood yards. She was so excited when she presented it to me and I was happy to get it. She asked me, how much money do you think you will be able to give me from your earnings.

I told her, I would have to pay for my gas and oil, and I would have to have some money for spending on some things I wanted to get, but if I had something left over, I would give it to her. She walked away sad. I had a sever case of unappreciaitis which I rergret to this day.

When you ask for the name of a great apostle in the Scriptures, the two names that most easily come to mind are the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter. But one apostle that plays a critical role in the New Testament is the Apostle Barnabus. Barnabus’s name means “Son of Encouragement.”

When the Apostle Paul was first starting out in his ministry, he became very discouraged. Before Paul became a Christian, he had a reputation of arresting Christians, putting them in jail, and voting in favor of them being put to death. Christians were terrified of him. When Paul became a Christian, many believers thought he was putting on act. They felt he simply wanted to get their names, find out where they live, and then sick the dogs on them.

Paul was very discouraged after becoming a Christian, because the people he use to hang with hated him as a traitor, and the people he wanted to hang with all thought he was a phony.

Along comes the Apostle Barnabus whom God sends to be an encourager to Paul. He embraced Paul when no other leaders would. When the Christians were terrified, again Barnabus comes with words of encouragement to them which removes their fears. His encouragement led to their acceptance of Paul, and the possibility for ministry for the Lord greatly expanded.

Barnabus’s original name was Joseph. But when the church had a financial need, he went and sold a field that he had and brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet to be used for others. He may have been the first to do so, since he is the only one named. From that moment of personal sacrifice on his behalf, Joseph became Barnabus, the Son of Encouragement.

Paul and Barnabus worked for a year together in Antioch with the first Gentiles to give their lives to Christ. Under their ministry so many people had their lives changed by the power of Christ, that believers were first called Christians in Antioch. “Look at those little messiahs running around” were the comments made by those outside the faith.

When Paul was journeying though the rough area of Pamphylia, wondering if it could get much worse in terms of travel and living conditions, Barnabus was there by his side. When Paul was ran out of the in Pisidia, they had to run Barnabus out too because he was preaching just as boldly. He was there to encourage Paul when they were chased out of Iconium.

They both were targets of an assassination plot for preaching. When Paul was stoned in Lystra, Barnabus was there to encourage him and to help him get back up. They even went back into a city together that they had been kicked out of previously. It was Paul and Barnabus together who encouraged the new disciples to remain true to the faith. They said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

Everybody that is involved in ministry needs a Barnabus in their lives to keep them going in times of difficulty and to keep them laughing when things are going well. We are very proud to say that you, the congregation of New Life At Calvary are our Barnabus in ministry.

We have come a long way as a church in our decisions to work together and to love each other. We have attempted to do new and different things. It could not have happened without the encouragement that you have provided to us as your leaders.