Son of Encouragement

Today, for the message, I would like to talk about someone who was very influential in the beginning of the New Testament Church, the development of the Church. In fact, we'd recognize this man as having played an instrumental role in the expansion of Christianity, not only in Jerusalem, but outside of Jerusalem and out into the Gentile regions. This man was a Levite by lineage. He was from the island of Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Again, a Levite. His name was Joseph. Joseph. Now, if the name Joseph doesn't sound too familiar to you, it's because he was most commonly known by another name. In the Bible, individuals were oftentimes given nicknames that really reflected their personalities, how they interacted with other people.

If somebody today, say, has red hair, and maybe all their friends know them as red, wherever they go, they're red. That's a characteristic of their appearance that they're remembered by. There's also times, again, characteristics of personalities that define maybe a nickname that someone is given. That is what this person was known by.

Another example in the scripture would be James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were known as sons of thunder. Probably a reference to their fiery personalities, their maybe willingness to charge headfirst into things. It was James and John who were traveling with Jesus, and they came into a Samaritan region. They didn't want to receive Jesus Christ.

It was James and John who said, well, shall we call fire down from heaven? Just kind of smoke them right here. There was sort of this thing about their personalities that defined them, I would say, as sons of thunder. Picking up a nickname in the ancient world wasn't an uncommon thing. Now, just imagine if you had a personality trait that was so strong that you were given that nickname to describe you. And wherever you went, people didn't know you by your given name. They knew you by your nickname. And even roughly 2,000 years later, that's how everybody remembered you.

You know, the record of you in the New Testament was primarily made up of that nickname you were given. Well, that was Joseph. That was Joseph. The personality traits for which he was known earned him the nickname that most of us are familiar with, and that's Barnabas.

Barnabas. Barnabas means son of encouragement. You know, encouragement is an important thing, brethren, and I appreciate Mr. Frickie in the opening message talking about encouragement.

And, you know, he used that example of being a bummer lamb and the fact that, you know, we're picked up, we're cleaned up, and we're nurtured by our father and our elder brother, Jesus Christ. And Jesus is that shepherd who cares for us and gives us encouragement.

Encouragement is such an important thing. It's the lifting up of others. It's the offering of hope and strength and comfort and support. You know, when someone's down, it's coming alongside them and, you know, just giving them some reassurance. It'll be okay. And there's hope.

There's a brighter day ahead. We're walking through challenging times in the world today, but we understand because of our calling there is hope. There's a brighter day ahead that our God has purposed. Every human being has a deep need for affirmation at some level, right? To feel like they are important, that they contribute something to society that's valuable, that they can contribute something to other people that's appreciated. And encouragement is such a powerful force because it helps to bond people together, right? It bonds friendships together. You know, why do people sometimes go out and train as couples or as partners?

You know, you can train solo, and many do, but sometimes there's people that train in certain ways where it's a synergy that you're feeding off of one another. And maybe you feel like giving up and the person you're training with says just a little farther. And there's that encouragement to keep on going. It bonds us together in friendships, in marriages. Encouragement bonds us in families, and encouragement bonds us as well in the church. And we'll see the history of that as it is indeed given in the scriptures. Now, very often it doesn't take much more than a positive word to encourage somebody. You know, an uplifting comment, a kind word, a kind gesture, given at a time maybe when they are down and that can, you know, give them that boost that they were needing. And often it doesn't take much, but the timing can be very important. You know, that was Barnabas. That's what he was known for. He was known for the encouragement that he offered not just to the church as a whole, but to individuals on a personal level as well. So much so that the name was given to him, son of encouragement. You know, one who was born of encouragement. His personality, his way of conducting himself, was encouraging and uplifting to others. And so today we're going to take some time to examine the attitude that Barnabas had in his life, the encouraging nature by which he engaged with others, and hope that we can all see the value of exercising the same trait of encouragement in our life, the importance of being encouragers to others.

