Barnabas: The Son Of Encouragement

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When was the last time you have been truly encouraged by another person? When was the last time you encouraged another person?

The Kingdom of God is spread through the encouragement of faithful saints of God who serve God faithfully through their Christlike character and live out their faith in the world.

The Book of Acts tells us there were some of followers of Jesus, who were a part of the diaspora during the persecution of Stephen, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. (Acts 11:19-20, ESV).

Luke tells us, “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21-24, ESV).

The church in Antioch grew and the followers of Jesus were first called Christians there. The church was encouraged and flourished, thanks in part to the faithfulness of Barnabas, and a great many people were added to the family of God—they were added to the Lord.

We can learn a lot about being a fruitful servant and follower of Jesus from Barnabas. From this passage in the eleventh chapter of Acts, we see Barnabas’ faithfulness in the following ways:

1. Barnabas was trustworthy and well respected. We see this trust and respect from the church in Jerusalem who sent Barnabas to Antioch.

2. Barnabas was a man who was in tune with the Spirit of God and the movement of God. We see this discernment of the movement of God when Barnabas sees the grace of God at work in the believers in Antioch.

3. Barnabas was worship filled for God and his work. We see this worship expressed when Barnabas showed gladness over God’s work in the believers in Antioch.

4. Barnabas was an encourager of God’s people and of God’s work in the world. We see this encouragement in Barnabas’ exhortation of the new believers in Antioch to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.

5. Barnabas was also a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. We know this truth of Barnabas’ character from the text itself, which explicitly describes Barnabas as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

6. Lastly, we know Barnabas was a fruitful servant of the Lord. We know this truth about Barnabas’ fruitfulness as we see that “a great many people were added to the Lord” as a result of his presence, encouragement, and sacrificial work in the service to the Lord.

Like Barnabas, may we be faithful people of encouragement, as we faithfully share the good news of the Kingdom of God, as we sacrificially serve God, and as we live out our faith in the world as followers of Jesus who exhibit Christlike character.

In Christ alone, Robbie

A Prayer Of Saint Barnabas (June 11): “Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor, and went forth courageously in mission for the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash