Would you turn back to Acts chapter
4? Barnabas and Ananias and Sapphira
are given side-by-side to contrast one another. And we're going
to get more into this next week. Verse 36, "...and Joses, who
by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, they gave him a different
name, which is being interpreted, the son of consolation, a Levite,
and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought
the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. But a certain
man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold the possession
and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to
it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'
feet." Now, I see a little grace here. Barnabas gave because he loved. He wanted to. Ananias gave because he was trying
to buy favor. He saw the respect that Barnabas
received from the apostles and he said, I want some of that.
And he tried to buy in order to gain favor. That is called
law. One is grace, one is law. I would notice with regard to
this man, Barnabas, he gave everything so that he had nothing left. All he had now was dependence
upon Christ. Ananias kept back something for
himself. He did not have dependence on
Christ. So I see in these two contrasts
law and grace. But I've entitled this message,
we're just going to consider Barnabas tonight, Surnamed by
the Apostles. This man was such an encouragement
to the apostles that they gave him another name. His name was
changed from Joseph or Joseph to Barnabas, the son of encouragement
or the son of consolation. What a name. the Son of Encouragement,
the Son of Consolation. Now, Joseph was a Levite from
Cyprus, and he was one of the multitude that believed sometime
in between Acts chapter 2 and 4, when the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved. And we see in this man
this extraordinary act of generosity. I want you to think about this.
He sold everything he had. He wasn't commanded to. No one
told him to do it. He sold everything he had after
hearing the gospel. This was his response. He sold
everything he had and he laid it at the apostles feet. And
I want us to think of the trust of that. He didn't tell them
what he wanted them to do with it. He simply laid it at their
feet. What an example of generosity. And what an encouragement he
was to the apostles. They saw this man and they changed
his name to Son of Encouragement. Now, as soon as the Lord saved
this man, he became a giver. Giving is so important. It's
so important. Paul tells us it proves the sincerity
of our love. Now, I realize Religious leaders
have made it to where you almost feel funny saying anything about
giving because the religious leaders have been basically saying,
you take your money and lay it down at my feet, and I'll take
care of it. Give and God will bless you,
all that kind of stuff. And this was nothing like that. They didn't
tell Barnabas to do this, but he did what he wanted to do.
And there are two issues with regard to giving. One, love. Love gives. I don't have to say
much more about it than that, do I? Love gives. If you love somebody, you love
to give to them. And the second issue is that
of trust. Barnabas put himself in a position where he had to
be completely dependent upon the Lord. He didn't have anything.
Now, he had to be completely dependent upon the Lord for all
things. Isn't that a good place to be?
Oh, Barnabas. And he was such an encouragement
to the apostles. They changed his name to the
Son of Encouragement. And I was thinking about this,
this word encouragement or consolation or comfort. We've all been around
people who are such an encouragement to us. You've seen that in your
family. There are people in your family that are such an encouragement
to you. And there are other people in your family that are a discouragement
to you. They bring you down. You've seen
that at work. You've been around people at
work that you find to be an encouragement. And you've seen people at work
who just suck the energy out of you and are a discouragement. You've seen that in the church.
There are people that are such an encouragement. You're around
them and you feel like you've benefited and you've prospered
and you've blessed from being around those people. And there
are people who are a great discouragement to you. Now, what I want to ask
myself, and I hope we'll all ask, we can all think of people
who are encouragements. We can all think of people who
are discouragements. That's easy. All of us can do that. But the
question I want to ask myself is, am I an encouragement? Don't worry about anybody else.
Am I an encouragement? Now, was somebody encouraged or enriched. That's what I'm asking. By being
with me or was someone discouraged and brought down. Now let's look
at this man Barnabas who was surnamed by the apostles. But
before I begin. Before I begin. The scripture
points out some glaring errors about Barnabas. You want to encouraging about
that. That lets us know that men with faults and glaring errors
can still be a source of great encouragement. And I love the
way the Bible is honest about men. It doesn't try to paint
them as perfect. Barnabas was anything but a perfect
man. He did some very terrible things.
