United Church of God

Be an Encourager!

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Be an Encourager!

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Be an Encourager!

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Barnabas leaves us a tremendous example of how and why we should encourage others. In this sermon, we review three points on encouraging others.

Sermon Notes

These are the notes taken live during services as captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is not a word for word transcript. For the exact wording, please consult the audio recording.

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Many of us have nicknames. Some are shortened versions of our regular name. My birth name is Edward. Some call me “Ed”, or “Eddie”. My wife can tell how long someone has known me based on what they call me. Some have nicknames like “Sissy”. “Bugsy”. “Freckles.” “Bones.” Most of us have had nicknames in the past. Let’s read about an example of this in scripture. Acts 4:36 Vs. 36 – Joses is a shortened form of “Joseph”. This guy was given the nickname “Barnabas”, meaning “son of encouragement.” That is a pretty cool nickname. Colossians 4:10 Perhaps Barnabas and Mark were cousins. In any case, Barnabas became a great encourager for Mark. Barnabas means encouragement or exhortation. Some are called Slim, or Four Eyes, or Freckles. Names based on characteristics of our face or body. But Barnabas has the name “encouragement”. Wouldn’t it be cool to be called “Peaceful guy”? Or “Old wise one?” Or “Mrs. Friendly”? Wouldn’t it be cool if we had names like that? A few weeks ago, we talked about leaders. We said they were those that had the ability to influence others. A leader can encourage others.

Today, I will give three points on why we should encourage others. God wants us to encourage others. God used Barnabas in great ways. It is important that we encourage others. In difficult times and in happy times. 1. We should encourage for growth. The early history of the first century church was a history of change. Many were added to the church. There were powerful personal examples. But it was also a time of great persecutions. Families were ripped apart. A time of great trial and persecution. Acts 7:2-3, 52-53, 57-58 Stephen was one of the first deacons ordained. He made this statement to the Jews and the High Priest. Vs. 3 – In the rest of the chapter, Stephen recounts the history of Israel. Yet the Jews rebelled against God in spite of the blessings. Vs. 52 – He accused them. Vs. 57 – Stephen was powerfully calling this group of leaders on the carpet for their wrongdoing. They had had enough. Acts 8:3 Vs. 3 – Imagine what people thought of Saul at this time. If someone did that today, they would not be well like. He was breaking up families. He was hauling some to prison and killing others. The church was trying to follow the example of Christ, but Saul was creating havoc.

Acts 9:1-2 Vs. 2 – Saul went to the leaders and asked for the authority that anyone that follows this Christ guy, I can just haul them to prison. He wanted them gone. He sought the authority to do that. Saul ends up having a conversation with Christ. He is blinded. He is healed. He is converted. He is baptized. He receives the spirit. He becomes a new man. Acts 9:26-27 Vs. 26 – No duh. He did all these bad things to people and families. Here he is converted. He has God’s spirit. He is baptized. He is trying to live right now. Vs. 27 – Can you imagine being there, and having a father or son taken from you at the hand of Saul, and then he shows up wanting to be included. Barnabas was very good at encouraging. He stood up for Saul. He said that he is a different man now. As we encourage people toward growth, we should not put them in a box. We need to encourage them to growth. Encouragers don’t put people in a box and leave them. I remember how rowdy he was as a kid; now he is an adult and must be the same way. Encouragers don’t profile people and leave them in a box and put duct tape on it. Maybe you have seen some grow up here locally. You’ve had them for sleepovers when they were kids; now they are grown. Don’t keep them in a box. We won’t always be the snotty nosed little kid that did all that at church. They have the same potential we all do. Barnabas saw how God had worked with Saul. Barnabas was there saying, let this one in. This one has change. God is working with him. We must encourage growth.

