How to be an Encourager Like Barnabas

Introduction

Good morning. And happy Mother’s Day to everyone. As Brother Rufus made clear, that is a bigger list than we often give it credit for. You can think about a million things, you could list even perhaps a trillion things that a mother does, whether she knows it or not, that influences all of us. Of course, one of those most strong characteristics and most shaping ones is the fact that mothers are encouragers. Now they might encourage you with a sentiment like, I’ve taken I brought you into this world and I can take you out. But nonetheless, that is an encouragement to be better, to be the way you should be. In Acts chapter 4, we see a great example of a man who’s actually his name literally means or meant son of encouragement.

I’d like us to consider the fact that while we can enjoy and celebrate mothers who show that characteristic so well, when we look in the book of Acts, we see Barnabas showed this in the church. And can I say without overestimating this, that the church and the world needs more encouragers. In Acts chapter 4, beginning in verse 32, you see, even at one of the most exciting times in the church’s history, Barnabas puts his imprint on it. Acts 4 and verse 32. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own. But they had everything in common. And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Now we see literally, Barnabas is known by the apostles, Joseph, known as Barnabas, son of encouragement. And when you think about Barnabas, when we want to be an encourager like him, the first thing that comes to mind is he was such an encouragement to those around him.

The apostles, the bedrock of the young and growing church, called him this. They called him son of encouragement. I have to stop and think for a moment. Would anyone call you or does anyone call me an encourager? You think of us so much so that they say, your name should mean encourager. Koshka’s not here, so I get to share this wonderful tidbit. Husbands clenched and women smiled carefully. Kaska’s name, and many people ask her if it’s a Russian name or if it’s a West African name, and depending on which culture you choose it from, it has a different meaning. One of those meanings is oatmeal. She doesn’t prefer that one. The West African name, and because I am smart, I’m going to point out this is the actual name that she was named for.

The West African version of that name means friendly. I think everyone will know that’s the appropriate name for Kashka, although we did have one guy come to the house who was married to a Russian woman and said it means small cat or kitty. But we’re going to stick with friendly, because as you think about Kashka, you see that she is just naturally friendly. That sticks better than oatmeal or small cat, and certainly if I’m smart, that’s what I’ll stick with. When Barnabas was named son of encouragement, though, it’s because he was willing to give and do whatever it takes, whatever it would take for somebody to be no longer in need. Are we willing to make that sacrifice so much so that it defines who we are, that we will do anything and everything in our power, not just to serve God in general, not just to show a blanket love, but to show that true sacrificial love, which is the most encouraging of all.

What did he do in verse 37? Well, he, like others of the young church, sold what he had. They sold his field, and he brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. And what were they doing with it? Well, as you go back into verse 35, they were distributing to everyone as there was a need. And because of people like Barnabas, what was the need level like with this young, poor church? There wasn’t any. Because when there was, somebody would give of what they had to take care of others. That is a family. Family center around love and encouragement. Barnabas was by name a son of encouragement. But note also, it gets a little bit trickier in Acts chapter 9. You see Barnabas’ imprint throughout the book of Acts.

Look in Acts chapter 9. Of course, in the first several verses of Acts 9, you see Saul’s conversion. Saul is the one who in verse 1 is still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. And of course, we know the story as Saul, as we know when Paul is on his way to Damascus. He struck by the Lord. This great light comes down and blinds him. And what was Jesus’ message for him? Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Saul was a devout Jew. He rejected Jesus as the Christ. He was rejecting Jesus’ followers, committing them to prison, and even leading to some of their murders. But of course, as you come down to Acts chapter 9, and you get down even to verse 18, something fell from his eyes.

