The Kiss Of Encouragement

Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
January 13, 2002 PM

The Kiss Of Encouragement

Reading Acts 4.32-37

During the recent Pulpit Exchange... Alan and Doris McPhail were in the audience when I spoke at the Johnson congregation. There... I used this lesson... Alan came to me saying... I wish you would use that same lesson at Bella Vista sometime. I told him I had preached it here before they came to the Village. Then he asked if I could do it again... So tonight, what better way to start this new year... than by learning how to be an ENCOURAGER.

ENCOURAGEMENT... We all need it!!
- Families need encouragement.
- Churches need encouragement.
- Individual Christians need encouragement.
- Our children need encouragement.
- The sick and suffering need encouragement.
- Senior citizens need encouragement.
- Lost souls need encouragement.
We all need it... Don't we?

You see...
- Encouragement is vital for life and relationships.
- Encouragement is like a breeze on a hot summer day.
- Encouragement helps us overcome when we feel overwhelmed.
- It helps us soar to success rather than sink in failure.
- Encouragement helps us be a victor rather than be a victim.
- We all hunger and thirst for encouragement.
- There is never a time in life when we don't need encouragement.
- There is never a time when encouragement is not appropriate.
So... If encouragement is that important... Then we need to challenge one another to be encouragers... Right??

Listen to these challenges from scripture... All of these verses are from the NIV... Because the word ENCOURAGE or ENCOURAGEMENT does not appear in our King James New Testament. But you'll readily recognize the familiar passages as we read.

1 Thessalonians 5.11 & 14 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Thessalonians 2.17 - Be encouraged in your hearts and strengthen in every good deed and word.

2 Timothy 4.2 - Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction.

Titus 1.9 - Hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that we can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Hebrews 3.13 - Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 10.25 - Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the habit of some has become, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching.

There should be no doubt that Scripture tells us we ought to be encouragers. Now... With this in mind, let's see what we can learn about being an encourager.

I believe God has placed in scripture a definition. No, more than a definition, a model for us to follow... We find our definition and model in the book of Acts. Our model has three names...
- Joseph...
- Called Barnabas...
- And his nickname is son of encouragement.
- Our King James says... Son of consolation.
What I want to do with the lesson is simply scan the book of Acts and see what we can learn from this one known as the son of encouragement. We meet him for the first time in our reading tonight... in Acts 4.

What are the characteristics of an encourager. A closer look at the life Barnabas?

First... We see here that an encourager gives freely of their resources. Barnabas sells a piece of land and gives the money to the church and they distribute it to those who are in need. The New Testament church of the first century had a family mindset. They believed in and practiced the idea of what is mine is mine... But it is yours if you need it.

This idea came from John the Baptist... It was his message of repentance. He said the kingdom of God is coming. .. Prepare for it by repentance. Then he told what repentance was. I think we need to read Luke 3.11 again... We have forgotten the message. When ask what repentance was, John answered... The man with two coats should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same. John is saying that... New Testament churches, Christians, Kingdom seekers... Will be known as people of encouragement. Those willing to share... Those willing to give to others. And they were. The book of Acts bears this out repeatedly... RIGHT?

Encouragement sometimes means...
- Giving to others...
- Fulfilling the needs of others...
Out of our own God-given resources.

You see, encouragers recognize that, what they have really doesn't belong to them, but to God. They realize that we are only stewards of God's blessings. All too frequently, we live as if we will take our possessions with us... We Won't!! There are no pockets in funeral shrouds. Hearses don't pull U-Hauls. Barnabas understood this. Evidently he didn't need this field... This second coat... But some of his brethren did. So he freely gives to others.

Church... If you want to encourage someone... Do something tangible for them. We send money to missionaries, orphans homes, and needy families. We call it support. It is really encouragement... Isn't it? We're letting them know we are behind them. We encourage them with our tangible resources.

You see... Sometime words are not enough... Are they? James says it's not enough when a brother comes needing help for us to say... I wish you well, be you warmed and filled. We must support our words with tangible encouragement... Support.

I believe that God gives us all five things... 4 Ts and an E... Time... Talent... Treasure... Energy... and Truth. You can gauge what is important to us by how we use these five things: On self... Or on others? Whether we spend them foolishly or wisely. Jesus tells us how to use them wisely in the Sermon on the Mount... Lay not up treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves steal, but lay up treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is there is your heart also.

