Be a Son of Encouragement
Acts 4:36
Introduction.
“Exhort” is one of those Bible words that we don’t often use in our everyday language.
Many times when I have a Bible study with someone who isn’t very knowledgeable about Bible words, or at least KJV Bible words, they typically ask what it means.
It comes up in passages like Jude 3 and Heb. 10:25 in our initial studies.
Jude exhorts his readers to contend earnestly for the faith.
The writer of Hebrews states that one of the reasons for gathering together is to exhort one another.
And earlier in Hebrews, he tells his readers to exhort one another daily (Heb. 3:12-15).
Definition.
There are two Greek words we will be consider today: παρακαλέω (exhort) and παράκλησις (exhortation).
This is closely related to the word transliterated as “Paraklete,” which some of you may be familiar with.
This is the word that describes the Holy Spirit as the Helper or Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). Jesus is also called the Paraklete or Advocate (1 John 2:1).
These two words can be translated in several different ways, which should be able to help us understand the word better.
As we noted with Paraklete, it carries the idea of helping, comforting, or speaking on behalf of.
Joses, a Levite from Cyprus, was called the Son of παράκλησις (υἱὸς παρακλήσεως). The KJV calls him the Son of Consolation, while the NKJV says Son of Encouragement. This is Barnabas! (Acts 4:36).
Barnabas had a gift of to encourage, console, exhort, help, and comfort. He also spoke on behalf of others, namely Paul and John Mark.
Preview.
Barnabas the Encourager.
Barnabas the Advocate.
Barnabas the Helper.
Body.
Barnabas the Encourager.
Need for encouragement.
As we discussed earlier, exhortation (encouragement, help, comfort) is needed on a daily basis (Heb. 3:12-15).
Many of us only see each other on Sunday, particularly these days, so we might be able to exhort each other weekly.
The problem is the other six days of the week.
That’s why meeting on Wednesday is such a big thing.
While this is a tradition among certain groups in the modern time, it certainly provides that midweek shot-in-the-arm, if you will, to encourage us through the rest of the week.
Sadly, we are missing out on that togetherness under these circumstances.
The writer of Hebrews warns us that if we are not exhorted daily, we may be “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
Is sin deceitful? Does it ever fool you into thinking it’s the right course of action? Of course it does!
“A little bit here or there won’t hurt you.” Before you know it, you’re steeped in it and you either don’t realize it (hardened) or you’re floundering to get out.
It’s not unlike that frog in the pot analogy.
The Israelites in the wilderness experienced that, having their “hearts hardened as in the rebellion” (Heb. 3:15; cf. Psa. 95:7-8 [Meribah]; Exo. 17:1-7).
They had just left Egypt, and, rather than listen to God and His promises, they gave in to their complaining and contended with Moses about their lack of water—Moses was even worried the people were going to stone him!
The Hebrews writer is telling his readers to listen to the voice of God and be encouraged so that we do not fall for the traps that the devil has laid for us, getting caught up in our sin.
This is best done as we encourage/exhort one another daily, while it is called today!
It surely should be done when we assemble together for worship and study (Heb. 10:25), but it shouldn’t be limited to that.
We can accomplish this by being more like Barnabas.
Different kinds of encouragement.
Looking at the life of Barnabas in Scripture, we note he did many things.
He was a giver, an advocate, a prophet/teacher/apostle, and a helper.
There are certainly different ways in which one can encourage others.
Typically we think of doing so with words, and while that is true, it is not limited to that.
How encouraged are we when we see larger than usual numbers on the attendance and contribution board here?
That certainly isn’t done through words, but such things are very encouraging.
For instance, Philemon encouraged Paul by his love and that he refreshed the hearts of the saints (Phm 7).
In fact, all the things we’re talking about in Rom. 12:6-8 can be said to be encouraging in some way or another: prophecy, ministry, teaching, giving, leading, mercy.
Encouragement in giving.
We are introduced to Barnabas showing his great generosity.
We’ll talk more about giving next week, but consider what Barnabas did here (Acts 4:36-37).
At first, we are told he was a “Son of Encouragement,” and to prove it, he made a very great donation to the cause of Christ.
No doubt, this encouraged the brethren so much in this young church.
Barnabas the Advocate.
Vouching for the new guy (Acts 9:26-28).
The next time we see Barnabas, he does something no one else is willing to do.
You see, earlier in this chapter, Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus to wreak havoc on the church.
He encounters Jesus, and is baptized by Ananias in Damascus.
He eventually returns to Jerusalem, but the Christians there don’t trust him.
Would you? Maybe this is some sort of plot to route out more Christians—though if it were, why wouldn’t they choose someone lesser known to infiltrate the Christian ranks?
In any event, Barnabas takes a huge chance vouching for this man, he even takes him their leaders, the Apostles.
It was this event that allowed Saul, soon to be Paul, to be accepted in the Christian community, even to be an Apostle himself!
He was the most prolific writer of the NT, writing 13 (maybe 14) canonical letters to people and churches.
Would any of this happened if Barnabas had not been the advocate of this persecutor, Saul of Tarsus?
Maybe, but I think it would’ve taken him longer to be accepted as any kind of authority.
His Apostleship already had to be vigorously defended in several of his letters—imagine if Barnabas hadn’t vouched for him!
Vouching for the weaker brother.
At one point, Barnabas’ advocacy set him at odds with Paul, particularly when it came to his cousin John Mark (cf. Col. 4:10).
Mark had joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey in Acts 13 (Acts 12:25).
It seems that at the first hint of trouble, Mark leaves them and returns to his home in Jerusalem (Acts 13:13; cf. Acts 12:12).
He was a weaker brother, one who didn’t have the fortitude and determination for this kind of work—he was unreliable, and Paul didn’t trust him.