It takes work. It takes practice. We don't always do it well. I don't always do it well, but I believe it's something that we can grow in if we apply the effort. Acts chapter 4 is where we first find mention of Barnabas, and it's in the very early stages of the church's development.

So let's go there to begin. Acts chapter 4 and verse 31.

Acts 4, 31, the timing here is, you go back earlier in the chapter, Peter and John are dragged in.

They're told to stop teaching in the name of Jesus Christ. They answer, we have to obey God.

They're threatened, and then they're released. And we come to Acts chapter 4 and verse 31.

And now they've rejoined the brethren. And it says, And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul.

And neither than anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they all had things in common. And with great power, says the apostles, gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and great grace was upon them all.

Verse 34, for there was nothing among them, or no one among them, who lacked, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them.

They brought the proceeds of the things which were sold.

They laid them at the apostles' feet, and they were distributed to each one, as anyone had need.

You know, this isn't exactly a biblical model, I would say, for how the church should live today.

We're not to go out and just sort of be a big commune, sell everything we have, and have all things in common. That's not the point.

But it was how the church in Jerusalem functioned for a period of time.

You know, the setting here, people had come up to Jerusalem for Pentecost, right?

That's a pilgrimage feast. They had gathered in. The Holy Spirit was poured out.

Now, the church was established. Miracles were being done, and there was excitement in the air.

And you didn't exactly just want to, you know, pack up your bags and go back home.

You didn't want to miss out. This is what was happening right there in Jerusalem.

And so you had people who took what they had, and they wanted to be together in collective fellowship with the apostles. As the Gospels bring preach, as people were being called.

And so, as they had means to do so, they provided for the collective whole, that they could be there together. Now, verse 36 says, and Joseph, all right, there's the name.

You'll see it once here in the Scripture as Joseph. But Joseph, 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 he brought the money, and he laid it at the apostles' feet. What we see right off the bat was Barnabas was a part of these gathered believers at the beginning of the church. And what you're going to notice is that it was the apostles who named him Barnabas. Right? It was the leadership that was in place that recognized, this is an encouraging guy.

And how he interacts and what he does, what he says, has a real boost to the church. And they named him Barnabas. Additionally, Barnabas sold a piece of land, which he had owned, and he donated it to the cause. And what becomes evident about his personality is that he is all in. Right? He's generous, he's open-handed with that which he had, and he was all in. He wanted to support the work of the church, he wanted to support the brethren who had come into the church and were there gathered together. And Barnabas held nothing back from his offering of encouragement and support to his fellow believers, again, at a critical juncture of the church.

This was the start. And, you know, there was opposition right off the bat from the Jewish leadership, but there were people that were determined to see that the gospel went out, and the people who were called were cared for. And so, again, this was a reflection of the generous heart and attitude that Barnabas had. And what we're going to see in contrast is that not everybody had the same attitude. You know, his stood out as quite unique.

If we jump down to chapter 5, Acts, chapter 5 verse 1, it says, "...a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira, his wife, sold the possession, and they kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God." The problem here was not that Ananias and Sapphira had sold a piece of land and kept some of it for themselves.

That was not the problem. The problem was the deception. Because, you see, they sold it for a certain amount of money, and they intentionally deceived the apostles and others into thinking that they had given their all, everything, to the work, you know, to providing for the people of God's. In other words, they sold it for a price, made a pre-sense that they were giving everything just as Barnabas had done, but it was not true. Paul said, or excuse me, Peter said, you know what, it was in your control that was your land, and even after you sold it, that was your money to do with as you had pleased.

The problem is, why are you coming up here making a pre-tense of everything that we have, we are giving, when in fact it is not so? And I would just say, perhaps they saw the generosity of Barnabas. They saw the encouragement that it offered to the people, and they themselves wanted that recognition and that notoriety for themselves, and it was a wrong spirit, the wrong attitude. Again, God doesn't require of us, and the church does not require of us to sell everything we have and give to the church, but they were deceptive in what they were showing their heart to indeed be.

Verse 5, carrying on, it says, then Anne and I, hearing these words, fell down, breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young man arose, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, saying, tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, yes, for so much.

