STEPHEN AND WINFRED'S WEDDING

FULL OF FAITH – BARNABAS

I want to look at the character of Barnabas.

first he is mentioned in Acts 4:36-37

 

³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

 

Note that the name Barnabas was a nickname, his real name was Joseph. He was nicknamed Barnabas which means ‘son of encouragement’.

He was so encouraging that it even became his name. what would people nickname you today?

People have been given names according to what they are best in doing… going through my phone contacts and there are several people I save based on what they do…

If we would go through the Apostles contact list…. Joseph of Cyprus, was saved as ‘SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT’.

 

In ACTS 11:22-24

 

When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.…

 

We are told that he was FULL OF FAITH.. we speak of singer as being full of music.. a soul that is full of music brings its music into everything,and every circumstance becomes a home of songs.

 

And so it is with the life that is full of Faith. The life that is full of faith is where every power of the soul pays homage to the will of the Lord.

 

Every situation becomes an opportunity to trustful dependence on the unseen, Barnabas was full of faith.

 

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen.

 

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to Cod must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them than diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6)

 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us admire to be full of faith especially now and after the pandemic.  Faith says that all things are possible with God.

 

Barnabas was also described as Full of the HOLY SPIRIT.. because faith makes a soul competent to receive the Holy Spirit.

 

1cor 2:10

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

You want to receive by Faith then you have to be Full of the Holy Spirit.. being in total obedience to the word of God.

 Now turn to his human relationships. what should we expect such a man to be in his active life?

first of all he was a friend of the suspected. 

When others were afraid to have anything to do with Saul of Tarsus who wished to he identified with the church in Jerusalem, Barnabas took him aside, talked to him, became convinced of his true conversion, and subsequently recommended him.