A Mouth for Encouraging - Barnabas
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Introduction: Today we’re continuing our “Authentic Character” Sermon series. Each week we are looking at a biblical character that embodies a “Mark” of a true disciple. We’ve looked at the Bereans’ Mind for Truth, David’s heart for God, and today we look at Barnabas’ mouth for encouragement.
Before we dive into God’s word, let go to God in prayer.
Pray.
I love award speeches. Whether it’s the oscars or the Heismann, it’s always cool to see who they thank. There is the normal people. But many times there are those people maybe not first on the list, but are the ones that encouraged them to follow their dreams work hard or simply do their best. Sometimes it’s a parent, or a teacher or a mentor. Those people who believe in you and are willing to invest in you.
As we consider what it means to have a mouth for encouraging I want to start off by stating that encouragement is not saying nice positive things to someone. Encouragement is not telling someone they did a good job when clearly they didn’t.
Encouragement can even be constructively critical. Sometimes it has to be. Encouragement is a mentality and it’s always relational.
Encouragement is only encouragement when it’s personal.
So often we feel like we have to choose between erring on the side of encouragement or pointing out someone’s mistakes. First build a relationship and you will never go wrong by erring on the side of encouragement. As a Christian we are called to cultivate a mouth for encouragement and build people up.
Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Acts 9:20-28. This passage comes on the heals of an incredible story of transformational where a man named Saul who was persecuting the church to the point of having Christians killed for the Gospel, but after experiencing the presence of Jesus, is transformed by God into a Christian. Saul immediately began preaching the Gospel. But when Saul tries to go to church one Sunday in Jerusalem, he was rejected. No one would dare welcome him until a man named Barnabas is willing to vouch for him. Barnabas is an example for us even today. Let us...
Introduce:
Authentic Principle: Build people up like Barnabas.
Authentic Principle: Build people up like Barnabas.
Read:
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Authentic Principle: Build people up like Barnabas.
Authentic Principle: Build people up like Barnabas.
In order for us to build people up, we need to get past some of the barriers that get in the way. First and perhaps hardest....
1. Don’t let someone’s past get in the way of the part you may play in their future. (Acts 9:20-25)
1. Don’t let someone’s past get in the way of the part you may play in their future. (Acts 9:20-25)
Explanation: Admittedly Saul had a pretty checkered past. And many of us could probably be sympathetic to those who were skeptical of his transformation. What if he really was just trying to infiltrate the church trojan horse style?
For many it may seem to be too risky to trust a man that only a few weeks prior was trying to kill them.
But Saul’s transformation was truly remarkable. So much so that everyone who saw the transformation had a hard time accepting that this could even be the same person. But they couldn’t deny that it was.
They are reminded that very recently Saul made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on the name of Jesus. And that same Saul is now proclaiming that same name.
And what’s amazing is Saul makes incredible growth almost immediately. He increases all the more in strength and confounded the Jews by Proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Paul who was a Jewish Rabbi already looks to have already begun gathering disciples himself who work to protect him form those who see to kill him.
And naturally Paul is an effective communicator that the Jews realize that this man who was once their greatest hope for destroying the church, has now become one of it’s best defenders. What would the Jews do with this?
Kill him, of course!
At least they tried. but his disciples sent him away at night.
But when He comes to Jerusalem, he is rejected by the church. Why couldn’t they get past Saul’s past?
We have to remember that Saul likely had “wreaked havoc” against their friends and family members not long ago. Stephen was dead, and Acts tells us that Saul approved of it. Let’s not split hairs here. Many of us today would have responded to Saul in the same way. But can we overcome past hurts to forgive?
Illustration: I remember a story of a woman whose family was slaughtered in the Rowandan genecide. When she found out that her family’s killer was imprisoned, she went to see him. She wanted to look him in the eye, because as a Christian she knew she was supposed to offer forgiveness. But something happened when she got there.
Prisons in Rowanda were not set up to handle the amount of people who were imprisoned for their crimes during that time. They were understaffed and underfunded. The prisons were so unsanitary that most of the prisoners died from disentary and starvation. Many might say, well that’s what they deserved right? They did awful things and deserve and awful punishment.
This woman saw the conditions of the man who killed her family and took a different Path. She offered not only forgiveness, but got him out of prison and invited him to live with her and adopted him as her son.
To some that may seem ridiculous, but that is the power of the Gospel of Jesus.