Treasure laid up in heaven is the tangible support of TIME... TALENT... TREASURE... ENERGY and TRUTH we give to others... Versus what we spend on self.

Another point here... Encouragers don't expect any thing in return. When they give, it's over.
They're not looking for anything in return. And they could care less who gets the credit. Their main goal is simply to meet the need.

Scripture says, an encourager gives with an openhanded philosophy about his possessions. Barnabas sells the property and simply gives the proceeds to the Apostles for them to distribute.
There were no strings attached. NO... saying... I'll give this, IF you'll spend it as I want, as I direct.

Corrie Ten Boom put it so well. She says... I've learned not to hold onto anything too tightly, because it hurts too much when God has to pry back my fingers to get to it. So, I've learned to live life with an open hand , so that God can give and take as he wishes. That was Job's philosophy wasn't it?... The Lord gives... The Lord takes. May God help us to be like Barnabas... AN ENCOURAGER with an open heart and hand.

Thirdly... An encourager accepts us where we are. Turn to Acts 9... The Jews were in a conspiracy to kill Paul. But fellow church members slipped him out of town by night in a basket over the wall. He then goes to Jerusalem to join with the church there. But they were afraid of him... They couldn't believe he had been converted to Jesus. After all, they had seen him there holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen. Perhaps they had witnessed others being... Jailed... Beaten... Killed... Because of Paul's efforts in ravaging the church of Christ. Acts 9.21 says... "Isn't he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" These Christians in Jerusalem had reason for concern... Didn't they? But notice who comes to the rescue. Acts 9.27... But Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles and told them about his Damascus road experience. So Paul stayed in Jerusalem, moving about freely, speaking boldly in the name of Jesus.

Do you see the second characteristic of an encourager here?
- Encouragers accept us where we are... Helping us to be what we can be.
- Encouragers don't look at our past... But at the present and future.
- Encouragers do not see our faults and mistakes... our sins.
But our potential... What we could be. In light of the lesson this morning, we could say that encouragers are forgivers

You see... As His children... As baptized believers... If God does not hold our past against us who are we to hold one another's past against each other? Praise God tonight for Barnabas and others like him. He accepted Paul where he was... And didn't judge him on his past mistakes... his past sins. Think about it now... We might not have had 2/3 of our New Testament, had it not been for the encouragement Barnabas showed Paul. See how important encouragement is?

What a difference, do you suppose, we can we make in the lives of...
- Our children,
- Our neighbors,
- Those in the church of God,
- The lost,
- And those we differ with religiously, if we will just accept them where they are... While helping them get where they should be... Rather than judging them on their past... Or their present?

Encouragers get excited about the progress & potential of others.

Turn to Acts 11.19-26 and let's read... Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Did you notice what Barnabas did in verse 23? He was glad at their conversion and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord. He got excited about their progress. Encouragers get excited about the progress of others.

For instance...
- When they see a Christian overcome temptation and some ugly sin in their life... They encourage them and rejoice with them.
- When they see parents raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord... They encourage them.
- When they see church members involved in genuine New Testament evangelism... They support them... Encourage them.
- When they see new converts growing and exercising their convictions from Scripture... They praise and encourage them.
- When they witness Elders lovingly... tenderly... shepherding the flock... They support and encourage them.

I believe, we have too many in the church today, including preachers, going from church to church...
- Looking for and pointing out problems...
- Checking for our faults...
- Questioning our faith and practice...
- Criticizing Elders...
- Just generally being ugly and mean spirited.
When... what we need, is more encouragement for everyone to be true to the Lord.

I want you to note what happens when believers are encouraged... Note verses 24 through 26...
- Great numbers of people were taught.
- Great numbers of people were brought to the Lord.
- And they were called Christians first at Antioch.
All this as a result of what?... Encouragement!!... ENCOURAGEMENT.

Our son Keith was a slow starter in Grade School. We became concerned and had him tested at the University of Arkansas. Those test showed nothing really wrong. The professor administering the test said, he just needed time to mature and develop. But school continued to be a real struggle for Keith. College was not going to be his forte. In fact the professor said college was out of the question! Georgia did not accept that and never gave up on Keith. She bought books... Read to him... Helped him... Coached him... Loved him.... Encouraged him. Keith did go to college, making good enough grades to earn several scholarships. He graduated with a degree in Recreational Management. He went on to work for the Disney Corporation in Orlando. He has served as the Executive Director of two YMCA's in Pensacola, Florida. He served as the Executive Director of the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter. Currently he works at a software company and owns his own computer consulting firm. What made the difference in Keith's life?... ENCOURAGEMENT!!... ENCOURAGEMENT!