He regained his sight. He rose and was baptized, and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul listened to what Jesus said. He went and found Ananias, who Jesus told him to find, and he submitted to the will of Christ. He was baptized and became a Christian. The problem is, with God, it’s very easy to be forgiven. You trust in him and take advantage of the prayer that Brother Jim made this morning. Take advantage of the fact our God wants us to call him Heavenly Father. But sometimes, if we’re honest, we’re not always that easy to be forgiving. We’re not always that easy to move on from. Acts chapter 9, if you look at the second part of verse 19, for some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogue, saying, He is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose to bring them bound before the chief priest? But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Now stop for a moment. The second part of verse 19 and the last part of verse 22 tell us what about Saul. He is devout in his work, and he is accomplishing something. He is being effective in this work for Christ. But verse 26, and when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

We read Acts chapter 9 and we celebrate this as a great case of conversion. And I want to stop and make a side application for a moment. How did God forgive Saul? Immediately. Completely. When? When he submitted himself to God’s order, God’s will. You notice the people were struggling with that. I think it’s very reasonable. Somebody who was actively leading Christians off to jail and allowing for their murder. It would be understandable if we as a church didn’t want such a person to come and worship here, thinking that perhaps he was not a disciple at all, that he was literally a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But we need to forgive like God forgives. We have to love as God loves. And if we can recognize Acts 9 as a powerful example of conversion and use this to teach others what God wants from somebody who is a sinner who’s going to turn his life over to God, we better be willing to forgive others the way we say that God is forgiving.

Jesus says in both Matthew 6 and Matthew 18, the way we forgive is dependent upon how we will be forgiven by our God. But consider what Barnabas did and how Barnabas enters the picture here in verse 27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord who had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenist, but they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Of course, while it’s understandable to know that the Christians had a problem with Saul, they were uneasy about allowing him to truly just be one of them to let their guards down, as we might say. What does Barnabas do in verse 27? He takes him, he brings him to the apostles, and he tells them Paul’s incredible story. Not only was Barnabas not afraid, he was trusting and he vouched for Saul at a moment when public perception was not for him, but rather against him. That is an encourager. Somebody who sees somebody who can be a great service to the Lord, doesn’t care what other people think or what other people see, and say, here’s how God views him.

We need to incorporate him in the kingdom of God. Here is what Jesus had said to him. We need to include this man. In fact, if you look at verse 27 closely, look at the last phrase. He tells how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. He says, you have to recognize what has been taught, what Saul is doing, what Saul will do in the kingdom of our Lord. He vouched for somebody who was not popular and who it would not be easy to accept. Barnabas was the first person to be there for him. If you look in Acts chapter 11, you see Barnabas again being there for people who are learning, for people who are growing. In Acts chapter 11 and verse 19, now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.

For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Ought to unpack in those verses, but first of all, you see at the end of verse 26, an important part for our next line of learning to be an encourager like Barnabas. Barnabas ends up teeming with Saul. He starts teaching with him. And by the way, where was he? He was in one located church for about a year. At the end of verse 26 there. But what was happening? Well, you have the Jews who are being taught the gospel, but then the Hellenists are included. And the church of Jerusalem hears about this. And they say, We have to send somebody to support this work, to help them grow in Christianity, to understand what it means to learn the teaching and to be able to teach others and spread this great gospel message.

And what do they do in verse 22? When they hear this report, they send Barnabas. What do you think it is that we know about Barnabas that made him an excellent choice? I think there’s no doubt from just these verses alone, Barnabas would be a powerful and effective teacher of who Jesus was and what it means to follow him. But do you think that any of his other characteristics would come into play here as well? How about the fact that he was known as the son of encouragement? That he was someone willing to sacrifice anything he had, such as his field in Acts 4, to help those who were in need. Do you think that would come in handy here, helping these new Christians? What about the fact that he vouched for Saul at a time when public sentiment was against him within the church?

Do you think that might help Barnabas? In fact, look at the scripture itself in verse, at the end of verse 23, he was glad when he saw the grace of God. And in verse 24, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Barnabas had shaped himself the way Jesus wants us to be shaped and transformed. He was an encourager. He was a teacher. He was a friend. He knew how to help those who were most at risk and most needing somebody to be there with them. And isn’t that what encouragement is all about? You encourage in general those who are discouraged, those in need of a lifting up. Barnabas was there at every turn. And of course, when you look at Acts chapter 15, one of the more difficult sections to understand because it’s one of the few that cast Paul and not the best light even after his conversion.

