So we've seen the need for encouragement, and last week we looked at the practice of encouragement.
! This evening what I want to do is look at a kind of flesh and blood example, an example
! of encouragement. The best example I think we have in the New Testament is that of Barnabas.
Medical students, you've looked at your textbooks, and you've lectures, but then it comes to
the point where you've got to get on the ward, and you see real life examples of what you've
learnt in the classroom and in their books. I imagine that's quite thrilling. And we've
looked at the theory of encouragement, and now I want to see that encouragement is embodied
in a living human being. He's introduced there in Acts 4 verse 36. Can you see that? Joseph,
Acts chapter 4 and verse 36. That's Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas,
which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus. Barnabas was a cousin of
John Mark, we know that in Colossians chapter 4 and verse 10. And the early church met for
prayer in the home of John Mark's mother in Jerusalem. Mary. Barnabas had relatives in
Jerusalem, and his name was Joseph. But no one knows him by Joseph, do they? Are they
knowing by his nickname? That's quite reassuring, the New Testament nicknames. And that name was
attached to him by the apostles, because of the man he was and the way he lived. And it
means a son of encouragement. When the Jews spoke of the son of someone, and they met all
his character, and was summed up in that word. It was as if they were saying, this man's father
and mother are encouragement. Wherever he went, whatever he did, he was Mr. Encouragement.
He was always encouraging people. And this man, Joseph, became known as the encourager. Now
I wondered about how did you do this? Do we list these virtues? Do we classify them? But
I think that the easiest way is to look at kind of six references in the New Testament to
who Barnabas was. It's not a particularly neat way of instructing a sermon, but I hope to leave
with it. These aren't all the references to Barnabas, but I think they are the main ones. The
first one is in Acts chapter 4, verse 37. Barnabas sold a field that belonged to him, and he
brought the money, and he laid it at the apostles' feet. So that's the introduction. I'm just
encouraging. He sells his land, he donates the money to the church, and this is the context.
I'm sure you know, in the early church there's this tremendous outburst of love and generosity.
We're told about it in Acts chapter 4, verse 32. Now the full number of those who believed
were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him
was his own, but they had everything in common. Occasionally you hear that the early church
practiced a kind of rudimentary form of communism. That what we're being told is that Christians
all had a giant sale, they put out everything that they had, they realized all the proceeds,
and they put all the money into a common pot, so that all the possessions were merged into
one. I think that's a misunderstanding. I don't think that's what the early church did at all.
I think they did something prudent, practical, and sensible. Look at Ephesians 34. There was
not a needy person among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and
brought the proceeds of what was sold, and they laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was
distributed to each as any had need. They sold them, they brought the proceeds, and they
laid it at the apostles' feet. Now all those mirrors are what is called iterative, perfected,
I'm sure you knew. I didn't even know that from the beginning of this. We'll go there soon.
And we all know what that is. This is what they are. That when a need arose, when occasion
demanded, a member of the church would sell some of his property and help a brother and
sister in time of need. And then again, perhaps there would be a further occasion, another crisis.
And there would be a young widow, maybe with a family, with no property or money, and again
on that occasion, a member of the church would sell a land or a house or give the money as
it was needed. And the apostles would give it in the case of need. The NIV is a better
translation. It says, from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought
the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet. From time to time. They were ready
to give out everything they possessed if it was needed. And in this context, Barnabas is an
outstanding instance. And I think he's meant to contrast this to the Ammonias and Sapphira
in the next chapter. Do you remember, they were, well, of the appearance, so religious,
didn't they? They say, we've sold this house, they bring the money in a kind of massive charity
check. But they're hypocritical, unselfish and dishonest. Their pretense of Christian love
is contrasted, I think, with Barnabas, who sells his property, gives all the money to the
apostles for them to use. In other words, Barnabas is not self-protective.
That's the first thing the Bible tells us about him. He is able to face personal loss
for the sake of others. He's willing to impoverish himself in order to help his brothers and
sisters in need. And we saw last week, didn't we, that is an essential quality of an encourager.