Encouragers are those who get excited about the progress and potential of others.
- Elders must be encouragers.
- Teachers must be encouragers.
- Preachers need to be encouragers.
- Christians are called to be encouragers.
- Husbands... Wives... Mothers... Grandmothers should be encouragers.

Number five... Encouragers are unselfish. Things were going well in the Church at Antioch. But, here in Acts 11, Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul. That's strange thinking for us today... When things are going well, we want to... Take all the credit... Ride the success train as far as we can. Not Barnabas... He knew that Paul could do a better job than he could in the church at Antioch. Barnabas knew that he had brought this church as far as he could without help... So He strikes out for assistance.

YOU SEE...
- Encouragers are not out to make a name for themselves, but are interested in glorifying God.
- Encouragers are willing to take a back seat when others can do a better job.
- Encouragers are willing to preach in small churches.
- Encouraging teachers are willing to teach even if there is only one student in the class.
- Encouragers have a servant mentality.
- Encouragers are willing to wash feet.
- Encouragers are willing to place the good of others before their personal preferences.
- Encouragers are those members who are willing to hold up the hands of others.
- Encouragers are those willing to send others on foreign missions when they can't go.
- Then finally... Encouragers give others a second chance.

In Acts 15... Paul and Barnabas decide to go back and visit the churches they planted on the first missionary journey, but there is a problem... What was the problem? It was John Mark. Barnabas wants to give John Mark a second chance.

You remember... He deserted them on the first mission trip and returned home from Cyprus about 1/3 of the way through the evangelist effort. Paul says... No! He ain't a going!!... Barnabas says... Paul... He deserves another chance. Scripture tells us the disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas split company. Paul chose Silas... Barnabas takes John Mark, and they each set out on separate journeys.

There is an interesting theory as to why Barnabas stood up for John Mark giving him a second chance... I don't know if it is true or not... But it could possibly be. You remember in Acts chapter one, Judas has hanged himself and the apostles are selecting another to take his place. Two men were selected... Matthias & Joseph Barsabas. They cast lots and Matthias was selected. Is it possible that Jospeh Barsabas was really JOSEPH BARSABAS? Had the apostles... the disciples... the early church changed his name to Barnabas... because of his encouragement of others? If so... Perhaps we can understand why Barnabas was so sensitive to John Mark's rejection. He knew the pain of failure and rejection first hand. Encouragers are willing to give others a second chance.

Aren't you glad that God is an encourager? Aren't we glad that He didn't give up on us at our...
- First...
- Second...
- Third...
- 100th...
- 1000th...
Failure... But keeps giving us another chance... Another chance... And another chance? Peter says that... He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Indeed... God is an encourager.

The challenge tonight is for us to be...
- More like Barnabas...
- More like God...
Giving others another chance.

Artist Benjamin West tells how he learned to paint as a boy. Whenever his mother left, he would pull out the paints and try his hand. He tells how, that one day he made quite a mess. He hoped to clean it up before his mother returned. But she came in and discovered his mess. West says, he was completely surprised by her reaction. Instead of scolding him, she picked up the painting and said, My what a great piece of work! She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away. He says, with that kiss I became a painter.

Every day you and I make a mess of life. The last thing we need is for someone to come along and say... What a mess you've made of things! What we need is a kiss of encouragement.

Church... At the beginning of this new year... Our challenge is to become an encourager.

My encouragement to you tonight...
- Is to become a child of God by faith... repentance and genuine New Testament baptism...
immersion in water for the forgiveness of Sin.
- If you are a child of God and have sin in your life that needs to be dealt with... Acknowledge
it to God and He will forgive... This is His promise in 1 John 1.9. Just do it and trust Him for the results.
- If you have needs that you want the church to pray for... Come let them be known.
- If you need ENCOURAGEMENT in some area of your life... any area... This church stands
ready to pray with you and for you.

Come to Jesus as we stand and sing this invitation song together.