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FOUR WAYS TO HELP DEVELOP DISCIPLES -- Acts 4:36-37
Sadly, many times in the Lord’s churches we fail to fully obey our Lord’s instruction to make disciples. I believe one of the faults of modern day evangelism is that some go out to “win souls,” but once they’ve won them, they drop them to go on to another lost person. We may lead people to Christ and even encourage them to be Scripturally baptized. We may welcome them into the church, but our responsibility DOES NOT end there . . . and, this is where we often fall short, as we fail to fully “assimilate” new believers into the body and activities of the church. It often seems that we say, “You’re saved. You’ve been baptized. And you’re a church member. Great! Now figure out the rest of it on your own. Churches may expect new believers to simply attend every service, listen the presentation of the Word, and figure out what they need to do. THAT IS NOT MAKING A DISCIPLE. NO! We are told by our Lord Himself that we are to make disciples out of them, and a part of that is encouraging and edifying new believers. There is a man whose name is mentioned in the Bible only a few times, but I believe he was a great disciple maker for the Lord. We read about him in our text, Acts 4:36-37. Barnabas was not his “birth name.” His birth name, his real name was Joses. However, the Scripture tells us that the apostles “nicknamed” him Barnabas. "BARNABAS" means "son of consolation" The word translated “consolation” (parakleeseoos) means “exhortation, solace, comfort.” It is a synonym for “encouragement.” It comes from the Greek word “parakletos” and refers to “one who comes alongside to encourage or console.” Thus, it carries the idea of encourager. “Parakletos” is the word used to describe the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:16, 26). John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever . . . ” John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” II Corinthians 1:3 refers to God as “the God of all comfort,” and that word “comfort” (or encouragement) is a form of parakletos. (Note: God is the God of ALL comfort.) Barnabas was doing for others what the Holy Spirit does for the child of God as He comes alongside to encourage and comfort, and that is perhaps how Joses got his nickname, Barnabas. If God is the God of all comfort and encouragement, then Satan is the minister of discouragement. Discouragement comes from the devil. He discourages preachers. He discourages church members. And sometimes he is able to discourage entire church bodies. Do you know why many if not most preachers leave churches and/or the ministry? Discouragement. Have I ever been discouraged in the ministry? Many times. Do you know why many if not most church members quit? For the same reason, and Satan is killing churches today with discouragement. I believe discouragement is a major cause of failure among God’s people. Oh how we need to encourage each other today! Consider I Thessalonians 5:14 for a moment, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” We’ve already looked at the word “comfort.” It means the same thing here - “encourage.” Who are the “feebleminded?” FEEBLEMINDED means little-spirited, faint-hearted; discouraged.” That verses literally says, “Encourage the discouraged.” And that is a vital part of being a disciple maker for the Lord. When someone accepts Christ as Savior, almost instantly they are going to come under fire - from "friends," possibly from some family, and most certainly from Satan. I try to warn people that have just been saved that it is going to happen. And we who have been saved for any length of time should be there for those newly come to the faith. In this message we are going to look at 4 ways Barnabas was used to encourage others and see how we can apply them in the work of making disciples for Christ. We see that . . .
I. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A SACRIFICING STEWARD.
II. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A STEADFAST SUPPORTER - ACTS 9:22-27.
III. A DISCIPLE DEVELOPER IS A SOLUTION SEEKER - ACTS 11:19-26.
IV. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A FAILURE FIXER - ACTS 15:36-40.
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By JWHSadly, many times in the Lord’s churches we fail to fully obey our Lord’s instruction to make disciples. I believe one of the faults of modern day evangelism is that some go out to “win souls,” but once they’ve won them, they drop them to go on to another lost person. We may lead people to Christ and even encourage them to be Scripturally baptized. We may welcome them into the church, but our responsibility DOES NOT end there . . . and, this is where we often fall short, as we fail to fully “assimilate” new believers into the body and activities of the church. It often seems that we say, “You’re saved. You’ve been baptized. And you’re a church member. Great! Now figure out the rest of it on your own. Churches may expect new believers to simply attend every service, listen the presentation of the Word, and figure out what they need to do. THAT IS NOT MAKING A DISCIPLE. NO! We are told by our Lord Himself that we are to make disciples out of them, and a part of that is encouraging and edifying new believers. There is a man whose name is mentioned in the Bible only a few times, but I believe he was a great disciple maker for the Lord. We read about him in our text, Acts 4:36-37. Barnabas was not his “birth name.” His birth name, his real name was Joses. However, the Scripture tells us that the apostles “nicknamed” him Barnabas. "BARNABAS" means "son of consolation" The word translated “consolation” (parakleeseoos) means “exhortation, solace, comfort.” It is a synonym for “encouragement.” It comes from the Greek word “parakletos” and refers to “one who comes alongside to encourage or console.” Thus, it carries the idea of encourager. “Parakletos” is the word used to describe the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:16, 26). John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever . . . ” John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” II Corinthians 1:3 refers to God as “the God of all comfort,” and that word “comfort” (or encouragement) is a form of parakletos. (Note: God is the God of ALL comfort.) Barnabas was doing for others what the Holy Spirit does for the child of God as He comes alongside to encourage and comfort, and that is perhaps how Joses got his nickname, Barnabas. If God is the God of all comfort and encouragement, then Satan is the minister of discouragement. Discouragement comes from the devil. He discourages preachers. He discourages church members. And sometimes he is able to discourage entire church bodies. Do you know why many if not most preachers leave churches and/or the ministry? Discouragement. Have I ever been discouraged in the ministry? Many times. Do you know why many if not most church members quit? For the same reason, and Satan is killing churches today with discouragement. I believe discouragement is a major cause of failure among God’s people. Oh how we need to encourage each other today! Consider I Thessalonians 5:14 for a moment, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” We’ve already looked at the word “comfort.” It means the same thing here - “encourage.” Who are the “feebleminded?” FEEBLEMINDED means little-spirited, faint-hearted; discouraged.” That verses literally says, “Encourage the discouraged.” And that is a vital part of being a disciple maker for the Lord. When someone accepts Christ as Savior, almost instantly they are going to come under fire - from "friends," possibly from some family, and most certainly from Satan. I try to warn people that have just been saved that it is going to happen. And we who have been saved for any length of time should be there for those newly come to the faith. In this message we are going to look at 4 ways Barnabas was used to encourage others and see how we can apply them in the work of making disciples for Christ. We see that . . .
I. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A SACRIFICING STEWARD.
II. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A STEADFAST SUPPORTER - ACTS 9:22-27.
III. A DISCIPLE DEVELOPER IS A SOLUTION SEEKER - ACTS 11:19-26.
IV. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A FAILURE FIXER - ACTS 15:36-40.