Then Peter said to her, how is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?

Look the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.

Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men carried, the young men came in, found her dead, carrying her out, buried her by her husband. And so great fear came upon all the church and upon all who had heard these things. The importance of revering God and fearing God and not playing games, frankly, with the calling of God, was impacted on the church at a very early point by this example. But again, what we see is that Barnabas was someone who was all in. Okay, and it wasn't about the money, it was about his heart.

He didn't hold back. He didn't just, you know, give a portion and hold a portion. He was all in.

He was a man of encouragement. If you look at all the scriptures pertaining to Barnabas, what you're going to find is that the Bible says he was a preacher, and it also calls him a teacher.

Ultimately, in Acts chapter 14, verse 14, he's also referred to as an apostle.

Right alongside the Apostle Paul in that account, in Acts 14, 14, Barnabas as well as called an apostle. So as such, he lifted up others not only with his actions, but with his words. Spoke the word of God, brought the truth to those who would hear, and he was an encouragement to all.

Just consider the message that Barnabas spread. It was the gospel message.

Remission of sins, gospel of the coming kingdom of God, the return of Jesus Christ. These were all encouraging things to them in that day, and brethren, they must be encouraging things to us today. God has a future, he has a hope, and what we endure in the world today is not all that there is.

And that is the message that Barnabas taught. Repent, be reconciled to God by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And so that message of encouragement, when combined with his personality of encouragement, of lifting other people up and coming alongside them, those things together had a profound effect on the establishment of the church in various areas. Let's go to Acts chapter 11 and see the impact of his teaching in action. Acts chapter 11 and verse 19, again, the son of encouragement.

You know, just think about it. You don't just earn a name like that without it truly being so through and through. Acts chapter 11 verse 19, it says, Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. The Hellenists here were the Greek-speaking Jews of the region. You know, you had Jews who were scattered around the empire.

I would say predominantly the ones in Jerusalem were Hebrew-speaking. Others would have been Hebrew- speaking as well, but there were also many around that were Greek-speaking Jews. They had been Hellenized. They had grown up in a Greek culture, spoke the Greek language, yet they were still Jews by birth and by obedience. But here, now they come to the message of Jesus Christ to these Greek-speaking Jews. And verse 21 says, And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of them believed, and they turned to the Lord. And the news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. And when he came and he had seen the grace of God, he was glad. And notice, he encouraged them. He encouraged them. This was his nature. This was his preaching. He encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he spoke, for he was a good man. Okay, this is describing Barnabas, a good man full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord. This is the result, right, of an encouraging message, of an encouraging teacher, of one that went out as the son of encouragement and lifted people up. It said, A great many people were added to the faith.

And I would just say that the gospel message, which is the same one we preach today, when it is properly presented, is a very encouraging message. Because it's a message of hope, right? It's a message of future, of what God has in store for all of mankind. We have to be careful that our sharing of the gospel isn't, well, you all just better repent, or God's going to wipe you out anyway. You know, it's, it's, there are elements of, yes, you must repent. That is, that is primary, right? You must repent, be reconciled to God. But the point is, His kingdom is coming. You want to be a part of it, and you can be a part of it, of a better age, a better day. And it's a very uplifting and encouraging message. It's hope-filled for the future. So this world, as we look around, is discouraging in many aspects. At least if you turn on the news, I tend to think if I just left the news off in the morning, I'd be a much happier person. Much more encouraged, you know? But there are some discouraging things around us in this world right now. The virus pandemic, the political wranglings, other challenges that are going on. And for us, the question would be, how encouraging are we as a people in spreading the gospel message? And showing by our example that our life is encouraged because of what God is doing, what He's done in our life, and the hope that we look to. Do we possess a Barnabas-like enthusiasm for what God has called us to? That we desire to share it in a way that lifts up others and encourages them along the way as well. You know, we have opportunities to be sons and daughters of encouragement as the people of God. We look through the Bible and we see examples of different traits. There's traits of the Apostle Paul that I find encouraging, and I think, boy, you know, just to be like him. And there's traits of others that maybe we identify with as encouraging as well. Take this trait of Barnabas to your life as well and consider, how can I be a son or daughter of encouragement in the church, right, with my words and actions, as well as the world around me today? I believe God would have us do so, and I believe it's important we be known as such as well, sons and daughters of encouragement. Now, another way that Barnabas encouraged people by his nature and by his words was that he at times stood up as an advocate for others. He stood by their side. He defended them and even at times laid his reputation on the line for them. Barnabas could see the good in people. He could see their potential, what they were capable of. Maybe that needed some development along the way, some training, but he could see what they could be, how they could serve God, how they could serve the church, how he could bring them along, and he was there to stand beside them, to defend them, and to give them opportunities to excel. And again, that was something that was very encouraging to the church.