First of all, he's mentioned by Paul in Galatians chapter
2 as being carried away with Peter's hypocrisy. Turn with
me to Galatians chapter 2 for a moment. Verse 11. But when Peter was
come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was
to be blamed. Now, we're getting ready to read
about a public rebuke that he gave Peter. Now, something's
got to be pretty serious for you to rebuke somebody in front
of other people. What was it that Peter had been
guilty of? Verse 12, For before the certain
came from James, the church of Jerusalem, who were Jewish believers,
he did eat with the Gentiles. He was not trying to make a distinction. He was sitting at the Gentile
table, eating with them, fellowshipping in the gospel, having a good
time. He was eating with the Gentiles, the non-Jews. But when
they were come, these Jewish believers, He withdrew and separated
himself. He didn't say anything. He just saw these Jewish believers
coming, so he gets up without saying a thing, says, excuse
me all for a little bit, and he goes over and he sits down
at the Jewish table because he feared them of the circumcision.
He feared what they thought. Now, what was Peter guilty of?
He was guilty of saying that Christ is not all in salvation. Somehow you can be a little bit
more pleasing. You can be a little bit more
accepted by God by being with the Jews. They're more pleasing
with their law keeping and with their rites and ceremonies. You're
more pleasing with the Jews than you are with the Gentiles. Now
that's what he was doing that brought upon this public rebuke. Now look what Paul says in verse
13. And the other Jews dissembled
likewise with them, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried
away with their hypocrisy. That's what dissimulation means,
hypocrisy, their pretense. Now this was an act. He's saying,
well, we're a little bit better over here on the Jews' table.
And Barnabas got up with him. He saw Peter and he thought,
well, I want to do the same thing. We don't want to offend these
Jews by seeing us eat with these Gentiles. Peter rebukes, I mean
Paul rebukes Barnabas as well as Peter because he says Barnabas
also was carried away with their hypocrisy. All this is is hypocrisy. It's an act. Now anything that
makes me better than you is pure hypocrisy on my part. That's
all you can call it. Pure hypocrisy. All of us are
the same. Sinners. Saved. by grace, and all of us are the
chief of sinners. And anytime I try to present
myself as somehow more pleasing to God than you are because of
what I've done or what I've stopped doing or where I am, Paul calls
it hypocrisy. Barnabas was carried away with
this hypocrisy that was taking place. Barnabas played the hypocrite. Sound like anybody you know?
Barnabas played the hypocrite. Now all you've got to do to be
a hypocrite is start judging someone and think you're better
than them in some way, and you've been carried off with hypocrisy. Paul points out that Barnabas
was carried off with this hypocrisy. Then they turn to Acts chapter
15. This is one of the saddest stories in the New Testament.
Acts chapter 15. So we can see from these stories
what a weak man he was. Yes, he was called the son of
encouragement, but he was a weak, sinful man just like you and
I are. And that lets us know that you and I can be sons of
encouragement, just like Barnabas was. Look here in Acts chapter
15, verse 36. And some days after Paul and
Barnabas said unto Barnabas, let us go again and visit our
brethren in every city where we have preached the word of
the Lord and see how they do. You see, Paul and Barnabas were
traveling companions. They were close friends. They'd
been on several long missionary journeys together. And Barnabas
determined to take with him John, whose surname was Mark. And we
know from Colossians that this was his nephew. It was his sister's
son. But Paul thought not good to
take him with them, who departed from Pamphylia and went not with
him to the work. He quit early. He deserted. And
Paul said, I don't want to take him after what he did. We're
not going to do it. Verse 39. and a contention was
so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from another. There was a fight and there was
a separation. So Barnabas took Mark and sailed
on to Cyprus and Paul chose Silas and departed being recommended
by the brethren and to the grace of God. He went through Syria
and Cilicia confirming the churches. Now here we have this contention,
this fight, this separation. Barnabas wanted to take his nephew. Could have been nepotism, Andy.
Could have been nepotism. He wanted to take his nephew. And Paul said, no, we're not
taking him. He deserted us and we're not
going to give him another chance. It's too late. He showed his
colors. We're not going to take him.
