Barnabas - Son of Encouragement

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph)

Acts 4:36: And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus…

Here was a man-relatively unknown till that time; but was part of the early church. He must have been one of the early believers in the post-resurrection era. Jesus Christ had risen from the dead; the Holy Spirit had come as promised; searing sermons and saved souls were the order of the day, with new believers being added to the church daily. One of them was this Joses – an ordinary brother with an extra-ordinary heart of encouraging the new believers.

And today I would like us to dwell a little bit on the life of this wonderful person; the apostles were quick to recognize his enthusiasm and genuine faith and named him – Barnabas. It is written about Barnabas that “…he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” (Acts 11:24). I have this thought that it would hardly strike anyone to recognize Barnabas; an individual who may have particularly lacked eloquence and intellect. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Think about yourself-whatever you may think you lack, is there anything stopping any of us here to have this quality-to be full of the Holy Spirit and faith?

Faith is just holding on to what God has said. And there are at least 7 things we can learn from the life of Barnabas. Not much is written about him, but with whatever little is written of him-we can learn lessons that can be life-changing.

1. Have a heart to accept a repentant sinner: Acts 9:26, 27: 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. 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.

Saul of Tarsus was notorious for his mischief to the church; he would collect letters of authority for the express purpose of persecuting to the church; putting some believers in prison, others to rod and stones… you can easily imagine fear gripping the new disciples as Saul enters saying he would like to be one among them, but not Barnabas. Not only did he accept Saul, but took him to the apostles to have a prominent place in the church… now how do you respond to new believers? Or someone who is coming to your church for the first time? Are we really interested in their testimony?

2. Understand your limitations: The apostles were quick to recognize the gifting in Barnabas-that of encouragement to new believers. In Acts 11:22, 23 we read that when new believers were added to the church at Antioch, the apostles thought it fit to send Barnabas to encourage those new believers. “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. 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.”

Here was Barnabas-being promoted from individual encourager to collective encourager to new believers. He did go when sent; he was glad in God’s grace; he did encourage them. But you know what? He also knew his own limitations. For in verse 25 and 26 we read that Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul and bring him to Antioch to preach to the new believers. “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. 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 at Antioch.”

Isn’t that a wonderful testimony to Barnabas' life? An encourager-yes; but a teacher-Oh, I know someone better! We cannot go on and pretend to be a know all-do all in our calling. We are not independent in the body of Christ, but inter-dependent. There ARE functions for all believers, to fulfill the purposes of God. Do you recognize your own limitations? Would you, now, give an opportunity for someone who could just fit the bill, better?

3. Have financial integrity: Barnabas was a man of financial and personal integrity. Acts 4:36, 37: And Joses, 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 brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet.

Here was a man who freely gave. He had a piece of land, sold it and laid the price at the apostles’ feet. (The following verses mention Ananias and Saphira, who perished…). Barnabas knew what it is to pay the price. And later on, when there was a need to send relief to the brethren in Judea (because of the famine then), the Christians at Antioch sent it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:30). They knew these persons could be trusted for their financial integrity. They knew that there would be no siphoning, no reduction due to ‘administrative costs’ associated with their relief.

4. Be faithful in small things: From the Bible, we learn that Barnabas was not all that wealthy; he worked hard to earn his living and he also served the Lord. As someone who has been there, I know the difficulties of sharing time between a secular job and serving the Lord; but Barnabas was one person who created a fine balance between work and ministry…

Barnabas was faithful in small things; God blessed him. From encourager, Barnabas grew up, with Paul, to be a teacher and an apostle. For it says about him in Acts 14:14 “…when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this…”. What a growth for a humble believer!

5. Put others before yourself: Barnabas and Saul were at Antioch, preaching the word of God and ministering to the new believers for a full year. Acts 13:2: 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.”

Here is God calling out his name-Barnabas. Notice the order of calling – Barnabas and Saul. God Himself spoke for these to be set apart for some other work. The church at Antioch responded and sent Barnabas and Saul away (v3). This is a great encouragement for those waiting on the Lord-wait for His call for a specific ministry! It is not about what we can do and what we want to do, but what He wants us to do that counts. It is His grace that will sustain us… if we do it on our own strength and terms, is it any wonder we reap the aches and ashes?

But as you read through the chapters of Acts 13, 14 and 15, you will find a change; from ‘Barnabas and Saul’ to ‘Barnabas and Paul’ and then the order changes to ‘Paul and Barnabas’! Barnabas was one man who not only knew his limitations, but was also quick to recognize the potential and calling of those around him. He recognized that Paul had a greater calling in the ministry and made way for Paul to go ahead. Imagine Barnabas’ heart – accepting Paul as a new convert, encouraging him as a ‘junior’, mentoring and being mentored…and now this: make way for Paul to go ahead and take the lead. As the senior-in any job, we may feel we have the right to be leaders; but because Barnabas was willing, we have the account of all the wonderful works done through Paul in God’s great ministry.

6. Be open to correction: Gal 2:13: And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Here is a first-hand account by Paul about hypocrisy in the church leaders. There were Peter and other leaders, including Barnabas, who mingled with the Gentiles and ate with them normally; but, when some elders from Jerusalem would come, they separated themselves as only with Jews… Paul withstood their hypocrisy and corrected them with the truth of the gospel; about how the middle wall is broken down in Jesus Christ. Now there was no difference between Jews and the Gentiles in Christ; because justification is by faith in Christ and not by any law.

The point is Barnabas was open to correction. Being a leader or even an apostle does not qualify us to be error-free. If you are open to correction, it is for your own protection.

7. Amicably agree even in sharp disagreement: Acts 15:36-41: 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.” 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 in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Here Paul is eager to start his second missionary journey. Barnabas is keen to take his cousin Mark, while Paul is against the idea of taking someone who abandoned the first missionary journey mid-way. There is a sharp disagreement between the two apostles… the Bible makes no bones about it. These two, Paul and Barnabas, who had worked together for so long, could not see eye-to-eye on certain matters now! Yes, both were apostles; both separated for God’s work by God Himself; both were used by God… in fact they were even called ‘gods’ by the people at Lystra when they tried to offer sacrifices to them… (Acts 14:11-13).

But now came a time for them to separate from one another… they amicably parted and continued doing God’s ministry… at different places. We can learn from Paul’s writing later on in 1 Cor. 9:6, that he continued to regard Barnabas highly when he wrote “”Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?” Paul also wrote later on to Timothy “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11). Mark is later with Paul while he was in prison (Col. 4:10).

From these references, we learn that the parting of ways did not lead to bitterness and back-biting. We can learn from the life of Barnabas to leave our animosities aside as we serve in pleasing only Him. For He causes the sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous; and showers the rain on the good and the evil. Our Lord is merciful and compassionate. We are called to be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful.

God’s plan and purposes in our life must be fulfilled… therefore we will freely forgive those who offend us and with whom we cannot see eye-to-eye. And even though we may not see eye-to-eye, we can walk hand-in-hand to fulfill all of God’s will.

Even now, during these times, there is a sharp disagreement between the top leaders in New Life Fellowship (NLF) association. We are separating and it must be an amicable separation… as we learn from the lives of Barnabas and Paul. No pointing fingers and no poison thoughts; no back-biting and no in-fighting…
Let us turn aside, see and choose to walk the path God has kept for each one of us.

May God grant you revelation of His word and help us in doing His will. Amen.