The Barnabas that we know from Scripture was actually, you know, maybe we don't always think about it because we think of his interactions with Paul a little differently than this, but Barnabas was actually an advocate for the Apostle Paul. Maybe we don't remember Paul in his early days.

That actually needed somebody to stand up for him, and that person was Barnabas. Let's go to Acts chapter 26.

Acts chapter 26. You recall who Saul was, and I may use Saul and Paul interchangeably.

He was first called Saul, his Hebrew name. Later, Paul, his Greek name. But we remember who Saul was before his conversion, how he persecuted the church severely. And I just want to look at a brief summary of Paul's own words of who he was before he was struck down on the road to Damascus.

Because this is who Barnabas stood up for and advocated for early on in his ministry.

Acts chapter 26 and verse 9. Again, this is Saul. Acts 26 verse 9. He's giving a defense giving a defense before King Agrippa at this point.

Acts 26 and 9. Saul says, Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

And this I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Paul said, Yes, I stood there and said, That person declares the name of Jesus Christ, they deserve to die.

He said, I cast my vote against them. Verse 11, and I punish them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme. Just take a second and think about what would it take for a believer to be compelled to seemingly blaspheme? You know, what threat would be made?

What might be taken away? What might be at risk of loss of self, family?

What would it take to get someone to blaspheme? Paul knew how to put the screws to the Christians, and he says, compelled them to blaspheme, being exceedingly enraged. Okay, this was a vendetta.

This wasn't just a casual pursuit. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to the foreign cities. I chased them, I hunted them down, wherever I knew they went.

He says, while thus occupied, this is what I was doing, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. And we know the story. He's going to find Christians to bind them, to drag them back to Jerusalem, and yet Saul was struck down on the road to Damascus by Jesus Christ. Eventually, he was converted, and we don't have time to look at all the details of the timeline today, but there were approximately three years between when Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus and when he went back up to Jerusalem again to see the apostles.

We won't go there, but I'll just give you this reference. Galatians chapter 1, verse 15 through 18. Three years where the apostle Paul went from Damascus to Arabia, was taught by Jesus Christ personally, returned to Damascus after many days. But you see, there was just one little problem, because upon his return to Jerusalem, the disciples were afraid of Saul.

Right? They didn't want a thing to do with him. This is the guy that had drug people out of their homes, had cast his vote for them to be persecuted and killed. This is the one who had done all these things, and now they thought this was a ploy. Right? His conversion. This guy's doing something just to try to drag more people into light so he can go after them, so he can persecute them. They were afraid of Paul. They said this is a farce until Barnabas stepped in on his behalf. Acts chapter 9, verse 19.

Now sometimes it's hard to overcome a reputation, but when God gives you opportunity, sometimes maybe what you need is an advocate to stand up for you to help to open the door so you have an opportunity again. Acts chapter 9 and verse 19.