And so there is a contention between them, a fight that separated
them that we don't know if they were ever reconciled. Isn't that
sad, this fight that took place? Now let me tell you something
about Barnabas. He was wrong. He should have shown deference
to the Apostle Paul. If Paul wanted to do something,
would you argue against it? No, you ought to show deference. Paul was equally wrong because
he ended up saying about this same man, he said either in Titus
or second Timothy, bring Mark for he's profitable to me for
the ministry. Now, both of these men were wrong
that let this. Barnabas should have showed deference.
Paul shouldn't have done this because he was wrong about Mark
and Mark ended up coming and he said, he's profitable to me
for the ministry. This argument should not have
taken place. As a matter of fact, it seems
so silly, so childish, so self-vindicating and self-justifying, both of
them wanted their way. They were both wrong and they
both thought they were right. How often does that happen? How
often does that happen? And they parted asunder. Barnabas
demonstrates he was a weak, sinful, silly man, just like me and you. capable of great faults. You
can see yourself in both of these errors that are exposed. I can
see myself in both of these errors that are exposed regarding this
man named Barnabas. Be that as it may, he still is
called the son of encouragement. That's what the apostles called
him. And if you were around him and made your day a better day,
you profited from being in his presence. Now, I want to point
out four or five things about Barnabas that the book of Acts
reveals concerning him. And the first thing I think of
is his generosity. His generosity. That was such
an encouragement. He obviously loved Christ. He loved his people. And he gave
everything, showing that he was completely dependent upon the
Lord. Now, you might look at somebody and do that, and you
might think, that's generous to a fault. You know, what about
your other responsibilities? Can you judge somebody for what
they give? What if somebody did give everything? We think, well,
that probably was not wise. Who are you to make a judgment?
Who am I to make a judgment like that? This I know, nobody is
generous to a fault. Nobody. I'm sure Barnabas might
have been accused of this, but he gave everything. And I think
that the gospel type, he kept back nothing like Ananias. And
what that lets us know is this man was completely dependent
upon Christ to take care of him. Isn't that a good place to be?
Completely dependent upon Christ to take care of him. Now, turn
to Acts chapter 11. Listen to these words concerning
Barnabas. Verse 22, The tidings of these
things came into the ears of the church, which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas,
he was a leader in the church at this time, but he should go
forth as far as Antioch, who when he came and had seen the
grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he, Barnabas, was
a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith. So much
people was added to the Lord." Now look at this description
of Barnabas. He was a good man. Full of the
Holy Ghost and faith. Now what does that mean? Because
I think when the Lord said to the rich young ruler when he
came up and said, good master, why callest thou me good? Or
he said, good master, what should I do to inherit eternal life?
And the Lord said, why callest thou me good? There's nothing good but
God only. And you know that. But when it's talking about good,
here's exactly what it's talking about. I think of that passage
of scripture in Romans chapter five, verse seven, where Paul
says, scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure
for a good man, some would even dare to die. Now what's that
mean? A righteous man is that man that you feel judged by. You're in his presence and he's
a righteous man. And you feel like you're under
his microscope. He's sizing you up. He's righteous. And he's trying to see how righteous
you are. Now this guy, he's a jerk. That's
what he is. He's somebody that nobody likes.
Nobody's going to die for that man. He's a jerk. He's a self-righteous,
arrogant jerk. That's what that's talking about.
Nobody's going to die for that man, but per adventure for a
good man. Not a man who's looking down
his nose at you and sizing you up and trying to see if you measure
up to his standards. A good man is a merciful man. He's a kind man. He's a non-judgmental
man. He's not judging you. He believes
himself to be the chief of sinners. That's the good man he's speaking
of. For some good man, some would
even dare to die. Now, Barnabas was a merciful,
a gracious, and a non-judgmental man. And look what it says about
him. It says in verse 24, he was a
good man and full of the Holy Ghost. Now, what is the one evidence? Listen to me real carefully.
What is the one evidence of somebody that's full of the Holy Ghost?
