Barnabas Psalm 98; Job 29:11–16; Acts 11:22–30; Acts 13:1–3; Matthew 10:7–13

https://youtu.be/RPvQxDmNFm0

Preamble

Friday is the festival of Barnabas, apostle and martyr, hence our topic today. Also, I need to mention that the member of the congregation referred to later in the sermon is comfortable with being included in this sermon.

Introduction

There are only two people in scripture directly referred to as “good”, one is Jesus (John 7:12), and the other is Barnabas; “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).[1] A key to Barnabas’ important role in the early church is his empowerment of others.  Most expositions of this “apostle” (Acts 14:14)[2] hone in on one aspect of his character, “Joseph, …called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement) , a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36-37)[3]. Whilst no doubt the extraordinary generosity of Barnabas did greatly encourage the leaders of the infant Church, we shouldn’t limit this man to what’s most important to us. Whilst discouragement is a huge issue for us, the New Testament always speak of mastery over this emotion e.g. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart/give up/become discouraged.” (2 Cor 4:1)[4].  I want to try to go deeper into Barnabas’ life to understand what made him a person that lifted others up, then see how God can reproduce this grace through our own lives.

The Prophet-Teacher

The key to B’s life is that he was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 11:24). This is a relatively rare expression which is used not simply of supernatural deeds (Luke 4:1; Acts 7:55) but of immensely useful practical abilities. Under the influence of the power of the Spirit of God, he “exhorted them all (the church at Antioch) to remain faithful to the Lord” (Acts 11:23). The word “exhorted” is closely related to the word[5] for “encouragement”, and importantly for our understanding of Barnabas it appears in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3). In Acts 13:1 Luke comes straight out and tells us, “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas…”. B was a prophetic-teacher who saw what was into people’s heart and understood the long-term call of God on their lives. This came out repeatedly through his Spirit energised willingness to take risks for others.

Seeing the Apostle

After Saul’s/Paul’s his dramatic conversion, we read, “And when he/Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26-27). When everyone else thought Saul was a infiltrator, B sensed in Paul’s story “the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 19:10). In identifying with Saul, he was unconcerned about any personal rejection.

B appears to have had the important spiritual gift that is called “discernment of spirits” (1 Cor 12:10)[6]. A God-given gift, which means it can be asked for, to understand the intents and thoughts of a person’s heart (cf. Heb 4:11-12), sometimes even beyond their own awareness[7]. B rare insight into the call of God and his gifts on another’s life. Not only did he recommend Saul-Paul to the Jerusalem apostles, but as the church in Antioch grew he made the lengthy journey up to Tarsus to recruit Paul to become one of the principal teachers of that church (Acts 11:23-26). An act of faith foundational to the Holy Spirit later saying to the congregation, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3). In the Spirit’s words “set apart for me” we hear a very intimate connection between the Lord Jesus (Acts 13:1) and his earthly Bride[8]. This release of B and Paul on the first missionary journey to the Gentiles makes B our great-great-…grandfather in the Spirit and the Word. B wasn’t however a Christian superhero. The other person, besides Paul, who features prominently in the B story in Acts is a young chap called John Mark.

Seeing the young Man of God

John Mark was a cousin of B (Col 4:10) and accompanied B and Paul on their mission to Cyprus. He however left[9] before that ministry was completed (Acts 13:13-14). Sometime later we read, “Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord…” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them…and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.” (Acts 15:36-39).

The expression “sharp disagreement” means these foundation figures of the Church got very angry with each other[10]. Since Paul goes on to become “the apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13; Gal 2:7-8) and B disappears altogether from the story of Acts it might seem like B made an error of judgement influenced by personal feelings for his relative. This is plausible scenario. I’ve met a lot of good-hearted well-meaning people who make kindly decisions for the good of others which in the end proved fruitless, or worse[11]. I think B did see something in God’s Spirit of the call of God in Mark’s life, even though it was to take some time to mature, perhaps shaped through B’s own influence in their joint second mission to Cyprus. I can sympathise with this as plenty of people gave up on me years ago. Towards the end of Paul’s life Mark reappears in the story under this description, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim 4:11). Far more importantly, if John Mark was actually the author of the oldest Gospel, Mark[12], then whatever B or Paul may have thought, Jesus chose Mark to enjoy the highest privilege of recording the first story of his life on earth. This privilege shines to the honour and depth of B’s ability to discern the call and gift of God in others.

Seeing the Need

There are always more needs in the world than anyone can meet. Jesus himself understood this[13] and whereas he healed all who came to him (Matt 8:1; 12:15 etc.) he never made it his mission to heal and feed the world[14]. Acts records that in the days when B was prominent in Antioch, … “prophets came down…And one of them…stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined…to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:22-30). Barnabas was a leader in recognising that the Lord had sent a true prophetic message. Today, like in the first century, many people come and go with claims to have a message from God, just last year a host of “prophets” in the US predicted Trump would be re-elected President[15]. But how is this relevant to a congregation like ours?

*The other week in our morning service our brother Michael came out the front and said the Holy spirit had told him he to pray for people to be filled with the Spirit. I disagreed, and said if individuals wanted prayer, they could ask him after the meeting. My point here is NOT about Michael or myself, but to query how many people present at the time immediately did what the Bible commands. “Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thess 5:20-21). Barnabas was a man who lived a life of testing everything, not to be critical of others, but to know how they might best be encouraged to live out the call and gifts of God on their lives.

One New Testament reference remains, and it paints Barnabas in a poor light. I mention it because I think B himself would want us to include it, for as Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “I know of nothing in the spiritual life more discouraging than to meet the kind of person who seems to give the impression that he or she is always walking on the mountain top.”

Led Astray[16]

In Galatians Paul tells a story of his rebuking Peter for terminating fellowship with non-Jews which was a contradiction of the gospel of all grace. “…before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” (Gal 2:11-14). Why would a man of God like Barnabas fear the men who came from James? Probably he was overwhelmed by the authority of James as the half-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church and someone granted a personal resurrection (1 Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19); who better to understand the ways of Jesus[17]. When Paul himself looked beyond human flesh to the grace of the gospel; he proved to be a more Jesus-centred person than Barnabas!

Conclusion

Other things might be said about the life of a B[18]; but since it is “God, who encourages the downcast” (2 Cor 7:6 cf. Isa 41:10; 49:13)[19] we must remember that it is the presence of God our Father[20], who through his Spirit strengthens us by sharing the life of Christ that brings supernatural encouragement by lifting us heavenward. The Lord’s encouragement is amazing. On 21/2/1989 I was visited by a prominent member of a congregation who said that if I shouted at her in a sermon once again she’d walk out, the next day I received a letter in the mail which read, “John, I considered your sermon on Sunday 19/2/89 to be superb in all ways. Keep it going.” I think we are a pretty caring group of people, but I also sense that many of us are coasting. How much do we want to know God the Father and great Encourager of Jesus himself[21], do we want to take his encouragement to others through supernaturally empowered discernment and exhortation which will help them fulfil the call of God and his gifts in their lives. What we can agree on is that for the Lord to release a greater presence and power of encouragement in us we need to be full of his Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24).