This is right after Saul's been struck down, and now Ananias has come, different Ananias, has come and anointed him, and he's received the Holy Spirit. Verse 19, it says, So when he had received food, Saul, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus, and immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and they said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called upon this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? It says, But Saul increased all the more in strength, and he confounded the Jews who dwell in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Now, after many days were passed, and this is where scholars think that these many days is where you would insert this three years, actually, when he went from Damascus to Arabia, received training from Jesus Christ, came back to Damascus. And after many days were passed, it says, The Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul, and they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, let him down through the wall in a large basket. You know, there's probably maybe somebody's house had a window on the wall, and tied a rope to a basket, and they just lowered Paul down the outside so he could escape.

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. And they did not believe that he was a disciple. You know, can you imagine? Everybody in Jerusalem would have known who Paul was, or Saul at this time still, in his persecution.

And he walks in the door and tries to join the church? What would they say? You know, don't trust this guy. Don't believe him. You remember what he did to my parents, who called on the name of Jesus Christ, how he drug them off, how they gave their house to somebody else, how they were fed to the lions, whatever it was. You really want to risk your children?

You know, lock the door. That was the reception of Saul. Verse 27 says, But Barnabas, son of encouragement, Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and 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. And so he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. So it took the word of Barnabas, right, to bring man of good reputation, man of encouragement, to bring Saul before the apostles, to show them that, you know what, truly he had been converted.

And we come back to Barnabas' nature, right? He saw the potential in Paul. He knew what he was capable of. He could see what it was, perhaps even that God had purposed for him, to the point that Barnabas staked his own reputation on it, and he came alongside of Saul, and he stood up for him.

He advocated for him before the apostles. Again, Joseph, whose name was son of encouragement by the apostles, he was given that because of how he had conducted himself all along the way, once again, conducted himself in a role of encouragement and strength.

The Greek word that's translated encouragement, as in son of encouragement, is paraclesis.

It's spelled P-A-R-A-K-L-E-S-I-S. Paraclesis, it's translated encouragement, Vines' expository dictionary defines paraclesis as a calling to one's side.

Somebody that comes up along one's side, somebody who's there as a support.

Strongs defines it as a calling to one's aid, as an advocate, one that offers encouragement and comfort. And if the word paraclesis sounds familiar to you, brethren, it's because of the word paracletos, which we've referred to often, which refers to the Holy Spirit as the comforter.

They come from the same root word. And Saul, in this case, was given comfort and encouragement by Barnabas, and indeed it was his nature. Barnabas came alongside Saul in that support, so that he would be accepted by the church in Jerusalem. As it continues on in verse 28, what we find is that he, being Saul, was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and he disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. Again, the Hellenists were the Greek-speaking Jews that were in the region, and now here's Saul, who once was a champion for the persecution of the church, now out preaching Jesus Christ, he'd flip sides, and they wanted to kill him for doing so.

They wanted to kill him. Verse 30, it says, but when the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. So it wasn't going to work to have Saul in Jerusalem at that time, because of who he was, who he had been. He was sent out to Tarsus, Saul's place of birth, where he originally had come from. And again, we don't have time to go through the entire timeline of this, but it appears that he spent several years, possibly up to six years, in Tarsus on his own. Some would describe it as exile. I don't think I would necessarily go that far, but he was basically wanted to be a part, wanted to help in the church, but because of his reputation, it was a lightning rod, frankly, for the Jews around coming at the church as well, and they sent him away. Again, a period probably six years or so in Tarsus. And what's interesting about that is Barnabas did not forget about Saul during that period of time. In fact, there came a point where Barnabas was now out preaching in Antioch, and he recognized that there was actually a need for someone else to come in alongside of him. And so I want to go back to Acts chapter 11, where we were earlier. We were there seeing Barnabas teach. Now we've kind of jumped back in time. I want to go forward again to Acts chapter 11, approximately six years later, and Barnabas remembers Saul. Acts chapter 11 in verse 23.

And it says, when he, Barnabas, came in and seen the grace of God, he was glad. He encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord. For verse 25, then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. Again, he didn't forget about Saul.

Remember the man who'd been struck down on the road to Damascus, who had preached in the name of Jesus Christ boldly. He remembered how he had been converted. He remembered his potential. And so he went to find him, to come alongside him once again, which is what an encourager does, and to bring him back to Tarsus for the sake of the church.