Faith. He was full of the Holy Ghost
and faith. Now, the only way you and I will
believe the gospel is by the Holy Spirit. You can't believe,
you can't repent, you can't love, you can't do anything apart from
God the Holy Spirit. And what is the evidence of having
God the Holy Spirit? Faith in Christ. That is the
evidence. Find me a man who works not,
but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, And I'll show you
a man who is full of the Holy Spirit. You see, if you're full
of the Holy Spirit, here's one thing you're going to conclude
about yourself. You can't work. You work not. You find a man
who's talking about his works and boasting about his works
and trying to let you know about all the stuff he's doing, he
doesn't have the Holy Spirit. He's promoting himself. Someone
who has the Holy Spirit is convinced of this. I can't work. If salvation is dependent on
me, I can't be saved. He works not. But what does he
do? He believes on him that justifies
the ungodly. And here's what a believer believes.
He believes that what Christ did is all that's needed to make
this ungodly sinner utterly just and without sin before God. That's
faith. It's that simple. You work not,
but you believe. You rely upon Him who justifies
the ungodly. Now, I have no doubt that when
Jesus Christ died, everybody He died for, their sin was put
away. When He was raised, everybody He died for was justified. By
His act, He justified the ungodly. He did it all, and I'm relying
on Him. That's Barnabas. He was a good
man. kind, gracious, made so by the
grace of God, filled with God the Holy Spirit, which was evidenced
by this, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, find me a man who's
a good man, nonjudgmental, gracious, kind, lowly, someone who looks
to Christ only as everything in their salvation. And I'm finding
somebody that encourages me. You feel the same way. Let's
go on reading. Notice verse 23 again. This is
something else about Barnabas, who, when he came and had seen
the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose
of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. Barnabas could see
what very few people could see. He could see the grace of God. Not many people see the grace
of God. They look through the lens of works and judgment. But he saw through the lens of
grace. See, it takes grace to see grace. It's easy to see people's flaws.
It's easy to see their inadequacies. It's easy to see their sinfulness. You and I know that. I'm an expert
at seeing everybody else's problems when I can't see my own. All
of us have way too much of that in us. But he saw the grace of
God. And it takes grace to see grace. And this whole book is about
law and grace. Law is what you need to do. Grace
is what he has done. Law is what you need to do. You
know, when you hear a sermon, And you're thinking, oh, I need
to fill in the blank. You've heard law. You've heard
law. And that doesn't mean you're
not, in hearing the gospel, inspired to be a better person by the
grace of God, to be more gracious, less judgmental, more zealous,
more generous. Of course, the gospel makes us
want to do that. But if I'm listening to the message
that lets me know, here's what I need to do in order to fix
things. All I've heard is a law message. Might not have used
the word, but it was a law message. But when a believer hears of
grace, the utter free grace of God, what Christ has done, by
grace are you saved. Through faith in that faith,
it's not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of
works. lest any man should boast. He could see the grace of God,
and what an encouragement that is to be around somebody who
sees through the eyes of grace. He could see grace. And it was through those eyes
that he saw Paul. Look back at Acts chapter nine.
Now Paul, you'll remember, had been a murderer of Christians.