In Acts 15 and verse 36, no doubt Barnabas deals with a dilemma. And yes, there is a dilemma between him and Paul. In Acts chapter 15, beginning in verse 36. And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they are. Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with him the one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers for the grace of the Lord.

And he went through Syria and Sicilia, strengthening the churches. So what happened here? What is this quote unquote sharp disagreement, as the English Standard Version renders that? Well, of course, you have this man, John Mark, or John known as Mark. And of course, Barnabas says, I want to take him with us. And Paul says, No, why? Why did Paul not want to take Mark with them? Well, in verse 38, what do we learn about Mark? In withdrawing from them. It’s interesting that we see Barnabas chooses to stick with Mark. Why might that be? We could speculate any number of reasons, but again, consistent with his character, he was the son of encouragement. He was constantly vouching, including even for Saul or Paul himself, when others wouldn’t stand up for them.

He was an excellent choice. He was the choice in the case of Acts 11, sending off to the church at Antioch to help the young church there, to help spread the gospel message. Barnabas did not give up even on Mark, when Paul was ready to kind of wash his hands of him. It’s interesting that this is the way this breaks down, though, because when you get to 2 Timothy, one of the last things that Paul would write that we have in our inspired word, he mentions that he wants to send a message to and for Mark. See, Barnabas saw something in Mark that Paul either didn’t see or wasn’t willing to deal with at the moment or time, and perhaps he had other reasons. But Barnabas, as is consistent with his character in Acts 4, 9, 11, 13, and 15, just to name five examples.

1. Recognize the Need for Encouragers

Barnabas was an encourager who looked out, actively said, How can the Lord’s kingdom be helped? And he just did it. It didn’t matter what the person’s background was, it didn’t matter what it cost Barnabas. He reached out and he encouraged. And he was changing the New Testament church as a result of it. I think, as I said from the on front on the from the forefront here, not only does the world need encouragers, the church needs encouragers, and Paul recognized that need. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, if you look there with me. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, note the explicit command, you might say, found beginning in verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 5, beginning in verse 9. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him.

Note verse 11 carefully. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. You see that in verse 11? Linked to verse 9, the salvation only possible through our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, therefore, encourage one another and build one another up. Do you know what that tells me beyond the fact it’s just a command? That it’s necessary, and I have to look to fulfill that command. The fact that verse 11 says, encourage one another, build one another up means, first of all, I have to look at everyone else. I need to look for opportunities to serve, to be an encouragement, to build up rather than tear down or stay neutral. Look, continuing down in verse 12, we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak. Be patient with them all. Do you see Paul even kind of further defines, or you might say additionally defines this encouragement? Who needs to be encouraged? Who needs to be lifted up? The fainthearted, the weak. And that last phrase becomes really important at the end of verse 14. Do you see this? Be patient with them all. To be an encourager, we have to first recognize that there is an active, ongoing, and can I say permanent until the time of Christ’s coming again, need for encouragers? And that means not only will I recognize that I need to fill that role, I need to stand in that gap to use the words of Ezekiel 22, but rather I need to what?

I need to look for opportunities to start serving today. Now. How can I help? How can I change myself to where I can be somebody like Barnabas? Whether it’s giving of my time or of my possessions. Is it reaching out to somebody who for whatever reason others aren’t flocking to? Is it maybe that there is a work that needs to be started, a study that needs to be had, somebody who’s weak and struggling, that I can help teach, I can help learn better the gospel message. If you look at Titus chapter 2, you won’t be surprised that that’s exactly what God expects of us. Notice in Titus chapter 2 how Paul, through the inspired word of God, expects the church to grow. How does he expect our family to grow?

Not only with encouragement, but directed encouragement. In Titus chapter 2, beginning in verse 1, but as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviors, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching, show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

What does Paul say is the template here? Yes, Titus needs to be a good preacher. He needs to be a good example of what he’s teaching and needs to teach sound doctrine. But in verse 3, he says, the older women are to do what? Not only be good people, but then, as the verses continue, teach the younger women. And Titus is to be there for the younger men. You see, we are to help each other. And as 1 Thessalonians 5 says, not only are we to encourage one another and build one another up, verse 14 makes it clear we are to encourage the faint hearted, help the weak. And that means, perhaps, by the way, that if I am of the faint hearted and weak, that I might need to make my needs known.