Again, six years later, Barnabas remembers Saul. Verse 26.

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And 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 under the teaching of Barnabas and Saul. Again, on the timeline of things, this is around 44-45 AD. So we're looking at 14 years or so following the giving of the Holy Spirit, starting of the church on 31 AD. 14 years later, Barnabas was an encourager the whole time.

He was looking for ways to lift up people, to encourage the church the entire time.

He was an advocate for Saul years earlier, and here he was again coming alongside him, to bring him along, to take him under his wing, and again so that Saul could assist now Barnabas at the church in Antioch. Once again, a door would be open.

Now, in Acts chapter 13, we see the continuation of their teaching there, and what ultimately came of it. Acts chapter 13 in verse 1, it says, Now in the church that was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas and Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, a man who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. And as they ministered to the Lord, and as they fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

It says, Then they fasted and prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them away.

So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleutia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And I think we sometimes forget that the Apostle Paul wasn't just kind of on his way on the road to Damascus, struck down, and immediately went out to be the disciple, the Apostle, to the Gentiles. You know, that wasn't an immediate process. It was eight, nine, ten years after his conversion before Paul actually went out with Barnabas here on his first missionary journey.

During that process of time, Barnabas had played a pivotal role in opening the door for Paul into the church. He had presented him to the Apostles in Jerusalem. Again, several years later brought him back to Antioch, which actually ended up being Paul's home base. If you study through his missionary journeys, they'd go out, travel around, come back, always, in most cases, anyway back to Antioch. It became Paul's home base. But Barnabas was there to bring him alongside and to develop, frankly, along with him as he was introduced to the church.

It's interesting to note, also, as you study through the first missionary journey of Barnabas of Saul, that's the order that they're referenced. Barnabas and Saul. Barnabas and Saul.

Okay, indicating Barnabas as having the lead role during this time as they are sent out. He was seeming to be indicated as the leader of the expedition, Barnabas and Saul. But at some point, then that designation makes a flip. Then it becomes Paul and Barnabas. And you see it moving forward in that context. Paul and Barnabas. Let's go to Acts chapter 14 and verse 12 and just look at one scripture that, again, indicates the lead role that Paul himself began to take in this partnership. Acts chapter 14 and verse 12. They had traveled to Lystra. A miracle had been done.

Healing had been done. Now these pagans wanted to sacrifice to them as gods. Okay, so we got Acts 14.12. It says, in Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. Paul was the chief speaker here. And again, apparently there was a reversal in the leading roles from Barnabas and Saul to Paul and Barnabas. Paul was the chief speaker.

And what's interesting is it tells us something about Barnabas' nature as well. He wasn't proud.

He wasn't threatened by Paul's leadership. He wasn't threatened by his boldness.

You know, he was willing to find him at a time that he was down and bring him up and even allow him to surpass himself in the leadership role that he took on. And that's the type of a person that a true encourager is. You know, it's not someone who says, okay, you remember your place and you don't forget who made you. I've heard that before. Not incredibly encouraging. That wasn't Barnabas.

Barnabas sent Paul on a path that frankly allowed Paul even to exceed Barnabas in his accomplishments and in his service to the church that God had desired he would do. But again, this was a son of encouragement. He could pick somebody up out of the dirt, help clean them off, see their potential, and actually help set them onto a path that eventually even eclipsed his own standing.

And it was quite an example here in the Scriptures.

Rather than the ability to see the potential in others and to encourage that development is a Barnabas-like attribute that's important to the church today. We need people who can see the potential of others, what they have to offer, and help to encourage them to bring that out in service to all as well. It's what Barnabas did all along his way. And so I would just say if you're an older member and you see something in a younger member that can be of service to God's people, encourage that. Come alongside. Mentor that. Help them to see the value of what it is that they have.

It's just, again, what Barnabas did. And the example and the value of it to the church and the impact was dramatic. The church of God today needs sons and daughters of encouragement as well.

