Character Sketches

Today we will examine a specific person in the Bible

Specifically, we will examine the character qualities of this individual and attempt to apply them to our lives as a model, or an example of how we are to live.

Today’s Character Sketch is on Barnabas: A Good Man

Acts 11:24 (NKJV)

“For he was a good man...”

It is so important to remember that unless we are looking at Jesus, we are looking at an imperfect person.

Barnabas was good, but he was not perfect…nevertheless we can still glean some very important truths that, if applied properly, can greatly benefit our lives.

Barnabas’ Profile:

Barnabas’ name appears 23 times in Acts and 5 times in the Pauline epistles.

“Barnabas” was a nickname given to him by the apostles. (his real name was Joseph or Joses)

Cousin to John-Mark, the biblical author of the Gospel of Mark

A Levite from the country of Cyprus

A wealthy landowner and a generous donor to the apostles and the early church

A ministry companion of the apostle Paul

I. A Trustworthy Man

Acts 11:22 NKJV

22 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.

The word “sent out” means to “dispatch” or to send someone on a mission.

Only a trusted person is dispatched to go on mission, and the apostles and other church leaders at Jerusalem trusted Barnabas - He had proven himself to be trustworthy.

This wan’t the only time Barnabas would be sent out on mission:

Acts 13:1–3 NKJV

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 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.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Notice who is calling out Barnabas to go on mission: the Holy Spirit!

The church leadership saw the work of the Spirit in this man and obediently sent him out to do the work of the ministry.

The church today needs faithful men and women who can be trusted to both be sent out and to be sent in…ministry outside and inside of the church only continues as long as each successive generation steps up and in to serve faithfully…it is the greatest tool in God’s toolbox: a faithful Christian.

Application: Are you trustworthy?

II. A Joyful Man

Acts 11:23b (NKJV)

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad...

This word “glad” means to be cheerful or calmly happy

Notice what made Barnabas glad: seeing the grace of God in action

What happens when someone starts talking about God’s grace?

What about when we see God’s grace in action?

When someone forgives?

When someone responds well to a negative situation?

Are you joyful when grace is evident?

Application: Are you glad for grace?

III. An Encouraging Man

Acts 11:23 NKJV

23 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.

The word “encouraged” is the Greek word parakalĕō, meaning to call to one’s side or to exhort.

When Barnabas arrived at the Antioch church, he got up close and personal!

He saw the good things happening and brought his cheerfulness to bear on the situation…He made sure that those believers knew what a great thing was happening at their church.

In fact, Barnabas was so encouraging that the apostles started calling him that by name!

Acts 4:36 NKJV

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

The church today needs encouragement!

When you see something good going on, do you make sure to let people know that they are a blessing to you?

Notice the wording of the last part of the verse:

This “purpose of heart” means to live with intentionality…as opposed to random chance occasions

Barnabas’ encouragement was very specific!

The church needs people who are intentional about using their spiritual gifts for the Lord, in the church.

Application: Are you an encouragement to others to be intentional?

IV. A Spirit-Filled Man

Acts 11:24a (NKJV)

24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit...

First of all, this “Spirit-filling” is NOT the same thing as the Spirit’s indwelling of a person the moment they believe.

Otherwise, why would Paul command believers to “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”?

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

This verse helps us understand that the “filling” of the Spirit is about

Who is in CONTROL?

There is no neutral gear…there is only our flesh or the Spirit. It cannot be both or none.

When we are Spirit-filled, the Holy Spirit is in authority over every part of our lives.

A Spirit-filled person shows evidence of this by the fruit of the Spirit.

As we look at Barnabas, we see evidence of the Spirit’s fruit:

We have already talked about his joy, but he must have had love in order to have true joy. And peace must have also been present for his joy to have that calmness we spoke about. And as you study his life, you will discover that he exemplifies all the other fruits as well.

The church needs Spirit-led, Spirit-controlled, Spirit-driven people!

Application: Are you Spirit-filled?

V. A Faithful Man

Acts 11:24c (NKJV)

24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith...

Barnabas was marked by a life of faith.

Faith is what we live out as a result of what we believe is true.

Faith is the substance of the things we are hoping for…it is the evidence that there is something happening that we can’t see...

And this is exactly how Barnabas lived his life.

We see this in how he handled his apparent wealth:

Acts 4:37 NKJV

37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

How a Levite obtained the ownership of a piece of land we don’t know, but he had and instead of using the profits of the sale for his own gain, he chose to live out his faith in God by being giving all of the profits to the Lord’s work.

This was an act of true faith…Barnabas chose to trust in God to care for his needs instead of his own money.

The church needs men and women of FAITH!

Application: Do you live out your faith?

VI. An Evangelistic Man

Acts 11:24 NKJV

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.

Notice that Barnabas played a key role in the evangelism of “a great may people”.

This statement of a large group of people being saved is placed carefully after the description of Barnabas is given.

Barnabas’ evangelistic approach, by both word, deed, and attitude resulted in the Gospel message being clearly presented and people being saved.

This is one very important reason why the church needs more Barnabases!

The Gospel message gets muddied when personal conflicts, pride, or other sins stir things up in a church.

When a church is in turmoil, the Gospel is overshadowed by strife and that church becomes ineffective for reaching the lost.

The church needs people who are willing to lay down their arguments and live out the Gospel so that its message is unharmed and people have the opportunity to believe.

Application: Are you evangelistic by word and lifestyle?

VII. An Inclusive Man

Acts 11:25–26a (NKJV)

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch...

Barnabas realized that the church needed more people to minister and share the Gospel.

Notice that Barnabas didn’t try to be some kind of spiritual super-man…he wanted to minister WITH other people!

This kind of INCLUSIVENESS in a church is vital for it to continue to thrive.

And so Barnabas goes and finds Paul and brings him along with him to Antioch.

This was not the first time that Barnabas found Paul and brought him along:

Acts 9:26–27 NKJV

26 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. 27 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.

At this time, Paul was still referred to as Saul, and he was not yet known as a believer.

Saul was there at Stephen’s killing, and it was Saul that led the harshest persecution against the church up until that time…the church had every reason to fear him.

But thankfully, Saul had a Barnanbas!…Barnabas knew the rest of the story…he knew about the Damascus road and the blindness and how Ananias had come and laid hands on him and the scales fell off…and how Saul had been radically transformed by the power of the Gospel…how he had “preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus”.

Barnabas said, “Look, I know you guys don’t trust him, but I do.”

Barnabas laid his own reputation down on the line for Paul…he was willing to run the risk of rejection in order to include Paul in the Jerusalem church.

But Barnabas was also willing to take the same kind of risks with others, even to the point of opposing Paul:

Acts 15:36–39 NKJV

36 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.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 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. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

Even when Paul wanted to exclude John-Mark, Barnabas stood up for his cousin because he wasn’t ready to give up on him…Barnabas believed in the power of second chances!

And it’s such a good thing he did, because John-Mark did in fact grow in His spiritual journey, and became a very profitable member of the early church:

2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV

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

And of course, we can also appreciate Mark for his contribution to the New Testament gospel account that bears his name.

The church needs men and women like Barnabas, who are INCLUSIVE, and who believe in second chances.

Application: Are you inclusive or exclusive?

Conclusion: Are you a Barnabas?

I. Trustworthy

II. Joyful

III. Encouraging

IV. Spirit-filled

V. Evangelistic

VI. Encouraging

VII. Inclusive