Introduction
The Nice Fee is for each believer in Jesus Christ and it may be present in each Gospel, together with the ebook of Acts (NKJV):
- Matthew 28:19 –> “…Go subsequently and make disciples of all of the nations, baptizing them within the identify of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
- Mark 16:15 –> He stated to them, “Go into all of the world and preach the Gospel to each creature.”
- Luke 24:47-48 –> “…and that repentance and remission of sins needs to be preached in His identify to all nations, starting at Jerusalem. And you’re witnesses of these items.”
- John 20:21 –> Jesus stated to them once more, “Peace to you! Because the Father has despatched Me, I additionally ship you.”
- Acts 1:8 –> “However you shall obtain energy when the Holy Spirit has come across you; and also you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the tip of the earth.”
As a church we’ve got been on a collection going by way of the ebook of Acts, the place we examine Jesus’ disciples going and doing the Nice Fee. This previous weekend we lined Acts 11, which features a portion a few man named Barnabas who inspired the believers in Antioch (try the sermon from this previous weekend HERE). How becoming since Barnabas’ identify really means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). We are able to be taught loads from him and the way he not solely did the Nice Fee, however he additionally inspired others to do the identical. From his instance, we be taught that we will encourage others on their mission for Jesus by seeing them as Jesus sees them, by pointing them to Jesus, and by searching for methods to go collectively!
See them as Jesus sees them
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to hitch the disciples; however they have been all afraid of him, and didn’t imagine that he was a disciple. 27 However Barnabas took him and introduced him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the highway, and that He had spoken to him, and the way he had preached boldly at Damascus within the identify of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. (Acts 9:26-28 NKJV)
Saul, who had beforehand been intent on persecuting Christ followers, had a strong conversion expertise earlier in Acts 9, the place he met with Jesus on the highway to Damascus. Saul was by no means the identical. He arose from that have, was instantly water baptized (Acts 9:18) and commenced preaching that Jesus Christ really was the Son of God within the synagogues (Acts 9:20). For Barnabas, he didn’t see Saul with simply human eyes, however with the eyes of Jesus. In different phrases, whereas the opposite disciples selected to dwell on the truth that Saul was somebody they used to worry due to his fervent ardour to persecute Christians, Barnabas selected to dwell on the truth that Saul had been reworked by the ability of Jesus, and was not the identical man he as soon as was.
Encouraging individuals on their mission for Jesus requires that we see them as Jesus sees them. An excellent query is that this: how does Jesus see us after we’ve got decided to observe Him? Saul, who turned Paul, later stated this to the believers in Corinth:
16 So we’ve got stopped evaluating others from a human perspective. At one time we considered Christ merely from a human perspective. How in another way we all know him now! 17 Which means anybody who belongs to Christ has turn into a brand new particular person. The previous life is gone; a brand new life has begun!
18 And all of it is a present from God, who introduced us again to himself by way of Christ. And God has given us this activity of reconciling individuals to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, now not counting individuals’s sins towards them. And he gave us this excellent message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16-19 NLT)
Once we put our religion in Christ and settle for Him because the Lord of our lives, we not solely turn into youngsters of God (John 1:12), however we turn into a very new particular person! The sinful means we used to dwell is now not our mode of operation. By the ability of the Holy Spirit, we’re in a position to dwell God’s means, stuffed with the fruit of the Spirit that we discover in Galatians 5:22-23, that are “love, pleasure, peace, persistence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (NLT).
Much like the opposite disciples in Acts 9, we could also be tempted to evaluate different believers for what they used to do or how they used to dwell, however we have to be cautious not to do that, as a result of this isn’t who they’re in Christ anymore! It may be that regardless of their previous life being gone and the brand new life having begun, their previous life could wish to resurface, that’s, a life unbiased from God. In that case, simply because the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:18, as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s not a job to evaluate individuals, however to lovingly reconcile individuals again to God by way of repentance and religion in Jesus (1 John 1:9).
