How to Be an Encourager

Acts 4:32–37 CSB

32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 11:19–26 CSB

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

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Intro

Inspired by true events

If i just stood her and said go encourage someone and sit down

Talk about Lydia and her struggles

It easy to come up here and look like everything is okay ....

Life is difficult, Life is Hard, Life is not always easy

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I decided to share this due to recent events i witnessed this year and even this past week

My style might be a bit different than normal

Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order. David Gerrold

Today I want to speak to you about Encouragement.

A name will pop in your head - write it down

I want to talk to you about a man that had a gift, and it was the gift of encouragement. He just had a way—this greathearted soul, this wonderful man. He had a way of encouraging people everywhere that he went. And, I so want to be like Barnabas. You know, there are some people who are encouragers, and there are some people who are discouragers. You ever meet a discourager? They're like a drink of water to a drowning man. They can brighten up a room by leaving. A lot of people like that. I mean they just discourage you in everything that you do, and they themselves are the people who somehow leave you drained and depressed.

The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

It is much needed in our society today

How Should We Encourage Others In The Lord?

You might have heard the story of the married couple asleep in bed on a stormy night who were awakened by a loud knock on the front door. The man crawled out of bed and grumpily went downstairs. When he opened the front door he found a man dripping wet and obviously very drunk who said to him; "I can’t get my car started. Can you give me a push?" To which the man of the house replied sharply; "NO! Go and sober up and we will sort it out in the morning!" He slammed the door and stormed upstairs.

When he got back into bed and explained what had happened to his wife she was indignant and said to him; "That wasn’t a very kind Christian response. He could be in trouble and you have just sent him out into the storm for the rest of the night!" Reluctantly the man got out of bed a second time and put on his coat and went downstairs. He figured he wasn’t going to get any peace until he did something for the man out in the rain. When he got to the front door the rain was teaming down and he couldn’t see the other man. He could hear a faint noise out in the front yard so he called out;

"Hello? Are you still there? What can I do to help?"

To which the other man replied; "Could you give me a push?"

"I’d be happy to if I could see you, where are you?"

"I’m over here, on your swing!"

That act of drawing alongside or lending energy to get another going is the basic idea behind a key word in the New Testament. The word is "encourage".

· Don’t have to be sad or a death

The command for Christians to encourage one another is found throughout the bible. In fact, encouragement can drastically change a person’s life! We all tend to get distressed from time to time and need encouragement. We may get discouraged about our marriage for instance, or maybe we are feeling down about ourselves for some reason. Maybe someone you know is lonely, depressed or bedridden. Encouraging others is being a friend.

Me getting sick

WBC and heart rate and high fever

High fever

Swine Flu

going hospital

asking me if I have aids

I started to stress out about my health

Pressure reach 140 which is pre hyper tension

couldnt sleep due to stress

no appetite given up

members came to encourage

· Sister Susan and Grandson

· Red Boy

Neesha and her child battling Cancer

· Bull died

Kevin and his mother story

Lots of people going through a lot these days

hate this prayer group

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Acts 4:32–37 CSB

32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

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Barnabas encouraged the DEPRIVED

This scripture speaks about the early church and how they related to each other.

They were under intense persecution and they banded together as a body

No one had need because everyone was looking out for 1 another.

People were selling their belongings and giving the money to their bros and sis

Notice in verse 36 There was Joseph who was refere=red to as Barnabas and Barnabas meant Encouragment

He was a great encourager

If people were to summarize your life in 1 word - what would that Word be?

for Barnabas it was encouragement

He didnt just encourage with his mouth but even with his actions

Noticed what he did. He sold a field and gave the money to the apostles

Normally with us today - if we sell a field, we use the miney and we buy a bigger field

We sell our car and buy a better one

Be like Barnabas and if you see a need that you can fill, why not fill it?

You may think you dont have much money. what can you give?

You can give more than money. Perhaps you can give love. Perhaps you can give help. Perhaps you can go over and help your next-door neighbor to do her laundry. You can give time. Perhaps you can help that boy who's having such a difficult time with mathematics; maybe you can become his tutor.

The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

Alvin came and fixed our remote

DID YOU FIND A NAME FOR SOMEONE IN NEED?