But it's not an easy thing. It's not something shallow or trivial. We must be prepared to
be givers. You must be prepared to give. To give to other people. Time is so precious,
consistent. Your time. Your time that you might have liked to keep for yourself. To give your
energy. To helping other people when you're feeling tired. And you would far rather rest
to make yourself available. To help other people. To lose. Sometimes. As we'll see later.
Sometimes to face loss, embarrassment, misunderstanding. And you're attempt to help other people.
It's costly and it's demanding. An encourager cannot be selfish. The encourager cannot be self-protective.
And if we're serious about being encouragers, we have to be prepared, don't we, for God's pruning
knife. You know the pruning knife that you prune your branches? That God prunes something
that we may feel is ours. And I have got the right to keep it. But we have to surrender that
right gladly for the greater good to help someone else. Let's turn to the second reference.
It's on your sheet. Acts chapter 9 verse 26. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join
the disciples. That's the apostle Paul. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples, but they were all afraid of him. Not believing that he really was a disciple.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey
had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. And how in Damascus Paul had preached
fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them. And moved about freely.
Freely in Jerusalem. Speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. It's one of the most significant
moments in the New Testament. Saul of Tarsus has been converted. And he returns through the
mother church to Jerusalem. And he wants to join the church. And the disciples, understandably
and naturally, are terrified. And they are cautious. And they are suspicious. And Katie, they want
nothing to do with this man. So remember, here is the great persecutor of the church. He
tells us that he had some of the Christians in Jerusalem put to death. He was responsible
for the murder of husbands and sons and fathers. Of some of these Christians in Jerusalem. And
now their murderer wants to join the fellowship. And this is interesting that to the end of
his life, Paul had such a burden for the Jewish, for the Jerusalem church. Wherever he went. You
see that, don't you? He's collecting money for them. And praying for them. And urging the
Gentile churches. Remember the saints in Jerusalem. And I'm sure there's a personal element in
that, isn't there? I'm sure there was a burden and a grief on Paul's heart. And so he knew
why some of those families were poor. He had made them poor. He'd removed the breadwinner.
And to his dying day, he tried in some way to make up for the wrong that he'd done. But
in any case, the church wanted something to do with him. Except Barnabas. But Barnabas
took him. And brought him to the apostles. It's like an even more poignant expression,
isn't it? In Acts chapter 9 verse 17. Just come with me. It's a little kind of detail
but it's alright. Chapter 9 verse 17. Two little words there. Which are incredibly moving.
I don't know if you've picked that up. There's a Saul is blinded sitting in a room in Tarsus.
This is the man who's the terror of the Christians. And God speaks to a teenage disciple called
Alonais. And he says, I want you to go and meet with Saul of Tarsus. And speak with him.
And Saul is in the room. He's blind. He's repentant. He's broken hearted. He thinks of what
he's done. He's done the evil, the murder, the slaughter, the threats. How he has fought
against Jesus Christ. And perhaps he knows that there's a believer coming to see him.
And how will this believer behave towards him? What will be the first words Saul of Tarsus
ever hears from the lips of Christian? And Ammonius comes into the room and says,
Acts 9 verse 17. Brother Saul. That's the grace of God, isn't it? Brother Saul to the murderer.
What must that word must have meant to Saul of Tarsus? He calls me brother.
Oh, he's coming here to kill him. He calls me brother. And Barnabas is the same. He receives
Saul. Let's note a couple of things. He's open minded. He did not react instantly like
other Christians. Barnabas is willing to listen to what Paul has to say. He's able to explain
what happened to Saul. He's seen the Lord on the road. Christ has spoken to him. He's
preached boldly in the name of Jesus. He's spent time with Paul. He has been unprejudiced
and open minded and open hearted. He is troubled to take time with Saul. He's a discerning
man. He sees great potential with Saul. This suspect, isolated, lonely man with a very
bad track record. And Barnabas sees his gifts, his energy, his passion, and all these how they
could be used for the Lord. He's not naive. Some Christians are very naive, aren't they?