He hated Christians, wanted to kill them. He was involved in
the stoning of Stephen, but the Lord did something for him. Verse
26 of Acts chapter 9. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, well, let's back up to verse
22 so you can see what Barnabas saw. But Saul increased the Moor
in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus,
proving that this is very Christ." This is after his conversion,
verse 20. "...And straightway he preached
Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all
that heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he that destroyed
them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither
for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief
priests? But Saul increased the mourn strength, and confounded
the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. Now look down at verse 26. And
when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed, he attempted to join
himself to the disciples, he wanted to be identified with
them, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that
he was a disciple. Can't you understand that? He
had just killed Christians. He had just been involved in
the murder of Stephen. And who knows how many people,
how many people he'd been thrown into jail. Now, what if he came
here tonight and said, I'm your old friend. I believe what you
believe. You would question it. You would question it. The Church
of Jerusalem did. Verse 27, but Barnabas, took
him and brought him to the apostles and declared unto them how that
he'd seen the Lord in the way and that he, the Lord, had spoken
to him. And now he had preached boldly
at Damascus in the name of Jesus. He became Paul's friend and he's
the one looking at Paul through grace eyes. He was so impressed
with Paul preaching boldly. He brings him into the church
in Jerusalem so they would receive him. Now look at Acts chapter
14. Verse 12. This is after verse 11. And when the people saw what
Paul had done, this miracle, they lifted up their voices saying
in the speech of the Lycanodians, the gods are come down to us
in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas Jupiter
and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the
priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen
and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice
with the people, which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard
of, they rent their clothes. They were so upset. And they
ran in among the people, crying out, saying, Sirs, why do you
these things? We also are men of like passions
with you. We're no different than you. And that's what that means. He
didn't try to present himself as something he was not. He didn't
try to present himself as some kind of super pious person. When
they came, you can tell a lot about a man by what he rejects
and what he refuses. They said, we're men of like
passions. Don't do this with us. We're
nothing but sinners saved by grace ourself. We're men of like
passions. And that's an encouragement that
he presented himself as a man no different than anybody else. He didn't come across with this
clergy lady thing. He didn't call himself I'm Dr.
So-and-so or Reverend So-and-so or Pastor So-and-so. I don't
like it. If any of you do it, you'll know
not to do it anymore. Don't call me pastor. You can
call me preacher, pastor. But as far as making it a title,
I don't want any kind of religious title. It's an office. It's an
office. And he comes with this, he could
have said, well, I'm the man God has used to work these miracles. I do all these things. No, he's
just a man of like passions. no clergy lady, no making a difference
between me and you all. He came to these other heathen
and he said, I'm a man of like passions, sinful passions as
you. You know, you can only preach the gospel as a sinner to other
sinners. What an encouragement Barnabas
was like that. I'm no different than you. Whenever
you hear a preacher present himself in such a way as you think you
need to reach his level of piety and his level of commitment and
his level of holiness, it's a sham. It's a sham. I'm not even going
to listen to somebody like that. I'm a man of like passions as
you. Now look in Acts chapter 15,
verse 1, And certain men which came down
from Judea into this church, this Gentile
church, they came down from Judea, these Jewish believers, and certain
men, but notice it doesn't say certain brethren, it says certain
men. He doesn't call them brethren. He says certain men that came
out of the church of Jerusalem. And there were many Jewish believers
And they had never really escaped from law and grace. And look
what these men did. Verse one, and certain men, which
came down from Judea, taught the brethren and said, except
you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be
saved. Christ alone is not enough. Something has to be added. to
him. Look in verse 5. This is Paul
and Barnabas telling the church what had taken place. He says,
but there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed. saying that it was needful, it
was necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the
law of Moses. Faith in Christ is not enough.
You also need to be circumcised and you need to keep the law.
Otherwise your faith is not real. Now these men didn't believe
the gospel. I think it's interesting how they're called the sect of
the Pharisees. They're not acknowledged as believers.
They're of the sect of the Pharisees, which believe. Now, if somebody
tells me they're of the sect of the Catholics or the Presbyterians,
which believe, I'd think, why would you even mention them that
way? You'd just call them believers, wouldn't you? But no, these were
the sect of the Pharisees, which believed, and they said something
needs to be done. Christ is not enough. Grace is
not enough. Now look back up to verse two.
when therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation
with him." You know what that means? It means they got in a
fight. Somebody says, believers ought
not ever get in a fight. Yeah, they should. Over this
issue, I'm not going to keep my mouth shut. I'm not going
to be laissez-faire and you go, you believe your way and I'll
believe my way. There was no small dissension
and disputation among them. They were upset. You see, what
these fellows were denying was that salvation is of the Lord.
They were denying that the righteousness of Christ is the only righteousness.
They were denying that salvation is by grace. That's what they're
denying. And they couldn't keep their mouth shut about this.