Application: We can’t allow someone’s past to get in the way of the part we may play in their future. Now a few things.
Saul had already demonstrated evidence of His transformation. But they refused to see what was right in front of them.
It’s one thing to doubt people can talk a good talk, but Paul was already putting his life on the line for the sake of Christ. Jews were already trying to kill him. Common sense would tell you that this was a miraculous change that could only be explained by God.
Be wise, but be open to what God can do through someone who isn’t perfect. We’ll find that they are in good company with people like Saul in the Bible.
2. Let go of preconceived notions and prejudices. (Acts 9:26)
2. Let go of preconceived notions and prejudices. (Acts 9:26)
Explanation: When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he and the Christians there would have to overcome some preconceived notions and prejudices. On the one hand Saul had earned people’s skeptical reaction to him. This wasn’t a matter of a simple misunderstanding. Saul had done the things that he was accused of.
He had made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on the name of Jesus.
He had gone to Damascus for the purpose of bringing Christians bound to Jerusalem.
He had watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned and looked after their coats.
And it wasn’t even that long ago.
So what preconceived notions and prejudices did they have to overcome?
First, there is the preconceived notion that people don’t change.
Second, there is the preconceived notion that you are always defined by the worst thing you’ve ever done.
Notice how their preconceived notions and prejudices led to fear. They were afraid of Saul.
And because of their fear they did not believe that he was a disciple even with all the evidence to the contrary. Fear can make us make some bad decisions.
Illustration: Many of us have preconceived notions about a lot of things. My kids will look at food they’ve never had and say they don’t like it. And even when we ask them to try it, they have already made up in their minds that they won’t like it…so they don’t even give it a chance.
We do the same with people. We have a habit of judging them on the basis of any number of things. The neighborhood they live in, the school they went to, the team they root for, their job, the car they drive. And of course, we judge people based on their appearance: clothes, style, hair, and of course, skin color.
And these snap judgements can get in the way of any future of a relationship.
Application: Encouraging people is not about being a doormat. Encouraging people is about looking past our preconceived notions and prejudices and seeing the possibilities of change in a person. Believing in a future that we can’t see. And seeing in them what they may not see in themselves.
Having a mouth for encouraging means willing to take a risk to help realize what is possible.
Saul was completely rejected by the people in Jerusalem until one person was willing to stand up and put himself on the line to vouch for him. That man’s name was Barnabas.
3. Go to bat for people who are worth it. (Acts 9:27-28)
3. Go to bat for people who are worth it. (Acts 9:27-28)
Explanation: This was not the first time Barnabas had been an encouraging person. In fact Barnabas wasn’t even his real name. His name was Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname that means “Son of Encouragement.” Imagine being so encouraging that they stop calling you by your name and start calling you “son of encouragement.”
When Barnabas saw that Saul needed some support. He saw his friends afraid of Saul. He saw their rejection and decided to step in.
Barnabas had already been watching. He saw what Saul was doing. he heard Saul’s message. He saw Saul’s persecution. He decided to take that Saul was worth it.
He went to Saul and he brought him to the apostles.
He told them Saul’s story. About his dramatic conversion. About his message, we he proclaimed boldly at great cost to himself.
And as a result of Barnabas personally vouching for Saul, Saul was accepted. And he was so effective, that the hellenists in Jersualem were also trying to kill Saul.
So they sent him home to Tarsus out of harms way until the time would come when God would call him back.
This was just who Barnabas was. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last.
Illustration: Going to bat for someone is a lot like investing. Whenever you decide to invest your money in a company, stocks, bonds, or the real estate, you run the risk that the investment isn’t going to work out. But sometimes the riskiest investments have the potential the greatest returns. The same is true of people. it’s always risky to invest in people. You could get burned. But it could produce incredible returns. And I’m not talking about money. I’m talking about investing in people for the glory of God’s kingdom.
So don’t go in blind, make sure you know whether or not someone is worth it. See with God’s eyes. Not everyone is worth it, but . Pray. And when God points you to a person that he wants you to encourage, do it!
There are a lot of things that can keep us from vouching for people.
But at the same time, we might be hesitant to go to bat for someone because if it doesn’t work out, it may reflect negatively on us.
The same was true of Barnabas. Can you imagine how bad things couldn’t go with Saul? Saul was an enemy of the church. But God changed that.
