3: Being Barnabas (22)
My Life In Him • Sermon • Submitted
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Generosity
Generosity
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The price of land in Cyprus meant Barnabas had a degree of financial comfort, yet he considered it more important to surrender it to help others.
Brave
Brave
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
It was Barnabas who was convinced that Saul was now a Christian and was willing to be the one to take the first step to vouch for the former persecutor of the church.
Trusted
Trusted
Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
With a new congregation in a foreign, Gentile city, it was Barnabas who was chosen to best represent the apostles’ doctrine in Antioch.
Good
Good
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
“Good” has little to do with moral righteousness. It is to be useful, meeting a high standard of quality, beneficial. Barnabas was a good man: useful to God, useful to the church, and useful to the lost. His quality of character and faith made him the good man he was.
Humble
Humble
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Such was the success of Barnabas’ ministry in Antioch that the church was growing. Barnabas though was not afraid to admit he needed help, nor was he chagrined that he needed help in his ministry. He seeks out Saul.
Honest
Honest
Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Who knows how much money was raised by the church in Antioch? However, when it came to ensuring that that money was delivered to the struggling brethren of Jerusalem, Barnabas was the reliable man to turn to.
Mentor
Mentor
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Barnabas was never one to self-aggrandise. He seems to be the lead man on this first mission journey, especially in Cyprus, but when they arrived in Cilicia, he was happy to see Paul rise to more prominence in preaching and teaching.
Righteous
Righteous
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
It’s easy to be swayed by the crowd, but when Barnabas and Paul realised what the crowd was doing, they wanted only God to receive any worship.
Just
Just
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
Paul would later write to the churches in Galatia to say that Barnabas had let down the Gentile brethren at one point, but here in Acts, he is with Paul in asserting the equality of all of God’s people.
Devoted
Devoted
it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Barnabas had sacrificed his wealth for the sake of others. More than that, he was willing to risk his own life that Christ would be preached.
Forgiving
Forgiving
Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
While Paul was opposed to John Mark getting a second chance with mission work, Barnabas saw the potential in his young cousin (Col 4:10) and was willing to try again with a young man whom Paul would call on later in his ministry (2 Tim 4:11). Barnabas could see what even Paul could not and worked to encourage even the weakest to attain to highest of ministries.
Encourager
Encourager
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
Ultimately, Barnabas was an encourager.
As a preacher, he was an encourager by declaring faithfully the word of God.
As a missionary, he was an encourager by helping brethren continue in their faith.
As a co-worker, he was an encourager by recognising potential in men like Paul and John Mark.
As a Christian, he was an encourager by his willingness to serve.
Loving Always
Loving Always
Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.
He was vigilant for his own soul and the souls of others.
He was a constant, faithful Christian.
He was a mature believer in Christ.
He was an encouragement to remain firm in his faith!
Barnabas was all this because for him, everything he did, whatever it was, he did with love.
He wanted those in need to have what he had.
He wanted the persecutor to be accepted because Jesus had accepted him.
He wanted the truth to be known with integrity.
He wanted the best life for everyone and sought out help to facilitate it.
He wanted to forgive John Mark because he knew the value of others.
Barnabas was the encourager because he loved. He knew love, he knew how to love, and he was willing to love with every act of his life. Even when he failed, he returned to love and started again because that’s what the faithful Christian does.