At least, that’s the impression I get when Barnabas insists on taking him with them on their next journey (Acts 15:37-38).
The reason, it seems, that Paul didn’t want to bring Mark along is because he was “the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.”
Then we read that the “contention became so sharp,” they simply couldn’t agree.
Barnabas seems to me to be an easy-going man (as we’ll see later), meaning he doesn’t need to be in charge, and he won’t push for things without a compelling reason. He wasn’t willing to die on just any hill.
He was adamant about giving Mark another chance, just as he gave a chance to one Saul of Tarsus.
So Barnabas went his own way with Mark, preaching the gospel with him as his side. Who knows? Maybe he mentored Mark, giving him the chance to do better, to prove himself.
And what was the result? Mark joins Aristarchus, and Paul instructs the Colossian brethren to welcome him (Col. 4:10).
He became an invaluable companion for not just one Apostle, but for two: Peter and Paul.
Peter calls him his son, no doubt in the faith (1 Pet. 5:13), and Paul states that he is useful to him for ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).
And let’s not forget who wrote the gospel account that we have been studying for nearly a year now.
And all that started because Barnabas took a chance and gave some much needed encouragement to this young man.
Encouraging others.
I stated a few weeks ago that people will offer compliments to those who do the work of the church.
We should not allow it to get to our heads and think we are something great.
Instead, we should recognize the gift God has given us, and continue to develop it.
The encouragement they give is their gift of exhortation manifesting itself, hopefully giving you the motivation to continue working for His glory.
Who knows? You could be encouraging the next Paul or the next Mark.
Sure, there’s always the possibility that those you encourage will eventually fail, but they are much more likely to succeed with someone in their corner.
Barnabas the Helper.
Teacher and servant.
Barnabas was not only very generous and a great advocate, he was also a prophet/teacher (Acts 13:1) and an apostle (Acts 14:14).
He was no slouch, filling in any position where he was needed.
After the Gentiles were first admitted into the church, the leaders in the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage the brethren there (Acts 11:19-24).
We read right there that Barnabas encouraged the brethren there that “they should continue with the Lord.”
On top of that, “a great many people were added to the Lord” because of his teaching.
He decided to go fetch the man he vouched for some years earlier in Tarsus (Acts 11:25-26).
We read that with Saul, Barnabas “taught a great many people.”
Barnabas not only vouched for him, but was willing to work with him. How encouraging!
We talked about teaching last week, and the more people we have willing to teach, well, I can’t tell you how encouraging that would be for us all.
So in typical Barnabas fashion, he was that encouragement.
Then the prophet Agabus came and told them of a coming famine, and as dutiful servants, Barnabas along with Saul volunteered to serve by bringing the collection they took up to the elders of the church in Judea (Acts 11:27-30).
Barnabas did what needed to be done.
Preacher and assistant.
Recall, he was one of five named among the prophets and teachers who were fasting and praying prior to the Holy Spirit handpicking him and Saul for the work (Acts 13:1-3). This was the same work for which they had initially brought John Mark to assist them.
There was no doubt a reason the Holy Spirit had picked Barnabas to accompany Saul on this journey.
He saw in Barnabas the traits necessary to do the work, a man to encourage and exhort Saul in his first journey.
No doubt they found they worked well together after spending a year teaching in Antioch.
Have you ever been on a missionary journey before? The first time, you have no idea what to expect, and you question what on earth you’re doing nearly every step of the way.
Saul no doubt needed the encouragement Barnabas was going to provide, to further build him up.
As stated earlier, Barnabas is called an apostle along with Paul (Acts 14:14).
While Barnabas was certainly not one of the Twelve and did not have the authority of one such as Paul, he was, as the basic definition of “apostle” implies, one who was sent.
He was also a preacher, though we cannot find a sermon he preached by himself.
But we do know from earlier passages that he encouraged people to continue with the Lord and that he taught the gospel well (cf. Acts 11:23-24).
Up to this point, Luke refers to the pair as Barnabas and Saul, then we read of the name change to Paul, where soon afterward he performed great miracles and preached so powerfully.
From then on (with a few exceptions), Luke refers to them as Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:43).
Barnabas was content with that supporting role. Incidentally, this is why I see him as fairly easy going. He was willing to do what needed to be done; he was willing to take a back seat and allow others to shine.
He recognized it’s not all about him.
And that’s what we do when we exhort, encourage, comfort, and speak for one another—we put others above ourselves, helping them and support them, even at the expense of our own glory.
Because what’s more important? Our glory or God’s glory? Our gospel or the gospel?
This did not diminish his zeal for the gospel truth as we see him vigorously defending it to the Judaizers, declaring the great works of God before the brethren, and teaching and preaching in Antioch (Acts 15:2, 12, 35).
Conclusion.
Barnabas was a great man with a great gift of encouragement.
That’s why he’s called the Son of Encouragement.
When we consider this gift of exhortation, let us follow his example.
Let’s stick up for the little guy, let’s do what needs to be done, let’s give generously.
All these things provide such great encouragement for us all.
Sometimes to do great things, we just need that little push, a push Barnabas gave to so many, not least of whom are Paul and Mark.
While this was his gift, surely it’s something we can develop within ourselves, too.
How can I encourage?
We’ve talked about many today, but there are some ways that technology affords us that we didn’t have back then.
Write notes and cards—sure they had that back then, but we’re not sure Barnabas wrote anything.
Call, send texts, do social media things.
Let me leave you with a challenge for this week: find someone to encourage every day.
It doesn’t matter how, but always seek for those opportunities when you’re out and about—and that includes out and about online.
Encourage one another while it is called today (Heb. 3:13).
The best way I can encourage you this morning is to get right with God!