Ephesians 4:22-24 Vs. 24 – This is proof in the pudding that God wants us to grow. We should encourage others to grow. God doesn’t want the old man. He wants us to build toward godly character. He wants the old man dead and buried. That is part of the purpose of baptism. God wants us to change, to grow. We should support others in that process of growth. Tell them that it is great when they change, or when they come across scriptures and new understanding of them. It is wrong of us not to expect people to grow, to change, to overcome. People will grow up. Despite the bricks you put on their shoulders, kids grow up. Likewise, the more we pray and study, the more we grow. Get rid of the box we put people in and allow them to grow. Get rid of the memories of the past. 1 Peter 2:1-2 I’m sure most of us have been around infants. Literally 1/3 of us are under 18. Babies like to grow. Despite what we feed them, they grow. Before we moved out here, one of my nephews, Dalen, learned to crawl. Little babies are fearless. They try to crawl, and then they face plant on the carpet. They get up and do it again. I remember our boys learning to walk. They pick up the foot but then they are off balance. Kids fall on their face or sit down on their bottom, but they are right back up wanting to go again. Babies like to eat. Teenagers like to eat. I like to eat. We should encourage others toward growth. Get rid of the boxes. Throw it out with the trash. Encourage them. 2. Encourage for potential. Saul at this point is Paul. Both Paul and Barnabas are considered apostles.

Acts 14:14 Acts 15:36-40 Vs. 36 – Noble idea. At the time, the apostles were roving ministers. They roamed the countryside visiting people. They had already been on one tour; now they wanted to go back on another. Vs. 38 – Paul said, no we aren’t taking Mark; he abandoned us last time. Paul put Mark in this box. He left us one time; not again. Vs. 40 – Contention arose between Paul and Barnabas. They did the work, but they had two different ways to carry it out. Barnabas saw the potential in Mark. That potential was able to grow. Barnabas wanted to continue teaching young Mark. 2 Timothy 4:11 Here, Paul ate his words. He swallowed crow. He realized that year later, Mark had become valuable to him. Barnabas was up on Mark’s potential. Mark grew until Paul wanted him. Paul sent for Mark. It is important to encourage people to their potential. We all know things thanks to God’s spirit that many in the world don’t realize.

John 14:2 “Mansions” here is a poor translation. The Greek word is “mone”. It means a place where one may remain or dwell. G3438 μονή monē mon-ay' From G3306; a staying, that is, residence (the act or the place): - abode, mansion. Thayer Definition: 1) a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode 2) to make an (one’s) abode 3) metaphorically of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers Part of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G3306 Citing in TDNT: 4:579, 581 So Christ says, “In my Father’s house, there are many places to dwell." “Place” is from Greek “topos” meaning an opportunity. G5117 τόπος topos top'-os Apparently a primary word; a spot (generally in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a larger but particular locality), that is, location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively condition, opportunity; specifically a scabbard: - coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.

Thayer Definition: 1) place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space 1a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district 1b) a place (passage) in a book 2) metaphorically 2a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly 2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting Part of Speech: noun masculine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: apparently a primary word Citing in TDNT: 8:187, 1184 Jesus Christ is preparing an opportunity for us to dwell in the house of God. This is the potential of us and all humanity. God will create these opportunities. There is room enough for everyone. The potential we have is incredible. We should encourage each other to that. Things are tough this week, but don’t forget about the potential. There is a great thing that will happen in the future; I know you want to be there. Remind them of our great potential. Ephesians 2:19-22 Vs. 19 – This is our potential. We are not strangers and foreigners. We are on the inside, where it is toasty, roasting marshmallows, maybe. Vs. 22 – This is our potential. We should remind others all the time about being in God’s family and being with Him. It is interesting that God gives the same potential to everyone. Teens, preteens, those not baptized, we all have the same potential. God wants us in His family. It is available to all regardless of age. That is not true in the world. If you hire in as a janitor, you can’t expect to ever be CEO. Or even in the top echelon of the company. But in God’s system, everyone has an opportunity for the top jobs. There are other places that say we will be priests and teachers and counselors. Encouragers, you might say.

