Barnabas

Introduction

Greetings…

God’s word tells us of a man named Joseph who the apostles renamed.

Acts 4:36 (ESV)

36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus

Notice Joseph received the nickname “Barnabas” which means “son of encouragement.”

Never has a nick name been more fitting for a man than this.

This afternoon we will be taking some time to learn from Barnabas’ life to “hopefully” determine how we can be more encouraging in our lives.

So, with that in mind let’s look at our first point, Barnabas was…

Committed

Our Passions Tell A Story.

What we do with our passions says much about our relationship with Christ.

Acts 4:32–34 ESV

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. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 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

Acts 4:35–37 ESV

35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Why has God always required man to “give” to him of what he has graciously given to us?

Giving back demonstrates our commitment to him who made us stewards over what we have.

Will we rob God or willingly and cheerfully give it back?

Malachi 3:8–10 ESV

8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Giving back demonstrates our commitment to laying our treasures in heaven and not on earth.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Summary

Barnabas’ passion for God was clearly evident in his commitment to God.

He wasn’t going to rob God or himself of his eternal future in heaven.

We also see clearly why Barnabas was considered by the apostles as the…

Son Of Encouragement

This Was Who He Was.

Over and over again we see he was “sent” to encourage others who needed encouragement.

He was sent to Antioch to encourage them.

Acts 11:19–21 ESV

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. 20 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. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:22–24 ESV

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 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, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

He went to Paul to encourage him.

Acts 9:26–27 ESV

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. 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 spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Summary

You simply cannot have enough Barnabas’ in the church much less the world.

Let us make certain we are striving to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) as much as possible.

Lastly, we find that Barnabas was eager to…

Forget Getting Slighted

Paul Vs Barnabas.

When Mark, whose other name was John, was with Barnabas and Paul on their missionary journey Mark, for a reason Paul did not think appropriate, left them and headed back home.

Acts 13:13 (ESV)

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem

Paul felt slighted by this and when it came time to leave on another missionary journey Barnabas, always the encouraging, wanted to give Mark another opportunity but Paul was unwilling.

Acts 15:36–38 ESV

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Acts 15:39–41 ESV

39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Summary

Everyone, from time to time, needs encouragement because everyone will at some point disappoint others and “if righteous” themselves.

We all need someone willing to restore our confidence and help us overcome our shortcomings.

We all need someone to help us, in other words, restore our feeling of usefulness in the kingdom.

Even the apostle Paul was appreciative of what Barnabas did for Mark, making him “useful for Paul’s ministry again.”

2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Conclusion

Barnabas was certainly given a nickname that he lived up to and a name God has written down for us to learn from and aspire to be like in our lives.

If you were given a nickname, what would it be?

Grumpy, stingy, busybody, or ungrateful?

Encourager, teacher, Christian?

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.