They're easily taken in. They're imposed upon. They're deluded. But Barnabas is not naive.
But he does see the reality of his Christian experience. He sees the marks of grace.
And change. He sees the true potential in people, in this person, and he's courageous.
It would be far safer, wouldn't it, and far easier, to Barnabas to join all the other
Christians to stay clear of this man and to have nothing to do with him. But Barnabas
takes it as a risk. And it was a risk to Barnabas. We're reading now, aren't we, two thousand
years later. Put yourself back then. It was a risk, isn't it? The risk of sponsoring this
man. Of going bail for him in the church. Saying, I believe in him. I think he's genuine.
And when I just stand with him. We say, can we, I think we can do this. I think we can
say in human terms, what if there'd not been a Barnabas? Suppose the whole Jerusalem church
had stayed clear of Saul and no one had anything to do with him. Suppose if he hadn't found any
way into the Jerusalem church. How different his ministry would have been? And I think God
is showing to us that if we're truly going to have the spirit of Barnabas, we will be
ready to listen. We will be ready to listen to that awkward and promising, difficult individual.
We'll be ready to befriend the outsider. We'll be ready to be patient with the person who
might have strange views and very incomplete knowledge. We'll be ready to try and help them
fit into the group. We'll not always be concerned with playing it absolutely safe. And I know
we're a Presbyterian church. And the problem with Presbyterians is we so easily get into
the mentality of don't make any mistakes. And don't take a step out of line and make sure
that your back is covered. Make sure that you're not exposed in any way. And we become terrified
of making mistakes. Let me say to you the biggest mistake in Christian ministry is to do nothing.
The biggest mistake in God's service is to run no risks. To attempt nothing for God.
And I think there are times when we have to run these risks with people. We need wisdom,
don't we, to pray earnestly that we'll be able to discern the work of how he's spreading people,
to see the potential of someone, of that pharaoh or that girl who is so argumentative and
every time you talk to them they give you a hard time about the gospel. But think about that
person. Think about if the Lord was to win them. And all that ability and all that incisiveness
and all that intellect used for God. Think of the guy in your office. He's a great, he's great fun.
Everybody loves him. He's very popular. His jokes are inappropriate but he's really bright.
And you think he'd never be interested. But just suppose the Lord were to change him. Think
about what he could do with young people. Or the girl who is slightly wild. She's a flirt.
She's always out clubbing. It's easy to say, isn't it, but she's shallow and superficial. But think
of the attractiveness of that person. Think if that personality was transformed by grace, what could
it be done for the work of God's kingdom? The other Christians, they looked at Saul and they said,
oh no, no, no. It's better not to risk it. Barnabas says, I will go and talk with him. I
will go and listen to what he says. I will spend time with him. And as he did, he was convinced
that there'd be the work of God. Number three, Acts 11 verses 19 to 26. There's been a dramatic
work of God in Antioch. And many from outside the church have been won to the Lord Jesus.
The city of Antioch is the third largest city in the ancient world after Rome and Alexandria.
It's a city at this time of about half a million people. It's a city with street lighting, with
paving stones. It's complex. It's sophisticated. It's a metropolis. And amongst this kind of
sophisticated Greek speakers, a whole load of people have been won for the Lord. And
the church, the mother church, years about it in Jerusalem, and they're not sure what to
think. And they're not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. So try to put yourself
in their position.