1 Peter 1:3-4 Vs. 4 – Have you ever thought about your reward – your crown – being reserved for you? Think of it like a restaurant. You’ve made a reservation. They put a plaque on the table; no one else can sit there. Ever thought about your entrance to the God family being reserved for you? It is. Jeans fade. Cars rust. Their engines rust. Humans age; their organs fail. We all die. But our reward does not fade. It is reserved in heaven. This is a great way to encourage others. The potential God has for us does not fade. Quite a contrast to this society. The potential we have is a perfect promise that God will keep to those that are faithful to Him. 3. Encourage others to remain. Let’s continue the story of Barnabas. Acts 11:21-23 Vs. 21 – Vast amounts of people committed themselves to God. Vs. 22 – It is interesting that of any of the apostles they could have sent, they sent Barnabas, the son of encouragement. Unless you are up on your history and geography, Jerusalem to Antioch is meaningless. The distance is like 300 miles; like from here to Dallas. They didn’t just send him around the corner. Not just to Aunt Sally’s house. They sent him 300 miles to encourage a group of new converts. Vs. 23 – “They should continue with” is one Greek word. It is used only 6 times. It means to remain or to abide. G4357 προσμένω prosmenō pros-men'-o From G4314 and G3306; to stay further, that is, remain in a place, with a person; figuratively to adhere to, persevere in: - abide still, be with, cleave unto, continue in (with).

Thayer Definition: 1) to remain with, to continue with one 2) to hold fast to: the grace of God received in the Gospel 3) to remain still, tarry, stay Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4314 and G3306 Citing in TDNT: 4:579, 581 Let’s replace the English words with that translation. He encouraged them that they should remain. That they should grab hold and not let go. The KJV says, “To cleave unto.” To remain. To abide. We talked about the anchor. We talked about a buoy in the water, and how many limbs to wrap around it. We should be encouraging others to remain. Barnabas encouraged others with everything they had to remain. He encouraged them to be steadfast. That is a great theme for each of us to do. They should stand fast despite the financial and health concerns. We should talk to others about remaining and being steadfast. We should encourage them to abide in God. To cleave to God. To persevere. To be steadfast.

Revelation 3:11 This is from the letter to Philadelphia. Hold fast what you have. Whether God gives us a literal crown, or it is symbolic, we must hold it fast. We must keep our fingers tight on that crown. We must remind each other why we are here and what is in store for all of us. The Sabbath is a great time to talk about that. To brainstorm what the future will be like. It gets our mind off ourselves and on to God. Practice being an encourager. Remember we are leaders by influence. How are we influencing others? Let’s use some of that influence to encourage others. Life is not always easy. We have difficulties. It is easy to lose our focus and have our vision shifted off the kingdom of God. I’ve worked for hard bosses that cause you to shift your focus. Let’s remember as we contact each other through the week, to encourage each other to stand fast. It is not natural to talk about these things. How are you? Oh, great. Let me tell you about my week. We love to talk about ourselves. Let’s pray that God will help us realize when the person we are talking to needs encouragement. They may say their week was okay, but it was the pits of their life. We have more than enough people in this congregation to take care of this. Take the time to listen to what people are saying. God expects us to think of the other person and to have compassion for them. Pray that we will know when they need help. Pray that we can conduct all our affairs as an encourager. Someone comes up to you and says what you said last week was so encouraging. You don’t remember what you said. But you can thank God that you were encouraging. God is able to inspire you so that the other person can be encouraged. We should be wiling participants in that process.

Romans 15:4-6 Vs. 5 – “Comfort” is “encouragement” in Greek. G3874 παράκλησις paraklēsis par-ak'-lay-sis From G3870; imploration, hortation, solace: - comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty. Thayer Definition: 1) a calling near, summons, (especially for help) 2) importation, supplication, entreaty 3) exhortation, admonition, encouragement 4) consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment 4a) thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter) 5) persuasive discourse, stirring address 5a) instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse Part of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G3870 Citing in TDNT: 5:773, 778 Not only is our God a God of patience, He is a God of encouragement. We are to be like God. If nothing else, we should be encouragers because that is what God is. We should be of one mind and one mouth toward others living in Christ Jesus. Barnabas had the nickname “encourager”. What a great nickname! Let’s encourage others to remain. To be there when some need a helping hand. Encourage others toward that great potential we all have. Let’s use our influence to encourage.