Dirty Hands: Encouragement Goes A Long Way
Pastor Michael Wise
As you look at this list of ten ways to have better relationships and increase your influence with people, it seems like it should be common sense. But I’ve noticed that common sense isn’t so common anymore.
Illus: The 10 Commandments of Human Relations
- Speak to people
- Smile at people
- Call people by name
- Be friendly and helpful
- Be cordial
- Have a genuine interest in people
- Be generous with praise
- Be considerate of the feelings of others
- Be thoughtful of the opinions of others
- Be alert to give service
Source: The Power of Influence, John Maxwell
Are your hands dirty today? I hope so. But in a way you’ll better understand as we continue our message. There are many things a person can hold, a grudge shouldn’t be one of them.
I once read that 85% of people hold grudges….. Ouch!
Sadly, the church, with its wheat and tares growing together till the harvest, can sometimes reflect the world more than it does its Savior.
“God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who keep His commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people. The truth is a sanctifying power; but the church militant is not the church triumphant. There are tares among the wheat.” Counsels for the Church 240.1
I’m so glad we have this promise about God’s loving regard for His remnant church despite of its issues.
“The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 45, 49 (1893). LDE 52.2
As we, in faith, keep our focus on Jesus, He will transform our characters to be like His:
”The life of Christ was a life charged with a divine message of the love of God, and he longed intensely to impart this love to others in rich measure. Compassion beamed from his countenance, and his conduct was characterized by grace, humility, truth, and love. Every member of his church militant must manifest the same qualities, if he would join the church triumphant.” Christian Education 76.3
And the church will move from militant to victorious.
“The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant.” Letter 32, 1892. Ev 707.1
Victory looks like this for those whose consolation, comfort, and love is found in Christ: looking out for others.
Philippians 2:1-5 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”
Have ever been given a nickname? Was it something you enjoyed? Did it reflect your character?
Today we’re going to look at a man with a special nickname:
You probably wouldn’t recognize him by his name, Joses, but you probably would if I said his nickname, Barnabas.
Acts 4:36 “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus
Barnabas was a Levite, His name was Joses, but the apostles called him Barnabas, “paraklesis”, which meant “son of rest/encouragement/comfort/advocate”. I imagine they called him that because he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty helping people.
Barnabas had what I’m going to call a “Dirty Hands Encouragement Ministry”. When someone was down or struggling, when there was a need, he stepped in and did what he could to help, comfort, encourage.
We first see him getting his hands “dirty” being an encouraging example to the new church.
Acts 4:37 “having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
The new church was struggling to meet the challenges it faced. The needs were great, so Barnabas sold property he had and gave it to the church. What an incredible selfless act, and what an encouragement it must have been to the new church and its new believers.
Not just because the money was so greatly needed, but because of the encouraging example it must have been to the rest of the believers.
And in bringing it to the apostles, Barnabas’ was supporting something called “gospel order”. His “dirty hands ministry” encouraged and helped the church advance when it could have faltered.
Dirty hands and encouragement went a long way!
We next see him getting his hands “dirty” being an encouragement to the discouraged (Paul).
Acts 9:26-28 “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.”
Paul had met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and had been miraculously converted. But when he went to Jerusalem, none of the apostles or disciples wanted to give him the time of day. They avoided him because they were still afraid of him.
I can only imagine how disheartened Paul must have felt, no one wants to be treated as an outcast. New converts especially need “dirty hands encouragement” from church members.
Paul knew God had called him to ministry and that he was supposed to have full faith, but the rejection must have still stung.
The Bible says that Barnabas literally “took him and brought him to the disciples”. That must have been quite an initial shock to the apostles to see the (former) “murderer of the church” be escorted into their very presence.
How surprised and overjoyed Paul and the disciples must have felt. I wonder what would have happened to Paul’s ministry –the missionary journeys and the 2/3rd of the New Testament he wrote – if Barnabas hadn’t encouraged and comforted him, and advocated for him?
Dirty hands and a little encouragement went a long way!
We next see his “dirty hands ministry” when he is being an encouragement to the New & Pre-Converts
Acts 11:22-25 “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.”
Verse 19 tells us that the lay members who left Jerusalem during Saul’s persecution were really the first missionaries of the new church. They shared the gospel wherever they went, including at Antioch. But what should those people do with the gospel now that they heard it? When the church heard the news they turned to Barnabas and sent Him to Antioch to get his hands “dirty” once again.
When Barnabas saw the work that had been done, he was glad, and began to encourage them to continue to walk with the Lord in the truth they were learning.
The work was extensive so he went to recruit Paul, who he had earlier encouraged, to help him in further instructing and organizing a church in Antioch.
Acts 15 gives another example of gospel order at work, and how Barnabas, Paul, and others shared a letter regarding the results of the Jerusalem Council. They preached and taught. Verse 31 says the new and pre-members rejoiced over the encouragement.
The church at Antioch was established largely because of Barnabas’ encouragement
Dirty hands and a little encouragement again went a long way!
We also see Barnabas getting his hands “dirty” encouraging failing youth (Mark)
Acts 12:25 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.”
Acts 13:5 “And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.”
Barnabas took John Mark, his young cousin (Colossians 4:10), with him & Paul. Missionary work is not easy and is not for the faint of heart. Mark became so discouraged that he quit, and went home.
Acts 13:13 “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.”
Acts 15:36-39 “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus”
After Barnabas and Paul had encouraged the Antioch church with news of church policy developments (Acts 15:31) Paul suggested they revisit every city they had preached/taught/encouraged in. Barnabas thought it was a good time to give young Mark another opportunity. But Paul adamantly refused to let Mark re-join them. Their disagreement was so strong they ended up splitting into two different teams. Paul took Silas, and Barnabas took Mark so he could continue to mentor and encourage him. I’m glad he did. Notice the change in Mark and how even Paul viewed him differently.
2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
Paul learned to trust Mark, who had become a faithful worker through Barnabas’ tutelage.
1 Peter 5:13 “She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.”
Paul wasn’t the only one. Mark would become like a son to Peter. Mark wrote Peter’s account of the gospel that is named “Mark”.
Barnabas was a “dirty hands” encourager to the church, the leaders ,the pre-converts, new converts and the youth.
If you’re wondering what I mean when I keep saying Barnabas got his “hands dirty being an encourager”, I mean that he got involved with people. He went into the trenches of life with people. He spent time with them. He mentored them. He took interest in them. He loved, encouraged, and intervened for them. He encouraged and comforted them with his actions, and words. They experienced his friendship, support, and concern for their salvation and well being.
Friends, Christianity was never meant to be a spectator event!
Dirty hands and a little encouragement always go a long way.
How was Barnabas able to be such an encourager and comforter to others? Certainly not by his own strength. It was only through the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
But, that’s no different for us today!
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” Ministry of Healing 143.3
“There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.” Ministry of Healing 143.4
Dear friends, dirty hands and a little encouragement will still go a long way!
Philippians 2:1-5 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
Did you notice; you have a choice to make? You can’t form Christ’s character within you, but you can choose to receive it. God has already made it available and possible through the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Today, God is still calling each one of us to have Barnabas’ “dirty hands encouragement ministry”. Encouragers and comforters of others through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, when you do, you will find it strengthens your own walk, your own faith.
Will you make it your decision today to ask God for “dirty hands” and an encouraging heart?
Romans 15:5-7 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”