Let's say a man at O'Brentford, they begin in a few weeks time, and David George goes down
to do a book table in Brentford on a Saturday, with Pete Lofthouse and Sue and the gang. And
they ring Stuart up and they say, we've had a great morning. And we've had a really great
morning. We've been out witnessing, and 250 people have been converted. And they will be
coming to church tomorrow, tomorrow morning. Now, I'd be very interested to see what the
reaction would be. One would be great joy, but one would be you'll be swamped. Suddenly
you've got any background. You haven't got any teaching. I know a church in Tasmania about
15 years ago that saw about 120 students converted over an academic year. She'd been praying for
students for years, but actually when they came in, they couldn't handle it. They couldn't
handle it. A very funny story about that, that I can't tell, but I'll see what I do to
them, I'll tell you. But people come into church with no shoes on. And the people who've been
in church for years, they just couldn't handle it. They'd prayed for it for years. These
people didn't have any background, they didn't have any teaching. They had all their own ideas.
They were mixed up with the world. Communion, church, discipline was an absolute nightmare.
And it's been a tick, it's a lot of time to sort that out. And these conservative
Jewish Christians, they hear of this work of God among the Gentiles, but is it sound?
Is it biblical? Is it genuine? They're good questions. Are they truly Christians?
Calvin says this, he says, Satan's cunning, cunning. Satan's cunning is well known as soon
as he sees a door open for the gospel, he writes by all sorts of means to corrupt what is pure.
And so that the result, the result is that along with the teaching of Christ, various heresies
proliferate. Calvin is saying there's nothing easier than for growing corn to be ruined in
the early stages of growth. When there is a work of God, there's often a degree of disorder
and confusion. I think you can look through church history and see those. But actually,
when there's a genuine work of God, there's a mixture of things which maybe aren't quite
right and things which we shouldn't defend. And gradually they sort themselves out. Growth
is always messy. It is always messy. Even the little bit of growth we've known as a church,
I think you can point to some of the messiness of that. There's an untidy period. And so the
church was assigned to send someone to investigate. Well, who do you send? And they said Barnabas.
And you can imagine coming the anxiety amongst the young Christians in Antioch. One of the big
boys is coming down. Presbytery have sent one of their own. One of the top men. He's
heard all the great preachers. He's possibly seen the blessing on the great day of the Pentecost,
the phenomenal growth of the church. And now he's coming down to our little work. What would
you think when he arrives? And we're told that Barnabas came. Barnabas came and he saw the
grace of God and he was glad. And he encouraged them all. That with purpose of heart they should
continue with the Lord. Now, I have no doubt that there were many, many imperfections. And
those new Christians would have been very raw and very immature. And they had much to learn. But
Barnabas saw the evidence of God's grace and he was glad and he was encouraged. And we're
not told he found fault. And we're not told that he started criticizing and saying, well, that is wrong
and that is wrong and you need to reform. His initial contact with them was gladness. And encouragement
and positive reinforcement. Now, I am not saying that unsound teaching doesn't matter. Don't
think that. I'm not saying that we should be woolly minded. I am not saying that we should be
foolishly enthusiastic and undiscerning. But we do need to have the mentality which will start
by encouraging what is good rather than criticizing what is bad. And are you not in danger sometimes
of being a fault finder? You show me a work of God and I'll show you what's wrong with it.
Isn't that what's spreading us sometimes? We know that there are things wrong. But that's
not the way to put them right. We don't need to be glad at what's been achieved or do we always
feel like criticizing what has been accomplished. So let me ask you, you hear a sermon, what do you
focus on? What has helped you or the flaws? You go to a church, what do you focus on? The weaknesses
or the strengths? You see a bucket of water on your way to the crash and it's what do you see? Half
full or half empty. Barnabas was encouraging and he was glad. And where we see the evidence of the
real grace of God we can be glad even if it's not our party, even if it's not our group, even if it's
something that would not line up exactly where we would line up. When we hear of many genuine
conversions in the church which may not be dominantly sound, can we honestly say praise God and thank God
for that and I glorify you Father for your work. Or do we say, God why don't you work with those
people over there? Why don't you work with us? We are far sounder. Well that's one of the reasons why
God doesn't work with us. And Acts tells us as a result of this, look at verse 24, a great number of
people were added to the church, weren't they? Acts chapter 11, a great number of Acts chapter 11 and verse 25.
