SERMON: IN YOUR CORNER
IN YOUR CORNER - - - - INTRODUCTION: - - Ever watched a boxing match? . . . Ever seen a "Rocky" movie? - then you know the scene. Boxer-Man has been punched and pounded and bruised for several rounds. The bell rings and he goes to his corner - where his attendants immediately start working on him. They give him something to drink . . . they help him get a quick breather . . . and they give him a big pep talk. I don't know what they tell Boxer-Man, but I'm sure it's good stuff. What I do know is that whatever they tell him works - even though he's banged up, he gets back into the ring for another round! - - - TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT: - - We live in a world where everybody is taking their blows. People you know often feel beat up, punched around, and even ready to go down for the count. What may keep them from giving up is someone in their corner who's giving them what they need to go for another round. I hope that someone is you. - - -1. EXAMPLE! - - We've got a stellar example of that in our text for today . In Acts 4:36, we're introduced to "Joseph . . . whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement)." Now, something about this man made the early Christian leaders think "encouragement." I wonder if that's what people think when they see you coming. - - All through his appearances in the Book of Acts, Barnabas shows us what an encourager looks like. In Acts 9, for example, when none of the disciples wanted anything to do with Saul of Tarsus after he met Christ - they were afraid he was still hunting Christians - Barnabas was the one who brought him to them and vouched for him. A Barnabas believes in a person when no one else will. I hope that's you. - - Ac 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: He was also the one that, after Paul was sent home, went back for him! - - In Acts 11, when God started working among the despised Gentiles, the church leaders in Jerusalem "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" (Acts 11:23, 24). Here's another face of the encourager - he looks for what God is doing in someone's life and then fans the flame. - - Do you give up on people? Do you look for what God sees? Do fan the flames of zeal? - - - 2. BARNABAS’! - - Now lest you think this mission of encouragement is just for a gifted elite like Barnabas, don't forget that God says to all of us, "Encourage one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13). So how are you doing? Do you look for the things a person is doing right and thank them for it? Do you make a person feel really important when they're with you - or like they're keeping you from something more important? Do you listen for their heart, not just their words? Do you look for what God seems to be doing in their life and then affirm it to them? Do you look for their strong points and do tell them what you see? Its amazing how something so wonderful is often so hard for us to do! - - Barnabas: This word properly denotes the son of prophecy. It is compounded of two Syriac words, the one meaning son, and the other prophecy. The Greek word which is used to interpret this, ~paraklhsewv~, translated consolation, means properly also, exhortation, entreaty, petition, or advocacy. It also means consolation, or solace; and from this meaning the interpretation has been given to the word Barnabas. It does not appear that the name was bestowed on account of speaking; though it is probable that he possessed it in an eminent degree; on account of his talent for speaking, or exhorting the people to holiness. - - So this means to be a Barnabas you are a child of consolation - you mourn with them that are doing so! Prophecy - your words speak life, truth and edification! Exhortation - you provoke one another to love and good works! - -Encouragement - You help one another get through! Entreaty - You pray for one another! Petition - You pray hard for their best! Advocacy- You stick up for one another, being proud of each other! and Solace - You help one another feel secure! - - Sound like you? This is what the fruit of the Spirit looks like! - - - Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Remember how Jesus restored the Disciple who had failed the worst?! Jesus went out of His way to encourage Peter 3 times, the one who had denied Him 3 times! To be a Barna bas is to be like Jesus! - - By the way, this ministry of encouragement is one anyone can have - and it may be just what you need to get you out of your pit of self-focus and self-pity. “Hey, don’t say that!” It’s only too simple to fall into ourselves and focus on our wants, needs, concerns, etc. Then all you do, is scewered by the vision of what you want. Check hard; self-pity, vanity, selfishness are all built into us in the fall! Our rewiring, back to the way God intended, is that of seeking His kingdom first and that is one another! Trusting more and more that He will take care of our concerns. - - Your ministry of encouregement begins first with those close around you. They need it the most. Thats why God put you here!! This is what God wants to produce in everyone here! And He can! No matter how hard it sometimes is. I love that word "encourage" - when you do it, you literally put "courage in" to that person. Someone who may be more battered than you know, closer to going down or giving up than you could ever imagine. You never know when your encouragement might literally be the difference in that person's life. When you're bruised and hurting, it's that person in your corner who can get you back in the ring for another round. - - Imagine a church of Barnabas’? This church should feel as though its in your corner always, does it? - - I need you in my corner! I will be in your corner! Will you, through God’s grace, make that comittment to one another? - - - Acts 4:36 “And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of encouragement. . . “ We all need someone in our corner!
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