Mike Mazzalongo Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. - I Thessalonians 5:1-3

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. - I Thessalonians 5:4-6

7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, - I Thessalonians 5:7-9

10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. - I Thessalonians 5:10-11

Encouragement - Definition O.T.-NÂCHAM -To breathe strongly, sigh -Isa. 40:1-2 1“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.”

Encouragement - Definition O.T.-CHÂZAQ -To fasten upon/give strength -Deut. 3:28 28 But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see.’

Encouragement - Definition N.T.-PARA -To be near -PARAKALEO -To call near, invite ˘ ˉ

John 14:26 (comforter) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Rom. 1:12 (encourage) 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

II Cor. 9:5 (exhort) 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 1.He Encouraged Generosity. 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. -Acts 4:36-37

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 2.He Encouraged Ministry. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. -Acts 9:26

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. -Acts 9:27

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 3.He Encouraged Brotherly Love. 27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. -Acts 11:27-28

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders. -Acts 11:29-30

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. -Acts 12:25

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 4.He Encouraged Evangelism. 13 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. -Acts 13:1

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. -Acts 13:43

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 5.He Encouraged Unity. 1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. -Acts 15:1-2

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. -Acts 15:12

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 6.He Encouraged Reconciliation. 36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. -Acts 15:36-37

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); -Col. 4:10

Barnabas – An Example of Encouragement 7.He Encouraged Imitation. 1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. -I Cor. 11:1

Barnabas: Character of Encourager He was Generous -Land & Money-Acts 4:36 -Reputation-Acts 9:27 -Time-Acts 11:30 -Ministry-Acts 11:25

Barnabas: Character of Encourager He was Generous He was a Visionary

Barnabas: Character of Encourager He was Generous He was a Visionary He was Courageous

Let’s Not Take Each Other For Granted

I Encourage You To Respond To Christ’s Invitation.