So Barnabas went to Tarsus, he took the sword and when he found him, oh that's not right,
it's the next one it says, um, Acts 13, where am I? I've got lots of my notes.
Yeah, Acts 13, verse 25 and, um, verse 6.
That's not right either. Anyway, a great number of people rallied to the Lord, take my word for it,
alright? Somebody can point out the verse 24.
24.
11.
24. At least someone's listening.
Yeah.
That's right. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, they brought him to Antioch
and for a whole year they met with the church and told a great many people and in Antioch the disciples
were first called Christians.
It's the verse before, isn't it? A great number of rabbits to the Lord.
It's amazing.
It's not all, anyway.
It's positive, isn't it? He has an impact.
Now, just notice in the verses I did just read to you which, he doesn't leave them in their immaturity.
Can you see that? He doesn't just say, oh carry on with all the things that are wrong, he does it tactfully
and wisely and positively. He takes Paul with them and they teach for a year.
but notice, just notice
the huge influence of this man
in two crises, when Paul wanted to
join the Jerusalem church
and in the deputation to Antioch
Barnabas plays this pivotal role
in the history of the New Testament church
an encourager
is far more significant than you imagine
you think it's a peripheral thing
so that you may think
there are the missionaries aren't there
there are the church planters, there are the preachers
there are the elders
and there are the people that can't do much else
they're simply the encouragers
but actually you look through the New Testament
and Barnabas is key
and number 4, Acts 13 verse 9
and you may say that's a really strange reference
Acts 13 verse 9
it says this
but Saul, who was called Paul
filled with the Holy Spirit
looked intently at him
it's the point in the New Testament
where Paul takes over the leadership
and from now on
Paul is not called Saul anymore
Saul is called Paul
so just notice the change
look at verse 2
there were in the church of Antioch
prophets and teachers
Barnabas and Simeon
in the end
can you see verse 2
set apart from me
Barnabas and Saul
can you notice who's in the leader's role
and then look at verse 7
he was with the proconsul
so she is Paul
a man of intelligence
who summoned Barnabas
and Paul
again Barnabas is in the driving seat
isn't he
but look at verse 13
now Paul and his companions
from now on
it's Paul and his party
and Barnabas has merged
as he into the supporting group
it's the moment the protege
surpasses
the teacher
who befriended him
here's the moment
when the one who is encouraged
outstrips the encourager
and he begins to leave him
far behind in usefulness
and they move out of the Gentile world
to Cyprus
Saul's asses is far more qualified
by birth
and educating him
so from now on
Paul takes over
that
so I like encouraging people
I like encouraging people
because they owe something to me
I like people who owe something to me
I like people who depend on me
and look up to me
and admire me
I'm not so keen on people
who expect me to admire that
I wonder why that is
we can feel good
can't we have having people
under us if you like
it feeds our ego
but when they outstrip us
when we realise
that the younger Christian
is far more gifted
than we are
when we see someone
that we helped
now the Lord is using
in a way that he's never used us
well that's what happened to Barnabas
that's what happened to this encourager
and how easy it would have been
to be jealous
and say wait a minute
I brought this man into the church
where has all this Paul
and his party come from
but this is what has happened
God is tactfully warning us
of the realities of encouragement
that we will see
God willing
some of us
some of whom we knew
as spiritual toddlers
going far beyond us
and of that we should be glad
we should be ready for that
Calvin again says
no matter whom the Lord
has used to make his name
illustrious
the faithful servants of Christ
ought to follow the example
of Barnabas
and rejoice at the success
of the gospel
perhaps the best way
is for those who are
children
when we think of our children
what do we want for our children
we want our children to go beyond us
don't we
nothing would make your parents
happier children
than for you to kind of
surpass them
we pray that our children
