“Not giving up our meetings, as is the way of some, but keeping one another strong in faith” (Hebrews 10:25a, BBE).
“Exhorting one another” (ASV); “We should keep on encouraging each other” (CEV).ⁱ

Jesus promised the apostles that in His physical absence on earth that He was sending the Holy Spirit to be the Counselor or Encouragement to them. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26, WEB).

Jesus did just that. After His ascension, He sent His Holy Spirit to the waiting apostles at Jerusalem. Not only did the Spirit’s presence encourage the apostles by wonders and signs but He guided them into the Truth.

One of the Holy Spirit’s converts named Joseph was so successful demonstrably so, that the apostles gave him the “nickname” of Barnabas, which meant “Sonⁱⁱ of Encouragement.” “And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (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” (Acts 4:36,37).

1. Barnabas was spiritually reborn. He imitated the Holy Spirit’s character of encouragement by his generosity. He sold land that he owned in order for the Christians’ physical welfare while sojourning in Jerusalem would be provided. It is later said of him that “he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

2. When the church was scattered from Jerusalem, Barnabas was the apostles’ choice to send to Antioch to encourage the brethren to continue faithfully in the Truth taught by the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:22-26). “... they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go 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” (Acts 11:22a-23).

3. Still later, Saul of Tarsus who had been attacking the Christians was converted by the Lord Jesus. Saul received then the same fruit of persecution and rejection. Even when Saul tried to join himself to the brethren at Jerusalem he was repulsed. But it was the Son of Encouragement that was responsible for introducing him to the apostles. “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:26,27).

4. It was Barnabas that sought out Saul in Saul’s hometown Tarsus and worked with him in preaching at Corinth. “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:25,26).

5. The Holy Spirit chose Barnabas to accompany Saul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:2).

During the preaching trip young John Mark, one of Barnabas’ party, decided to forsake the group in the field work and go back home.

6. On their next preaching trip John Mark wanted to go again with the working team. Saul, who was now called Paul, refused to allow him because he had failed during the first trip. But it was Barnabas who had faith that he could draw out the best in the young man. So Barnabas and Paul went on two trips; Barnabas took John Mark with him. Paul took another worker by the name of Silas. Acts 15:36-41.

7. Was Barnabas successful? His continued devotion in seeing the good in others and working with them paid off.

He had fostered the work initially in Jerusalem. He helped strengthen Antioch’s church. He helped in making Paul one of the most influential apostles in the western empire. And finally, Paul while a prisoner in Rome could write to Timothy and request that John Mark come to him. "Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11)

John Mark whom he has lost faith in at one time but now was a strong fellow worker in the Lord. Indeed, he was now even a profitable brother to the aged and condemned prisoner for the Lord. Barnabas had been right every time. He indeed proved to be the son of the Encourager, the Holy Spirit.

Not everyone of us can be as wonderful an encourager as Barnabas but we can reach out in our sphere of influence, see good in others, and to the best of our ability, promote and encourage the encouragement of the Holy Spirit in in others especially in the church.

Gaylon West