There was no small debate going on. It was big. It was big. David said, I esteem all thy
precepts in all things to be right. And I hate every false
way. Any believer is going to be upset
when they hear someone claiming to be a believer injecting works
in the message. And that's Satan's great design,
to inject works in the message and make you look not to Christ
only, but to look to yourself in some way. That's what he's
wanting to do. And they had no small dissension
and disputation with him. They determined that Paul and
Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem
and to the apostles and elders about this question. Now, what
they were saying to Paul and Barnabas, do you believe what
the apostles believe? They were saying, yes, we do,
and we're going to show you that. We have the same message. And
being brought on their way by the church, they passed through
Phenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles,
and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they
were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church,
and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all the things
that God had done with them. But, here's what took place,
there rose up a certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying that it was needful, it was necessary to circumcise them.
and to command them to keep the law of Moses. That's what the
fight was about. And the apostles and elders came forth together
to consider this matter. And when there had been much
disputing, there shouldn't have been, but there was. When there
had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, men
and brethren, You know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word
of the gospel and believe. And God which knoweth the hearts
bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did
to us, and put no difference between us and them." There that
is. No difference. I love that there's no difference
between men. No difference. I don't care what kind of difference
you make, it's false. You take the most moral and the
most immoral, there's no difference in comparison to God. There's
no difference. Educated, uneducated, smart,
dumb, there's no difference. Men are men, sinners and nothing
more. And look what he says. He put
no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith. Now, therefore, why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon
the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were
able to bear? We couldn't handle the law. All
it did was condemn us. Why would you want to put it
on them? It's called hypocrisy. That's all it's called. Hypocrisy.
You want to put somebody under some kind of rule of law? You
are a hypocrite, is what he said. Now look at verse 11. Here is
our statement of faith, and through this act, we're given by Peter
this wonderful verse of scripture. But we believe that through the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. Now, how is a Gentile saved?
The only way a Gentile can be saved is if salvation really
is by grace. And it's very important to note,
he didn't say they will be saved like us. He said we will be saved
just like them. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
will save us. Don't you, through Barnabas and
Paul standing up to the gospel, and having this dissension, this
disputation. Stuff like this is needful because
it brings out such glorious truth. We believe that through the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Now what he's talking
about is saving grace. Understand, understand, God's
grace is not something he offers you. Here's grace, you can take
it or receive it. God's grace is not something
He offers you. God's grace saves you irresistibly
and invincibly with no help from you. When we're talking about
saving grace, we're talking about electing grace, where God chooses
you to be saved. We're talking about redeeming
grace, where He Himself pays for your sins. You can't make
the payment. He did it all by Himself with no help from you.
We're talking about justifying grace, where He takes an ungodly
sinner like me and makes me perfectly just before God. We're talking
about life-giving grace, where He gives a new heart, where He
gives life from the dead. We're talking about preserving
grace, where He keeps you from falling away. We're talking about
glorifying grace that makes you perfectly conformed to the image
of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the grace that saves.
And through Paul and Barnabas not backing down with the Judaizers,
we're given this beautiful statement regarding the grace of God. Now,
Barnabas was a son of encouragement, and I want to be that, don't
you? He had faults, we've seen them. He played the hypocrite. He became a self-justifying,
self-vindicating, self-righteous jerk with Paul. He should have
made deference to Paul. He didn't. He was wrong. Paul was wrong. Paul was just
as wrong as he was. And they should have been able
to get back together, but they didn't. And we don't know that
they ever did, and that's so sad. So sad. So he was a sinful
man like you and I are with his faults, but he was generous.
He was a good man, merciful and nonjudgmental, full of the Holy
Ghost and faith. He could see grace and he refused
to see himself in any light other than just like everybody else.
like passions, and he's a man who would not budge an inch with
regard to the grace of God. I want to be that man, don't
you? Just like Barnabas. A man named Joseph, whom the
apostles surnamed Barnabas, a son of encouragement. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name
that you would cause us to be by your grace for the glory of
your son, sons of encouragement. Lord, do that for us and in us,
we know that in and of ourselves, we won't be that way. But we
ask that you would cause us to be true Barnabas's. Lord, as
we face this coming week, we ask that you would open up doors
for us to preach your gospel to others. And Lord, give us
grace to be like this man. In the name of thy dear son,
we pray. Amen.