Life Application Bible Commentary, Acts The Believers Shared Their Possessions / 4:32–37

We should adopt the attitude that everything we have belongs to God (Psalm 24:1), comes from God (James 1:17), and is to be used for his glory.

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Acts 11:19–26 CSB

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

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Barnabas encouraged the DISCIPLES

The church was scatered due to persecution and noticed whom the church in Jerusalem sent to those Greek brethren.

Then sent Barnabas to encourage them to remain and not leave

I must admit it much easier to criticize and condemn people than to encourage them.

When someone messes up badly that is the first thing comes out of our mouth. Something negative

There are basically 2 types of people in every church. One type seeks to find all the fault with others and the work of the church they can and then they do their best to tear others down. The other type seeks to build up their church and fellow believers and they seek to help them to grow in the Lord. Which description best fits your life and your dealings with others?)

Bill Glass is a Southern Baptist evangelist. Bill Glass one time was speaking in a prison to 1,000 prisoners, and he asked them this question: he said, "How many of you were told by your parents that one day you would end up in prison?" Almost every one of them lifted his hand. Every one of those prisoners, almost to the man, had parents who said, "One of these days, you're going to end up in prison." Some encouragement that was. It was self-fulfilling prophecy. The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

Be like BARNANABAS be an encourager

Let us look at the qualities of Barnabas in verse 24

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He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and Full of Faith

Those are good qualities to ask the Lord for

I know I lack those qualities many time

Ask God to give you those qualities

In this day and age we live in - we need those qualities a lot to survive

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Acts 9:26–28 CSB

26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

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Barnabas encouraged the DESPERATE

After Jesus in the NT the next Mighty Man was the Apostle Paul - but he was Saul

Its Barnabas who was used to get PAUL

When Barnabas spoke - people listened . He was respected. He was an encourager

REVAMPED REPUTATION

It is difficult to change one’s reputation, and Saul had a terrible reputation with the Christians. But Barnabas, a Jewish convert (mentioned in 4:36), became the bridge between Saul and the apostles. New Christians (especially those with tarnished reputations) need sponsors, people who will come alongside to encourage them, teach them, and introduce them to other believers. By guiding and mentoring those who are young in the faith, we help them establish a new identity as followers of Christ. Find a new believer in your church who needs practical help and encouragement in growing. Become a Barnabas to that person.

Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

We do not have a Barnabas but we have a MARIA.

Great Encourager

That is what people need today. Somone who will encourage them

We dont know what battle someone is facing but they are facing something

Girl committed suicide over a remote

One psychiatrist said that 70% of today's population suffers from chronic loneliness. The Apostle Paul never forgot what Barnabas did for him. The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

Diandra could probably explain more

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Life Application Bible Commentary, Acts The Church in Antioch of Syria / 11:19–30

One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…. It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. 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 man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.

William Barclay

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Acts 15:36–40 CSB

36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.

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Barnabas encouraged the Discouraged

The events of this story. Apparently, Paul, Barnabas and John Mark were together on a missionary journey. For some reason, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem, . Now, Paul and Barnabas are ready to go out again and Barnabas wants to take John Mark along to give him a second chance. Paul disagrees and he and Barnabas part company, . Paul takes Silas and goes out with him, while Barnabas takes John Mark and disappears from the biblical account.

While Barnabas is never heard from again, his ministry to John Mark had far reaching consequences! Because Barnabas gave this discouraged and defeated young man a second chance, his life as a servant of God was salvaged. In fact, before Paul died in Rome, he requested that Mark be sent to him, . Even more important is the fact that because Barnabas took the time to encourage a discouraged brother, Mark was used of the Lord to pen the Gospel of Mark which gives us an exciting account of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

(Ill. What a truth for you and me! How many times have we seen fellow believers fall by the wayside? Our natural tendency is to wash our hands of them and go on. God’s plan, however, is far different! We are not to kick our brother when he is down, but we are to reach out to him in a spirit of love and humility and help him be restored to the place of fellowship and service. We are to display the grace of the Good Samaritan by stopping, binding up their wounds and by helping them to recover. Yet, we find it so much easier to gossip about them, to find fault with time and to hold their shortcomings against them for as long as we can. Aren’t you glad that the Lord isn’t a thing like us? Aren’t you glad that He is the God of second chances, ? Why can’t we do the same for those around us? We can if we will be an encourager!)