will be far better Christians
than us don't we
we pray that our children
will be far more used
of the Lord
than we are
we pray that our children
will far surpass us
in gifts and graces
we won't feel jealous of that
will we
our nose won't be put out of joint
I hope not
we will feel nothing
but gladness and thankfulness
to God
and that is the way
that we have to learn
to feel about people
whom the Lord
uses us to help
and so if they go to Brentford
and 350 join in a few weeks
and it becomes a kind of marriage
we've got to be thrilled
haven't we
and we can trickle down
with them
that's alright
the story is all positive
Galatians chapter 2
and we see the frailty
of Barnabas
you remember the incident
Paul was being a hand job
and he's
Peter was being a hand job
and he's really
been happy to eat
with Gentiles there
he's disregarded
the Jewish food laws
but then
a party of friends
come down from Jerusalem
kind of ultra-conservatives
right wing
of the church
very extreme
and then they come to Peter
and Peter withdraws
and he separates himself
he fears those
in the circumcision party
and the rest of the Jews
and he plays the hypocrites
Galatians chapter 2 verse 11
when Kephas
came to Antioch
I opposed him to his face
because he stood condemned
for certain men
came from James
he was eating with the Gentiles
but when they came
he drew back
and he separated himself
from the circumcision party
and the rest of the Jews
acted hypocritically
along with him
so that even
Barnabas
was led astray
by the hypocrisy
the details
don't matter
so much to us tonight
the chronology
of that passage
is quite difficult
but clearly
Barnabas is
indefensibly in the wrong
he shouldn't have done
what he did
it was hypocritical
he knew better than that
he was being manipulated
by public opinion
in the church
and you can hear
Paul's surprise
that he had pain
in that little expression
even Barnabas
I would have expected
better from Barnabas
now I'm not excusing
what he did
I'm simply reminding you
of something
that I find enormously
encouraging tonight
and that is
that we don't have
to be perfect
to be an encourager
that is used by God
we say don't we
in our church circles
that we don't believe
in sinless perfection
I hope we don't
and yet the way
we react
when somebody
points out
our faults
it's almost as if
we did believe
in sinless perfection
and we can get
very edgy
can't we
when people
point out our faults
and very irate
when someone comes
and puts their finger
on a sore point
we get very defensive
even angry
and many many Christians
struggle
because they think
I've got to be perfect
and sometimes
people who seem perfect
they're not actually
the most encouraging
people to be around
are they
and again
I'm not excusing
Barnabas mistaken
imperfection
he shouldn't have
done it
he was wrong
but there's something
encouragingly human
about it
he made a wrong
decision under pressure
hands up
if you've never
made a wrong
decision
no hands up
we all do it
we do it in the church
and here's a man
and perhaps it's
part of his quality
as an encourager
he's made his own
share of mistakes
and I'm not using
this as a apology
for his sin
at all
but there are times
when it is
of the utmost
encouragement
to put your arm
around someone
and say
look I've done
what you did
I've made that
mistake
and I understand
and the Lord
forgave me
and I was able
to start again
that is wonderfully
encouraging
isn't it
and people felt
close to Barnabas
because of that
last thing
last one
Acts 15
36-39
and it's the time
when Paul and Barnabas
have a bitter
angry quarrel
about Barnabas
his relative
John Mark
and John Mark
has fallen by the
wayside
he went on the
first missionary
journey
and he quit
he'd given up
he'd gone home
and they're about
to set out
on the second
missionary journey
and Barnabas
wants to take
John Mark
with him again
and Paul doesn't
and Barnabas
urges that he
be taken
and Paul refuses
Luke says
the contention
became so sharp
that they parted
from one another
they split up
here were mates
here were friends
close friends
they'd walked
over a thousand
miles together
in the cause
of Christ
they'd been
stoned together
by stones
they'd preached
together
they'd suffered
together
they loved each
other
they were indebted
to each other
and yet those
two Christians
they have a
violent quarrel
the word literally
is a very very
bitter quarrel
