Are you a Barnabas?

BARNABAS: AN EXAMPLE FOR TODAY.

ARE YOU A BARNABAS?

“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)” Acts 4:36.

The reason that we have house groups or small groups is to build up relationships within the body of believers in the church. To support, pray for and encourage one another in Christ. If Barnabas was alive today and part of our house group I believe we would all be greatly blessed. Because his character and actions caused the early church to give him the name “Son of Encouragement.”

Barnabas was one of the first members of the Jerusalem church formed after the Day of Pentecost. He set an example of selfless generosity in keeping with his name; Barnabas is one of the godliest men mentioned in the New Testament. His selfless commitment to others and the ministry was an inspiration in his day and in ours.

Barnabas was the first person in the Jerusalem church to risk contact with Paul after his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:27 “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.”

Later, the Jerusalem elders entrusted Barnabas with a mission to Antioch to check out a Gentile church that had formed there. Acts 11:22 “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.”

Barnabas stayed and became one of the leadership team of prophets and elders who guided the Antioch church. After a time, Barnabas realized that Paul’s gifts could be used in this situation, and Barnabas went to Tarsus to find him. Barnabas brought Paul with him to Antioch, and Paul became a member of the church’s leadership team.

Whenever we see Barnabas portrayed in Scripture, he is seen in relationship with others. Barnabas was not a “one man band” leader, but found his fulfilment in ministering with and to others. What a great support he must have been to others.

Later Barnabas teamed up with Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey reported in (Acts 13-14). Luke went into considerable detail about the adventures Barnabas and Paul shared on this mission trip. While at first Barnabas was the team’s leader, Paul’s gifts soon made it clear that he was to lead. Barnabas displayed no hint of any jealousy at this turn of events, and it is characteristic in these chapters for Luke to link “Paul and Barnabas.”

Later Barnabas and Paul would split up (Acts 15:35-39). When the two planned a return visit to the churches they had founded.

Barnabas wanted to take his cousin (Colossians 4:10) John Mark along. Because Mark had abandoned the missionary team earlier, Paul refused to consider it. The two separated and each set out with his own missionary team.

As usual, Barnabas reached out on behalf of a young man who needed to be recovered. John Mark was rescued, and Paul was reconciled to him and, we assume, to Barnabas as well, see 2 Timothy 4:11”Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” What Barnabas had done for Paul by building him up, he now wanted to help Mark in the ministry. It worked! Mark because a great minister in the church. I wonder how many more Barnabas helped.

Are you a Barnabas? Here are some examples of Barnabas encouragements:

A. Barnabas inspires us to give priority to people, and not possessions.

Barnabas quickly responded when Christian widows and orphans were in need, and he sold his own land to meet the need.

B. Barnabas inspires us to reach out to others who are new in the faith.

Only Barnabas in the church at Jerusalem was willing to reach out to Saul after his conversion. The others may have been afraid that Saul would turn them over to the Jewish authorities.

C. Barnabas inspires us to draw promising young people into ministry.

When Barnabas became a leader in the church at Antioch, he left to find Saul of Tarsus, and bring him to Antioch, where he polished Paul’s gifts and calling for a greater future ministry.

D. Barnabas inspires us to take delight when our disciples better us.

When Barnabas and Saul started on their first missionary journey, Barnabas was team leader, Barnabas and Paul. On the trip, it quickly became noticeable that God had given Paul greater gifts, and the leadership passed to Paul. Soon it would be Paul and Barnabas. It is not easy to serve together in complete harmony.

E. Barnabas inspires us to make a commitment to those whose mistakes or their past failures have led others to write them off.

Barnabas’s investment in John Mark, recovered a young man who became a second-generation leader in the church whom God used to write the second Gospel.

CONCLUSION:

We need more people like Barnabas, to encourage us in our faith!