LEADERSHIP CAPSULE
... equipping leaders with tools, skills, and weapons to provide effective leadership for nations to ultimately fulfill the Great Commission

Saturday, March 18, 2017

TITLE : The Awesome Power Of Encouragement

Leaders are called to be encouragers

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Encourage one another and build each other up.."

Hebrews. 3:13 “Encourage one another daily…”

During Jesus’ last night on earth, the number one thing he wanted us to know was this: “Love one another the way I have loved you.”  Why? Because when we sacrificially and unconditionally love one another the way Jesus loved us, then the whole world will know that we are his followers. So how do we specifically love one another in concrete, tangible ways from the heart?One of the most important ways we can love one another the way Jesus instructed us is by encouraging each other. One of the most important ways we can love one another the way Jesus instructed us is by encouraging each other - hoping and believing the best in people.

Today, I would like to take a quick look at the life of Barnabas, and share with you why he earned the name “ Son of encouragement.”' His original name was Joses, or Joseph, but the apostles in the early church gave him the name Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement” or “ Son of Exhortation” ( Acts 4:36 ). By the way, this name is very special. The word for “ consolation, or encouragement” comes from the same Greek word Parakletos  that is translated “ Comforter”, and which refers to the Holy Ghost, John 14:26 .  Like I said yesterday Parakletos refers to one who comes alongside of another to offer help and encouragement, exhortation or comfort.

Can you imagine being so encouraging to others that Christ's followers would choose a new name to call you to fit that? Being “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 11:24 ), Barnabas seemed to excel at encouragement and exhortation. We read an interesting account in the later portion of Acts 9,  Acts 11:22-24 that sheds more light on Barnabas' encouraging nature.

When Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul, tried to reconcile with the Jerusalem church after having persecuted many of its members before he became a Christian, the church did not accept him at first because of his past and how he had killed christians but Barnabas was at his side and encouraged Paul. Barnabas spoke to the apostles and verified Paul's story of his conversion.( Acts 9:26-30 ). Barnabas also supported Paul by explaining how strongly he had preached in Damascus. Eventually, Paul was accepted within the Church (albeit perhaps with some caution). But would he have been accepted in Antioch and Jerusalem had he not been “vouched for” by someone with such a solid reputation as Barnabas? There is still a need for this kind of ministry today! We need to make the effort and take the time to reach out and encourage those around us who seem to be lonely or who have been rejected by others.
This is especially true at church. We should do our best to make everyone who comes to this place called church feel as if they belong here and are accepted just as they are. Every person who darkens these doors should feel like they have returned home after a long absence! We need to love them, welcome them and accept them into our services regardless of their life!

In Acts 11:22 - When the church in Jerusalem heard that there was a new group of believers in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to them to help them along. The Bible tells us that when he arrived, he “ exhorted ” them. This means that he “ offered them encouragement! ”

After some time had passed, Paul proposed that he and Barnabas retrace the steps of their original journey and strengthen the churches that had been established ( Acts 15:36 ). Sadly, a serious disagreement came between Barnabas and Paul over whether young John Mark would accompany them on this trip. Apostle Paul was so upset with John Mark returning home in the middle of their first journey that he didn't want him to come on this trip. Barnabas insisted that they should take Mark. With this matter standing between them, they went separate ways ( Acts 15:39-41 ). This disagreement was not permanent, however, as Paul and Barnabas later worked together in serving the church in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 9:6 ). Barnabas continue to encourage (teach) Young John Mark in his ministry. Later still, Paul implicitly acknowledged that Barnabas had been right not to give up on John Mark because he had become a good minister—he was “useful” to Paul for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11 ). God used Barnabas in a very influential way in the development of the early New Testament Church. His nickname of Encourager flowed from living God's way of life.

Again, there is a lesson here for us today. We ought to do everything in our power to encourage other believers in their walk with the Lord.