Consider if you’re struggling this morning and you say, I can’t be an encourager, I am discouraged. Please tell us. Tell me. Tell somebody, so that we can help and be a family. Yes, we are to encourage one another. But there’s no Bible commandment to be mind readers because we can’t be. That means that in both efforts, we need to meet in the middle. The strong need to be looking for the weak to encourage. The weak need to be willing to raise their hands and say, I need some encouragement. Both are hard, both are difficult, but we have to know it’s worth it, because as God has told us from the beginning, even in the Garden of Eden, and certainly in the New Testament, time and again, we have a need for encouragers.

2. Get Close to Other Christians

We have to recognize that need. Secondly, that implies then, if I’m going to be an encourager, I have to get close to other Christians so that they will be willing to tell me, to make known what I am struggling with, what they might need help with. We have to get close to and live for all Christians. Look in Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews chapter 3. Passage we kind of focus on, verse 12 and 14 because the idea of falling away. But know what’s inherent in there, what’s really being said by the Hebrew writer. Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 12, take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But, on the other hand, to avoid verse 12, exhort one another every day as long as it’s called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Do not fall away, don’t give in to an evil unbelieving heart. How? Why? Verse 13, but rather exhort one another. Stir one another up to love and good works, Hebrews chapter 10. We have to be looking out. We have to be close with our family. Some families are different, other families are close, some families are distant, some families are in between. But we know the way God’s family is supposed to be, is one that we not only can help each other, but we must. And like in Acts chapter 4 with Barnabas, what did he know? What did he do? There was a need among the Christians there, and so what did he do? Anything he could to help them. But he first had to be close enough to them to understand there was a need.

We cannot help others. We cannot be an encourager, even if you have the perfect personality for it, even if you have the perfect way of writing cards to be encouraging, even if you are perfect in your prayer life and praying for others, we have to know who people are and what needs of encouragement they have if we are going to be able to exhort one another. And if we recognize the need in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, and recognize in verse 13 of Hebrews chapter 3, that there is such a need for exhortation, for encouragement. And what does it say about me if I don’t get involved in that? If I’m not looking out actively, if I’m not getting close to everyone to know how I can help.

3. Be the One Ready to Serve

And by the way, even yes, how I can be helped. Be encouraged, to know who to reach out to and for. Consider with me thoroughly, we have to be the one ready to serve. In Isaiah chapter 6, consider Isaiah, our second to last point here this morning. Isaiah chapter 6. If we’re going to be in encouragement, it means that not only recognizing there’s a need, not only recognizing that I have to get close, it means I have to do it and go. Isaiah chapter 6, one of the most flattering pictures of God and one of the most awe-inspiring ones found in the scriptures, beginning in verse 1, Isaiah has this vision of the Lord. Isaiah 6 and 1, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Above him stood the seraphim, each had six swings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said, Woe is me, for I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. And one of the seraphims flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

And he touched my mouth, and he said, Behold, this has touched your lips. Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.

And I said, Here am I, send me. We might not have this type of altar vision of God. But when we truly humble ourselves in such a way that we recognize that there is a God who is on the throne, that there are those surrounding him saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The earth, and in all its glory bow before him. And we know that the thresholds would shake around him. We understand the majesty, the might, and the power of our God. We know that his plan is that we reach out, that we be in encouragement, that we serve our God like Barnabas was an encouragement to others. Then when we know that there is a need for encouragement, when we see that there’s a church that’s big enough to where somebody’s always going to need some sort of help.