Paul's own writings, 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 11, he says to us, comfort each other and edify one another. Lift each other up, he says, just as you also are doing. So it needs to be an ongoing process of looking around the room saying, you know, how can I help somebody else to be uplifted and encouraged today? It's getting up in the morning on the Sabbath and saying, okay, today is the assembly at services. What can I do to encourage somebody else today? What can I do to lift them up? Because, let's be honest, brethren, I think we all, at one form or another, drag into the assembly out of the world and we need encouragement to carry on, to live this way of life, to fight the good fight, to be a light to the world. We need encouragement and, you know, the people that get up here and speak, it's not just on them to set the tone, it's on all of us as we come together to lift each other up and to strengthen each other and help us to lead this hall saying, it was good to be together. And I feel good about what we were able to do together today.

And so Paul just says again, 1 Thessalonians 5, 11, comfort each other and edify one another just as you also are doing.

Romans chapter 12. Paul gives many examples of coming out of the world, not being conformed.

Romans chapter 15, in verse 2, he says, let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. Again, that lifting up, that encouraging, the building up of one another, and the point is, it's not all about me, and it's not all about you, but it's about what God is doing with us collectively as a body and by what every joint supplies. I don't think we can ever minimize the importance of edifying each other in the faith, and especially as we are nearing the time of the end and things in the world around us are seeming to turn on its ear, we need the encouragement that the word of God gives and the people of God give by his Spirit. There's one final individual I want to consider today in the relation to Barnabas's encouragement and what it is he had to offer as an advocate, and that's John Mark. John Mark was Barnabas's cousin, and in Acts 15, we find that there was actually contention that erupts between Barnabas and Paul over John Mark.

It's at the beginning of the second missionary journey that they're heading out on together.

Acts chapter 15 verse 36.

Acts 15 and verse 36 says, Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas. You notice Paul and Barnabas now. 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 at Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another, and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas, departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria, Cilicia, strengthening the churches. John Mark had been out on the first missionary journey with them, and he had turned back. And the Bible doesn't exactly tell us what the issue was or why he turned back, but here Barnabas comes along and says, Okay, if we're going back out, I want to give John Mark another chance. Paul disagreed, and it said that contention became so sharp that essentially they parted directions. But it's important to note, though, brethren, that although they disagreed over this one point, Paul and Barnabas both continued in the same work.

They visited different areas, but they were still the areas they'd gone to on their first missionary journey. Barnabas took John Mark, went to one area. Paul took Silas and went to another. But in terms of John Mark, it seems that Barnabas recognized, again, his potential. And he wanted to give him a chance to recover from what was perhaps a past mistake. You know, they were cousins, but I don't think it was just that. I think Barnabas, who was the son of encouragement, said, I know you can do this. I see greatness in you. I know this can be developed in a way that is valuable in service to the church, and he wanted to carry on with him to help develop in that spiritual walk. And again, that certainly would have been consistent with what we know of Barnabas. Most scholars believe that John Mark authored the Gospel of Mark. And as it turns out, he eventually proved himself worthy to the Apostle Paul as well, who mentions him as a companion and a co-worker in the faith, and as a support in ministry and a support to the people of God. I'll just give you three references. Colossians 4 verse 10, 2 Timothy 4.11, and Philemon 1.24. Three places where Paul essentially said that John Mark was useful to him to ministry was a blessing to the church.

Barnabas saw in him all along, and he knew it could be nurtured, and he knew it could be developed, and he wanted to give opportunity. And again, he stood up as an advocate coming alongside for the benefit of not only John Mark, but also the church.

Brethren, encouragement is such an important thing. Again, it's the lifting up of others.

It's the coming alongside. It's the offering of support and comfort and hope to one another, encouragement helps to bind together family and friends, marriages, and it binds together the church. Let's take a lesson from Barnabas. Let us look at his example. Let us consider the son of encouragement and apply the same principles to our lives today so that we may all strive to be sons and daughters of encouragement as well, not only to one another, but in our service to God.

And to this world.