Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year? – A Look At Barnabus, A Man Of Encouragement
INTRO: We are going to continue on for our theme…Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year?
I have talked about friendship and how it can help our lives. I have spent time on Daniel’s faithfulness. Then I looked at teamwork and Joshua. Next I spent time looking at David and our pursuing God. Then we spent time looking at our obedience to the Lord. I then looked at Jacob’s life and how love changed him. Next we looked at Joseph and how forgiveness saved him. Two weeks ago I looked at Gideon and his willingness to do battle for the Lord.
So far in this series I have dealt with Old Testament characters. Many of these I have preached about are compelling figures. We often desire to be like them, to show our best traits like they did. Today, I want to look at one in the New Testament. Barnabus. Barnabus was a special man. He was given this name – his given name was Joses – this was kind of a trait of his that brought about his being called Barnabus. As I readied for this, I asked myself, just how many “Barnabuses” do we have in our congregation. Several! Not all of them are men either. Are you a Barnabus? Are you an Encourager? Do you want to be one?
I have been sharing the meaning of the characters I have been preaching about each week.
Joses – He that Pardons.
Are you one who holds a grudge? Are you able to willing to pardon someone for a wrong they have done? Well I think Barnabus or old Joses as his family knew him had that trait. You see their names were important. It would seem their parents were able to look into the future when they applied their name.
Barnabus – Son of Prophecy, Son of Consolation, or Son of Encouragement.
Now Barnabus has many possibilities tied to him. Some think he wrote Hebrews. Many think he was one of the Seventy disciples mentioned in Luke 10. His Aunt is the mother of John Mark, writer of the Book of Mark.
Church tradition describes the martyrdom of many saints. Barnabas's martyrdom is legend. It relates that certain Jews coming to Syria and Salamis, where Barnabas was then preaching the gospel, being highly exasperated at his extraordinary success, fell upon him as he was disputing in the synagogue, dragged him out, and, after the most inhumane tortures, stoned him to death. His kinsman, John Mark, who was a spectator of this barbarous action, privately interred his body in a cave, where it remained until the time of the Emperor Zeno, in the year 485 AD. – Wikipedia
Barnabus was a remarkable fellow. He was a loving and caring man, thus his “Nickname.” He was also not perfect, as he was one of the main characters involved in an early church dispute. Paul and he differed on whether or not to take Mark with them on a missionary journey. The reason for the dispute was Paul did not want to chance him again since he had deserted them on a previous trip. They ended up separating and each going their way with new missionaries to take their place.
Let’s get started and see how we can find help this year in Barnabus’ life.
Acts 4:32-37 KJV 32And the
multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said
any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but
they had all things common.
33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were
possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things
that were sold,
35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution
was made unto every man according as he had need.
36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is,
being interpreted, The son of consolation,[Encouragement]) a Levite, and
of the country of Cyprus,
37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it
at the apostles’ feet.
Barnabus was a…
Faithful believer who gave his all
Background was special (Levite) - 36
Yet he was a…
Believer in the Lord (more importantly) – 32a
Is your background only special or are you a believer in Christ today?
Big-hearted with others – 32b
Boasted of Christ’s great love and grace – 33
Brought encouragement to those he touched – 36
Bounteousness notably seen when he sold his “beach cottage” in Cyprus – 37
Next we find Barnabus in Acts 9…
Acts 9:26-27 KJV 26And when
Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but
they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and
declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken
to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Saul had just been saved and had to slip out of Damascus for his life. He wanted to be with fellow Christians. Yet the believers in Jerusalem were believably afraid of him, fearing a ruse or trick to take their lives. Barnabus shows up willing to take the chance and stand with Saul.
We see he was a…
Firm friend
In the face of contention
Stood side by side a needful believer
Encouraged Saul who was in a position of discouragement
Jump-started Saul in the ministry
Acts 11:18-30 KJV 18When
they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then
hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that
arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they
were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great
number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church
which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far
as Antioch.
23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and
exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:
and much people was added unto the Lord.
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it
came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the
Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came
to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined
to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul.
He was a…
Saw only believers in the Lord – 18-21
Who do you see?
Mean people or people that need the Lord?
Red, yellow, black or white, or people that need the Lord?
Sought out those who believed – 22-24
Spread the glory of God to them
He worshipped with them
Showed his nature for all to see – 24
If Good could, Good should,
If Good should, Good would.
But Good can’t, cause Good shan’t,
For God His Son did grant,
Salvation to those who understood,
Salvation is not given or earned by Good,
It is a gift given that only God could. - Gary Marcum
Full of faith (real McCoy)
Sought out Saul to share the joys of ministry – 25-26
Barnabus wanted to share the Joys of helping young/new believers
He wanted to encourage Saul as well
Stimulated great confidence in those he touched – 27-30
Others were convinced of his “name”
They wanted him to fulfill his “name” with their help – 30
What do people expect from you?
Good things?
Peaceful times?
Encouraging moments?
Christ-like demeanor
Really the question is, “What do they see from you?”
What would be your “name?”
Acts 12:24-25 KJV 24But the
word of God grew and multiplied.
25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had
fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was
Mark.
Fervent about serving the Lord
Involved his own ministry
But he also was…
Involved encouraging others to serve the Lord well/better
(i.e. Saul, John Mark) - 25
When do we need ENCOURAGEMENT?
Starting a difficult or unknown “adventure” or task
When we are awake
When we are breathing
What does ENCOURAGEMENT do for us?
Helps us feel better (encouraged), ready to serve better
Makes it worthwhile – I know we are willing to do things even without a “Thank you!” or an encouraging word, but…
Convinces us do more
Helps us help others
Makes it possible to keep keeping on
What hinders ENCOURAGING ACTIONS?
Criticism certainly diminishes it
Desertion can almost kill it
Apathy prevents the gift
And it is important that we know…
What increases ENCOURAGEMENT?
ENCOURAGEMENT (More encouragement)
Honest, sincere godly living
Honest caring – when we truly care it shows
Brotherly love
Total giving of ourselves
as the Son of Encouragement…
The Lord
If you could encourage one person in life to do better things for the Lord, who would it be?
Okay…
When would you want to start encouraging that person?
This is it. Think really hard…
What are you waiting on?
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 030809am