it's the word for
a fever
you have a high
point of a fever
there was an
angry feverish
shouty quarrel
between two
godly Christian
men
what was it
about
was it about
doctrine
was it about
theology
was it about
the substance
of the faith
let's be honest
it was about
a minor detail
of practical
missionary strategy
and they reached
such rage with
each other
that they actually
split up and
they couldn't
agree
it's quite
interesting to
read the
commentators on
this verse
Howard Marshall
is a New
Testament scholar
says the
reason for the
contention between
Paul and Barnabas
has seemed so
trivial that some
deeper cause has
been suspected
two Christians
couldn't fall out
could they on
something as
trivial as this
there must be
something deeper
there must be
something theological
well let me say
to you when
Christians fall out
it is almost
invariably over a
trivial detail
disagreements
amongst Christians
and sadly there
are many of
the estrangements
coldness
separation
breaking of
fellowship
they are not
often about the
great pillars of
faith
they are not
often about
great doctrine
they are normally
about something
practical
some matter of
common sense
I think it's
wise to go this
way
I think it
needs to go the
other way
it's not important
and Satan uses
that and we have
to be very very
careful
things escalate
under control
although something
very small can
divide Christians
who was right in
this controversy
it's very hard to
say
the Bible doesn't
go his clear
direction
it says Paul
was commended
by the church
it doesn't
actually say that
about Barnabas
but again
was Paul too
harsh
or was he too
critical of John
Mark
was Barnabas
too soft
it's possible to
say
it's hard to
contradict
somebody who
you've been
befriended with
and it must have
been hard for
Barnabas
I brought this
man into the
church
I was his
friend when no
one else was
I took the
risk
and how does
he repay me
he repays me
by quarrelling
with me and
following a
different course
that we can't
assume
we can't assume
that the people
we befriend and
help and give
ourselves to
and sacrifice
ourselves for
we can't assume
that they will
always be our
friends
that they will
always stand
with us
that they'll
always be
grateful for us
that they'll
always agree
with us and
follow our
lead
we have to
face the
possibility
don't we
in church
life
that as we
open ourselves
up to people
they may let
us down
and they'll
take a different
path
a different
path of
doctrine
I find that
hard
a different
path of
understanding
christian
service
we've got to
be ready for
that
we've got to
be willing to
let them go
we can't claim
that they have
to be dependent
on us
that is a
wrong thing
we can't say
you owe me
and after all
I've done for
you this is the
way you repay
me
he wasn't to
help people
just to help
people knowing
that they might
disagree with you
in the future
are you still
willing to
help
still willing
to be thankful
for them
and it's
wonderful
in the
new
testament
we see how
wonderfully
God overruled
the situation
that the
quarrel between
Paul and
Barnabas
led to
two missionary
groups
instead of
one
and sometimes
it is far
better for
Christians to
go their
own way
when they
cannot agree
than for
there to
be a
split
W.M.
Taylor
says the
quarrel may
have been
the making
of John
Mark
he says
Paul's
disapproval
might have
broken Mark's
spirit
Barnabas
partiality
might have
made him
soft
but together
together
that is the
beauty of the
body of
Christ
I think on
every eldership
you want to
have good
cops and
bad cops
you want to
have people
who are
soft hearted
and generous
to a fault
than others
who are
maybe not so
much
you need
both
you see
both in
the New
Testament
and at
the end
of Paul's
ministry
the split
and the
friendship
has been
restored
here is
the path
of a
typical
encourager
in the
Christian
life as
we see
in pilgrims
progress
there are
ups and
downs
there are
joys and
sorrows
there are
successes
and failures
and in
many ways
to be an
encourager
is a
very only
human life
it's an
easy calling
to be an
encourager
but it
is very
very
significant
I don't
think
that there
is a
more
attractive
more
likeable
more
winsome
figure
in the
New
Testament
church
than
Barnabas
and
Luke
says
this is
the secret
of it
all
he was
a good
man
full of
the Holy
Spirit
and of
faith
may God
give us
in this
church
many
encouragers
we're
going to
sing to
Christ