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Be Appreciative Build up the downtrodden for this is what God wants us to do – it is part of our stewardship as Christians to encourage others in the ways of the Lord. Show them how much you value him or her for who they are. It will make a world of difference towards their attitude. When we build up those who are hurting it ultimately makes us feel better too.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

It is difficult to change one’s reputation, and Saul had a terrible reputation with the Christians. But Barnabas, a Jewish convert (mentioned in 4:36), became the bridge between Saul and the apostles. New Christians (especially those with tarnished reputations) need sponsors, people who will come alongside to encourage them, teach them, and introduce them to other believers. By guiding and mentoring those who are young in the faith, we help them establish a new identity as followers of Christ. Find a new believer in your church who needs practical help and encouragement in growing. Become a Barnabas to that person.

Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

· Your presence in a wake or funeral speaks volumes

Diane asking me if i coming . Talk about fried rice

Zandra telling me the girls ask for me

· Wrestling

It is difficult to change one’s reputation, and Saul had a terrible reputation with the Christians. But Barnabas, a Jewish convert (mentioned in 4:36), became the bridge between Saul and the apostles. New Christians (especially those with tarnished reputations) need sponsors, people who will come alongside to encourage them, teach them, and introduce them to other believers. By guiding and mentoring those who are young in the faith, we help them establish a new identity as followers of Christ. Find a new believer in your church who needs practical help and encouragement in growing. Become a Barnabas to that person.

Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

· There are times for each of us when our battery runs flat. Encouragement means the coming alongside and the inputting of courage or perspective or attitudes that makes us get up and get going again.

All of us are humans at the end of the day

David was a strong man but he had around 37 Mighty Warriors by his side

All of us are humans at the end of the day

Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah.

Be an elevator and take people up

· To love life more,

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· Speak life more.

Pray and Fellowship Together To help the trouble-hearted there is no better way to encourage them in the faith than to come together in prayer and fellowship. This does not have to be in Church – God’s Spirit is not just in a Church building but is everywhere you are. Invite a friend over for dinner or backyard barbeque. Tell them about what God has done for you in your life. How has Christ blessed you and your family? How was your life before you accepted Christ into your life? Be a witness for Christ and encourage those to be more encouraged in Jesus Christ with you! How good and pleasant it is when fellow believers live together in unity.

· We need to live in unity

· Not be fighting among ourselves

· who has the better car or better house etc

· This is what we are doing today.

· United we stand,

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· To love life more,

· Speak life more.

Have A Forgiving Heart

One of the best ways to encourage someone is to forgive them .

Many people make mistakes and feel they dont deserve forgiveness

Just like Judas

Jesus instructs us to forgive our enemies, so how much more should we then forgive strangers, friends, co-workers, parents, children and spouses? Forgiveness is something Christians must do every single day. In fact, there is always someone who needs our forgiveness. This is why it is a good idea to just “be a forgiving person.” Encourage yourself by being forgiving and encourage others through the forgiveness you have in your heart. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

· It is possible for us to hurt each other

· Can we forgive those who hurt us?

· There is a lack of forgiveness today among Christians

· Breakaway Churches

· To live with saints above…

· Speak life more.

Use Your Giftings

· I am preaching

· U could sing,

· Exhort etc

Conclusion

needs you. Isolated islands we’re not. To make this thing called life, work, we

Jesus told Peter that the Devil wants to sift him as wheat but he prayed

Peter betrated Jesus 3 times and then he started to cry

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gotta lean and support. And relate and respond. And give and take. And confess

Mark 16:7 CSB

7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’ ”

APPLICATION

and forgive. And reach out and embrace and rely….since none of us is a whole,

independent, self sufficient, super-capable, all powerful hotshot, let’s quit acting

like we are. Life’s lonely enough without our playing that silly role. The game is

over. Let’s link up. – Chuck Swindoll

To love life more,

Speak life more.

Paul says love keeps no record of wrongs, and so that it would make sense that Love would keep a record of rights.

dave and this lady in cowen

end with Jesus and his charge to tell PETER

Talk about Camara them serving in the Wake

God is the God of Presbyterians to

hating the prayer group on a sunday

Zandra telling me the girls ask for me