However, there are almost as many commands about how you are to treat your enemies than how you are treat your friends. Because God is in the business of making enemies into friends. The Bible is filled with commandments of how we are to treat our enemies.
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Application: Be encouraging no matter what. Let things go. Don’t worry about getting even. Just be encouraging.
When someone messes up, forgive.
Invest in people who God says are worth it. We never know why people act the way that we do.
Maybe they weren’t hugged as a child. Maybe they are having a bad day. Have you ever considered how a kind word or deed might change a person’s day or even their whole life.
It’s always better to err on the side building someone up rather than potentially heaping pain, frustration, disappointment or discouragement on their heads.
Encouragement can change the world far more than criticism can.
Response: Who do you know who could use an encouraging word from someone like Barnabas? Will you be a Barnabas?
Response: Who do you know who could use an encouraging word from someone like Barnabas? Will you be a Barnabas?
Summation:
Authentic Principle: BUILD people UP like Barnabas.
1. Don’t let someone’s PAST get in the way of the part you may play in their FUTURE. (Acts 9:20-25)
2. Let go of preconceived NOTIONS and PREJUDICES. (Acts 9:26)
3. Go to BAT for people who are WORTH it. (Acts 9:27-28)
Closing Illustration:
If Barnabas had only gone to bat for Saul once that would have been enough. It’s great when anyone has your back.
However 9 years later, Barnabas is part of a new church in Damascus. Great things are happening there. They are growing and they need more help. Barnabas knows the perfect person to add to their team.
He goes to Tarsus, the hometown of Saul and brings him to Damascus to serve with him there.
From there, Saul and Barnabas would take the gospel to the nations.
And it all started with someone willing to be encouraging when no one else was.
But even Saul was not immune to hold the past against someone. Saul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey and took Mark along. Mark was not up to the task and quickly abandoned the group. A few years later, they were going to go on second trip and Barnabas wanted to take Mark again. Saul whose name was changed to Paul, wasn’t having it. Paul didn’t learn from Barnabas and made a snap judgement about Mark’s future.
Barnabas and Paul parted ways and there doesn’t seem to be any indication they ever reconciled.
But Paul was wrong about Mark. And Scripture gives Paul an opportunity to state that.
11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
It took Paul a long time to see what Barnabas saw right away.
So while we can also go to bat for people, don’t immediately ignore those who are vouched for by others you trust.
In all of our lives, at some point we are going to have a moment of decision where we can join the crowd and heap on the criticism or we can look past the flaws and be encouraging.
You might say, well I need to correct mistakes. First of all, no you don’t…at lest not always. Second of all, encouragement gives you more credibility to bring constructive criticism because in spite of the criticism, that person knows you have their back.
Let’s pray.
Week 38 of 2021-2022 Sermon Series: Authentic Character: A Mouth for Encouraging - Barnabas
Authentic Principle: BUILD people UP like Barnabas.
1. Don’t let someone’s PAST get in the way of the part you may play in their FUTURE. (Acts 9:20-25)
2. Let go of preconceived NOTIONS and PREJUDICES. (Acts 9:26)
3. Go to BAT for people who are WORTH it. (Acts 9:27-28)
Response: Who do you know who could use an ENCOURAGING word from someone like BARNABAS?
Opening Discussion: Have you ever had someone who was willing to have your back when it seemed like you were all alone? Have you been that person for someone else?
Sermon:
How did People initially respond to Saul’s change of heart?
What does Saul’s increasing strength in sharing the Gospel say about the legitimacy of His transformation?
Whey did curiosity quickly turn to rage that was bent on killing Saul? What impact might Saul’s transformation have on people watching?
How do the disciples in Jerusalem respond to Saul’s coming? Why might they have been skeptical of His transformation?
What part did Barnabas play in the Paul’s story? What did Barnabas say about Saul?
Why do you think that people trusted Barnabas’ regarding Saul? How do you think you would have responded
Application:
Have you ever judged someone based on their past? Why is that so common?
Why do you think that it’s so hard for us to let go of who a person used to be?
How can giving someone a chance open you and them up to new possibilities of what God is doing?
How did God use Barnabas to not only encourage Saul but to teach the church about what it means to show grace all who might come to know Jesus?
How might Saul’s ministry have been different had he not had a Barnabas in his corner?
Is it possible that God wants to use you to encourage someone who needs someone in their corner?
Is there someone who has had your back when others didn’t? Have you thanked them?