Bible Study - Relationships (6) - Encourage One Another - Acts 11:19-26

Bible Study – Relationships (6) – Encourage One Another – July 9, 2017

This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Real Relationships.”

Our focus scripture is Acts 11:19-26.

Encourage people in their relationships with CHRIST and with one another.

Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The gospel of salvation through faith in JESUS is packaged in many different containers – Catholic, Baptist, Methodists, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Pentecostal, Church of God, Seven Day Adventist and the list goes on. We read in Mark 9:38-41 that the disciples of JESUS were upset that some were casting out demons in the name of JESUS.

38 John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your 

name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us."

39 "Don't stop him," said Jesus, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterwards speak evil of Me.

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah-I assure you: He will never lose his reward.

Here we have to be careful. Do we know the truth and are in right relationship with JESUS or are we playing a game? There is another point to consider as recorded in Acts 19:13-20:

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!"

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 The evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize-but who are you?"

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.

17 This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,

19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value, and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.

20 In this way the Lord's message flourished and prevailed.

The early church was on a steep learning curve. Christians were concentrated in Jerusalem and, in general, ministered to fellow Jews. In general, the Jewish Christians believed that non-Jews had to first become a Jew and be circumcised before becoming a Christian. This limited outreach to non-Jews.

Saul, later in scripture was referred to as Paul. [Saul was his Jewish name and Paul was his Roman/Gentile name.] Saul was a devout Jew and a Pharisee. He was on a mission to round up Christians in Damascus. Christians were known as “The Way.” Saul believed “The Way” threatened the Jewish religion.

Before Saul was converted to Christianity, he guarded the coats of the Jews who stoned Stephen, the first known Christian martyr, as recorded in Acts 7:58-8:1.

Saul and his men were on their way to Damascus to ARREST Christians when Saul encountered the resurrected JESUS. (Paul’s testimony is recorded in Acts Chapter 26.)

After Saul’s conversion to Christianity, Saul was in Jerusalem and Barnabas had to vouch for Paul among the Christian leaders because of his previous reputation of arresting Christians. Paul had encountered JESUS, his life had changed and he was a born-again Christian.

When we encounter JESUS in a real way, our lives are changed.

Barnabas was from Cyprus and was a Hellenist. Barnabas was a Jew but his culture was more Greek than Hebrew. Barnabas took Paul under his wing, so-to-speak. Paul got into trouble in Jerusalem and the Christian leaders thought it best if Paul returned to his home town of Tarsus.

Barnabas continued to spread the Good News of JESUS. Christianity had been confined, for the most part, to the Jews. News reached the Christian church in Jerusalem that Gentiles in Antioch were becoming Christians. So the Christian leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to check it out.

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. It contained from 500,000 to 800,000 people. The Christian Jews began speaking to the Greeks and telling them about JESUS. The Gentiles responded to the gospel. The word of this response got back to the Christian leaders in Jerusalem.

In the meantime, GOD needed to do a work in the life of the Apostle Peter to prepare him to reach out to new opportunities to spread the Gospel. Peter was a Christian but also a devout Jew who followed the dietary rules of Judaism. GOD prepared Peter through a vision as recorded in Acts Chapter 10 for him to minister to the Gentiles.

On another front, the Christians in Jerusalem were staying among themselves. 

They had the Good News of JESUS and it needed to spread more broadly.

GOD allows events to enter into the lives of Christians for a purpose.

Thus, GOD allowed a time of persecution to come upon the Christians in Jerusalem which resulted in many being dispersed to other areas of country. This was called the dysphoria. GOD used this to get the Gospel to other areas. This persecution began with the stoning of Stephen, as mentioned earlier.

Now, to our focus scripture.

Let’s read Acts 11:19-21:

The Church in Antioch

19 Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews.

20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

There are times when Christians must get out of their comfort zone and reach out to those around them – friends, neighbors, city, state, other countries, etc. GOD may have to a work in our lives to prepare us for obedient service.

We saw in the life of Peter that even though he had walked physically with JESUS, he still had areas in his life that needed to be brought under the authority GOD. It is easy for us, as Christians, to get puffed up thinking that we are more Spiritual than others – Christian or non-Christian. Christians are sinners saved by GOD’S Grace but we must keep in mind that we are the salt the earth and light of the world. We know the truth.

Let’s read Acts 11:22-24:

22 Then the report about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch.

The news of the Gentiles placing their faith in JESUS reached the Christian leaders in Jerusalem. They were shocked that Gentiles could become Christians. The Christian leaders needed reliable information so they sent Barnabas.  

23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart-

24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith-and large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

Barnabas saw firsthand that the Gentiles were truly receiving salvation and were serious about obediently serving JESUS. Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit and it is evident that Barnabas had this gift. Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit. Many Gentiles became Christians in Antioch.

The work was so prosperous that he needed reliable assistance. So who did the Holy Spirit lead Barnabas to go seek? 

Let’s read Acts 11:25-26:

25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul,

26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Barnabas went to Tarsus. Why Tarsus? Simply, it was the home town of Saul/Paul. I understand it was a journey of 100 miles from Antioch.

Paul had been ministering in Tarsus for about 10 years.

When Barnabas found Paul he brought him to Antioch.

Barnabas and Paul obediently served the LORD and the LORD produced a great harvest of born-again Christians.

Notice, they not only led many to JESUS but they taught these new converts. 

Teaching is a vital part of being a Christian. The Holy Spirit is our teacher but those who have walked with JESUS have gained experience which can help new Christians benefit from their walk with JESUS.

Where was the term “Christian” first used? Right there in Antioch.

The term “Christian” means “CHRIST people.” It was a term used by the citizens of Antioch in reference to those who were followers of JESUS.

Barnabas was an encourager to Paul. Do we encourage others who are beginning their walk with JESUS? Reach out to those who need encouragement. If you do not know who they are, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you. Blessings!!!