Not if you come reach out to me, then I’ll go do it. You see the difference in the two attitudes. It’s one thing to be willing, and that’s a big hurdle in and of itself. Be willing to help others. That’s a great start. But Isaiah, when asked by the Lord, Who can I send? Whom will go? He said, Here am I, I will go. Send me. I want to be on the front lines, God. If we recognize there is a need for encouragement, if we understand there is a God who’s made it clear that we need encouragement to walk arm in arm to heaven to be with him again. What does it say about me if I’m not willing to be the one to serve? What does it say about me if I let a day pass and I don’t look for or take the opportunities that are staring me in the face?

4. True Encouragement Demands Forgiveness and Patience

We have to be the one ready to serve. An encourager is not just somebody who’s happy, not just somebody who’s bright, although those are important elements. It’s not just someone who’s sacrificial, it’s somebody who is there and available. It’s often said in the sports world, the best ability is availability. Certainly that would apply to encouragers as well. Barnabas may very well have been the absolute best encourager this world has ever seen. But if he was unable or unwilling to serve, what good would that have done for anybody? One final point. Love, true love, true encouragement, demands not only forgiveness, but patience as well. If you look at Matthew chapter 18, a passage we alluded to earlier, as we conclude a lesson this morning. When you think about Barnabas as he dealt with, yes, selling his field and becoming one known as the Son of Encouragement, when we recognize that he was willing to vouch for Saul in a time of difficulty.

He wasn’t scared off by him. He rather embraced Saul. He took him to the apostles, he took him to Jerusalem. When we think about the fact that he was ready to serve, Barnabas was there. When his name was called to go to Antioch, he went, and then he stayed. He was successful in the work. But then when we think about that struggle in Acts 15 with John, Mark, and Paul, Barnabas showed an important trait, not only forgiveness, but an unwilling to give up on people, no matter how difficult they may have made it for him. In Matthew 18 and verse 21, Peter asked what we think is a fair question, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Depending on your translation, verse 22, Jesus said, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven times.

You look at verse 35 at the end of this great story, this great parable of the servant who owed his king an unpayable debt, and he was forgiven, even though he should have been handed over to the jailers and the torturers. And then when he takes his servant who owed a payable debt, and he has no mercy, he chokes him and says, pay what you owe. The other servants find out they tell the master, they tell the king, they say, You had mercy on the servant, but he is treating his servant so poorly. In verse 35, so also my heavenly father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. We have to be willing to be forgiving, to be kind.

If we’re going to fulfill the words of 1 Thessalonians 5 14 to encourage the faint-hearted, to be with those who are weak.

Conclusion

Are you Barnabas or are you somebody that Barnabas could encourage? If you’re somebody who needs encouragement, please make that need known. If you’re like Barnabas, though, if you think that you’re in a position where you can be in encouragement, when you see that God has said there is a need for this work, then recognize it means reaching out. It means not only being uncomfortable and standing with those that others won’t stand with. It might mean having to deal with somebody who’s even deserted you, who’s given up, who’s turned back. But the beauty of encouragement is we don’t have an empty blueprint for this, and it’s not even just about Barnabas. Do you know how we should encourage? The way God has first shown us love. We need to love the way Jesus loved.

Despite the fact he was crucified, sacrificed on the cross for our sins. He loved us anyway. But God demonstrates his own love towards us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I need to be an encouragement today. How to be an encourager? Love others. Look for opportunities, and be the one who’s willing to serve and go through it all the way we want God to constantly be with us and forgive us all as well. Will you go to our Father in heaven with me in prayer? Our dear God and most gracious Heavenly Father, we’re so thankful for this day that we could worship you. We’re thankful for all the examples of encouragement that we have in the Scriptures and outside of them.

We’re thankful for mothers on this day and the indelible print that they leave on each and every one of our lives. We pray that we’ll help them as they raise their families, that we’ll be thankful for the mothers we’ve had, and that we’ll constantly give you all glory and praise that’s due to you. Thank you for a man like Barnabas. Thank you for your inspired word that allows us to read and see the need. Help us to look out, strengthen our hands, help lift us up when we otherwise would stay down. Give us the courage and conviction to stand up in a world that wants to silence us. Help us to be truly submissive to your will no matter what. Thank you for this day. Thank you for the crucified Savior.

It’s in your Son’s name we pray. Amen.