I want us to look at a man in the New Testament called Barnabas, a good man the scriptures call him a fruitful bough. I would like us to see some good fruit that was in His life. Good fruit that God would desire in the life of His Church.
There are 3 particular portions of scripture Acts 4:33-37, Acts 9:26-28, Acts 11:19-30. From these scriptures we will get a good view of who Barnabas was.
WE KNOW HE WAS A GOOD MAN BY WHO HE WAS KNOWN AS.
In Acts 4 vs36 we find His name was Joses, Joses name means ‘he that pardons’. In bible times great importance was given to the naming of a child. Parents looked for a trait in the child, a situation that occurred at the birth. Was Barnabas like as His name suggests. Yes, you can see it in ACTS 15:36-41. Mark had turned back, in short quit some 6 years before. Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance at missionary work but Paul said no. So Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and went to Syria and beyond. Joses was as His name suggests ‘he that pardons’.He forgave him for turning back. The spirit of forgiveness needs to be in the heart of its church members.
In Acts 4:36 we see the name the apostles surnamed him Barnabas. Barnabas means ‘son of consolation, son of comfort, son of exhortation’. A surname according to the dictionary is ‘a descriptive epithet attached to a person’s name to denote a personal characteristic or profession etc’. Joses was surnamed Barnabas. Changing a person’s name is quite biblical. Some examples..Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon, James and John and Saul. Joses to be surnamed Barnabas must surely have been because He was showing consolation. To console. Is a person that is a source of comfort in a time of suffering, grief or disappointment, loss, or sadness.Check out Acts 9:26,27. Where Barnabas obviously consoles Paul and goes to the apostles to accept Paul. And it worked. The question we can ask ourselves is am I a consoler. Check out Acts 11:22-23, Acts 13:42-43 and acts 14:20-22 for further confirmation that Barnabas is a consoler. Question If the people at church were to give you a new name, what would it be? Hopefully a fruitful one.
WE KNOW HE WAS NAMED A GOOD MAN BY WHAT HE DID.
Firstly, He gave as a Christian.
Check ch 4:36-37. At the begining of the church many people got saved, 3,000 at Pentecost. Many were not from Jerusalem they were visiting and stayed for the teachings. These people had basic needs so there was a common treasury. Barnabas having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet to help provide in the upkeep of the new church. His motive was pure his heart was right with the Lord…….Giving is important in the life of the Christian and just as the Father gave His Son so should we give. The scripture tells us ‘The liberal soul shall be made fat’. ‘God loveth a cheerful giver’.
Secondly.He cared as a Christian.
Check ch 9:26-27 where other disciples did not want to know because of Sauls reputation. Barnabas got involved in Sauls life and cared about him. He, by what we read of his life he cared for souls. As a Christian we should have a care for the souls of men, women, boys and girls. Praying for them helping them to come to know the Lord.
Thirdly He was used as a Christian.
In ch 11:19-22 Barnabas was used here by the apostles and sent to ascertain the truth of what was happening in Antioch. Consider this, Antioch was 350 miles from Jerusalem! He was a trusted member of the church, he was a reliable member of the church. He was good man and could be used by the church. And……. he was full of the Holy Ghost and faith. Can that be said of you and me that these graces are in our lives giving, caring, useful, telling, faith and the Holy Spirit.
Fourthly .He told as a Christian.
In ch 11:23-24. While he was at Antioch it is apparent he was ministering to people and bringing them to the Lord.’and much people was added unto the Lord’.
WE KNOW BARNABAS WAS A GOOD MAN BY WHAT HE WAS.
Barnabas was a good man but not perfect. There is one blemish found in Galations ch2:9-16 when He gets caught up in the hypocrisy of other Jews for which he is rebuked. Also there is another blemish in ACTS ch 15: 37-39. Where Barnabas and Paul parted company from each other over a dispute they had over Mark going on a missionary endeavour. Barnabas was continued to be used in Cyprus with Mark. Paul with Silas went to Syria and Cilicia.so why after those two incidents did God continue to use Barnabas. It was because of what he was primarily, not because of his name or what he did theses were outflows of what he was.
a). He was a Christian Acts 11:25-26.
b). He was a disciple Acts 11:25-26
c). He was full of the Holy Ghost Acts 11:24
d). He was a man of faith Acts 11:24
e). He was a man of witnessing Acts 11:23
f). He was a man of humility Acts 13:1-2, Acts 15:2
The question is are we like Barnabas, a fruitful bough?
May God bless us in our efforts to walk with Him as Barnabas did
Michael Whitehouse