The satan would love nothing greater than to discourage believers from trusting that the ability of Holy Spirit is ready to assist us dwell new lives for Christ and to satisfy the Nice Fee on this earth. Which is why we have to be intentional about seeing others the way in which Jesus sees them and inspiring them on their mission for Jesus by reminding them of what Jesus says about them! I like what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus: “For we’re God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we will do the great issues he deliberate for us way back” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
Level them to Jesus
19 In the meantime, the believers who had been scattered throughout the persecution after Stephen’s loss of life traveled so far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the phrase of God, however solely to Jews. 20 Nevertheless, a few of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene started preaching to the Gentiles in regards to the Lord Jesus. 21 The facility of the Lord was with them, and a lot of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had occurred, they despatched Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and noticed this proof of God’s blessing, he was stuffed with pleasure, and he inspired the believers to remain true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a great man, stuffed with the Holy Spirit and robust in religion. And many individuals have been dropped at the Lord. (Acts 11:19-24 NLT)
The believers in Christ continued to evangelise and develop in quantity regardless of being scattered after the Jewish leaders stoned the apostle Stephen. The church deliberately despatched Barnabas to evaluate and ensure what the Lord was doing, which was actually an indication and a marvel, particularly as a result of extra Gentiles have been changing into followers of Jesus! Discover Barnabas was not jealous of the believer’s success, nor did he criticize them for the way in which they did issues. Barnabas merely inspired the believers to “keep true to the Lord” (verse 23).
Encouraging individuals on their mission for Jesus implies that we level them to Jesus Himself. It might be tempting to wish to suggest sources to enhance information and abilities, or maybe to even suggest what has labored for your self – all good issues – however way more necessary is to assist others look to Jesus themselves, search Him in God’s Phrase (the Bible) and take note of how the Holy Spirit is main them personally. This ensures that we don’t attempt to fulfill the Nice Fee with merely our mind, however with the ability of the Holy Spirit, which produces much better outcomes. Barnabas himself was stuffed with the Holy Spirit and robust in religion, which tells us that each the work and main of the Spirit in our lives is significant to having a powerful religion in Christ.
Doing the Nice Fee could be difficult. Jesus pre-warns His followers about this in John 16:33, “On this world you should have hassle. However take coronary heart! I’ve overcome the world” (NIV). And so when issues like persecution for our religion come, discouragements and disappointments, perhaps even betrayals and setbacks, we should be taught to look to Jesus, God’s Phrase, and the main of the Holy Spirit to assist us navigate by way of these challenges.
Search for methods to go collectively!
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to hunt Saul. 26 And when he had discovered him, he introduced him to Antioch. So it was that for a complete 12 months they assembled with the church and taught an ideal many individuals. And the disciples have been first known as Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26 NKJV)
We be taught earlier in Acts 9:28-30, that Saul (Paul) remained in his hometown of Tarsus after Greek-speaking Jews tried to homicide him for preaching boldly within the identify of the Jesus throughout Jerusalem. It’s right here in Tarsus that Barnabas discovered Saul and inspired Saul to hitch him in preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles in Antioch. It’s attainable that the Holy Spirit led Barnabas to convey Saul for quite a lot of causes. Maybe Barnabas knew of Saul’s calling to evangelise to the Gentiles, as Saul later instructed the believers in Galatia about this calling by God: “However even earlier than I used to be born, God selected me and known as me by his marvelous grace. Then it happy him to disclose his Son to me in order that I might proclaim the Good Information about Jesus to the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15-16 NLT). Or maybe Barnabas felt that Saul and him labored higher as a workforce.
Encouraging individuals on their mission for Jesus implies that we search for methods to go collectively. Going collectively can take a number of kinds, equivalent to, taking time to hope for each other in a small group setting like a church Life Group at Coastal Church, serving collectively in a church ministry, co-organizing a neighborhood BBQ to bless your neighbours, co-leading a workforce of volunteers for kids’s ministry, the checklist might go on.
King Solomon wrote about the advantages of going collectively:
9 Two persons are higher off than one, for they may also help one another succeed. 10 If one particular person falls, the opposite can attain out and assist. However somebody who falls alone is in actual hassle. 11 Likewise, two individuals mendacity shut collectively can preserve one another heat. However how can one be heat alone? 12 An individual standing alone could be attacked and defeated, however two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even higher, for a triple-braided twine just isn’t simply damaged. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)
Personally, there have been many occasions when I’ve felt discouraged in residing for Jesus and making disciples, however the encouragement and prayer of different brothers and sisters in Christ have been an incredible anchor in my life. Typically while you’re battling one thing, all you possibly can see is the issue that’s in entrance of you, however while you permit another person to know your battle, to encourage you and to hope for you, no matter you have been battling doesn’t appear so large anymore.
Conclusion
How can we encourage others on their mission for Jesus? We are able to observe the instance of Barnabas: we do that by seeing them as Jesus sees them, by pointing them to Jesus, and by searching for methods to go collectively! Fulfilling the Nice Fee was by no means meant to be solo work, in spite of everything, after we come to Christ, He doesn’t simply name us to Himself, however He additionally calls us to His physique, the church! In a world the place so many issues can distract and discourage us from going and doing the Nice Fee that Jesus has for us, we should make each effort to encourage one another on our journey by way of life till Christ returns or calls us house.
