The Power of Encouragement and Obedience
By Dean Collins
We don’t know all of the details, but one thing seems obvious: the men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who heard the gospel that was being spread when the church scattered because of persecution, believed that making disciples was a priority. And they did it.
In fact, they went to Antioch and spoke to people from Jewish, Greek, and Roman backgrounds. They embraced the diversity of cultures in Antioch and actively shared their faith. Luke tells us that “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” There was so much success that some believers reported back to the church in Jerusalem, prompting Barnabas to be sent to check things out. Here is what he found:
He saw the grace of God at work.
He was happy about what he saw.
He exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord and stay committed to their purpose.
If someone were sent to check out the impact of your work or my work in our local community, what report would they give? I would be thrilled for others to see God’s grace at work, be happy about what they saw, and encourage us to keep sharing the gospel. In our current culture, which is obsessed with giving reviews, wouldn’t that be a five-star review?!
It is worth taking a moment to look at the characteristics of the man who was sent to Antioch. We first meet him back in chapter 4. His name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the nickname “Barnabas,” and it stuck. His nickname means “son of encouragement.” Acts describes him as a Levite, a native of Cyprus, and someone who was all-in as a follower of Christ. He sold a field and gave the apostles the money to use however it was needed for the health and growth of the church.
When we move to chapter 11, we see that Barnabas was sent on an important mission. Luke tells us a little more about his character:
He was a good man.
He was full of the Holy Spirit.
He was full of faith.
The result of the work of this good man and his partnership with the men of Cyprus and Cyrene was that the church continued to grow. This church was so unique that Barnabas believed it was time to bring Saul back from Tarsus and have him join him in teaching and strengthening this rapidly growing, multicultural church.
After what scholars suggest was somewhere between 10 and 13 years in Tarsus, it was time for Saul to put his knowledge and experience into action. He stayed with Barnabas for a year before the two of them were assigned to go on a mission trip.
While Paul, Peter, James, and the other apostles did significant work to spread the gospel and help the church come to know more about Jesus, we can’t discount the importance of the many others who came to follow Jesus and give their all to the gospel. Barnabas is a key player in the growth of the church in Antioch and in the redeployment of Saul, whom we know better as Paul.
Father, today we surrender our lives to you. Following the example of Barnabas, show us where we can be used in your service. Help us to become encouragers to those around us. Today, we will put our faith into action so that others might discover you and be transformed by your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Acts 4:36–37, 11:19-26 ESV
Photo by Pexels
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