Oxygen of the Soul

Oxygen of the Soul

Acts 11:22-25

By Kurai Chitima

Just as the human body needs oxygen, the human soul (will, attitude and mind) needs encouragement to be alive, strong and positive. Oxygen for the body makes humanity survive and encouragement makes humanity thrive. We live in a world with negative people, negative news, negative circumstances and negative outcomes. We go through seasons of despair, distress and grief. Without encouragement, we will be paralyzed in fear, lack of resolve and failure to imagine solutions and possibilities. In Christ, even when we are down He raises us. When afraid, we receive faith and courage. When we are weak, we receive strength.

The church at Antioch, a predominantly Greek city, was least expected to be a chief voice among churches. The church achieved the unexpected because it reached to people that were unnoticed and became noticed itself. They reached to people that were being excluded and were themselves included. Extraordinary moves result in extraordinary news.  Word went out to the Apostles in Jerusalem. What news are we generating? Testimonies draw in the critics, curious and seekers.  They unlocked potential of others and God sent people to unlock theirs.  They attracted friends, partners and participants (Acts 11:22, 25, 27; 13:1).  God through the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to encourage the young church. Expansion must be balanced by capacity strengthening. To move to a level you have not been, you need someone. The key to the next level is a person. You cannot do it by yourself.  Barnabas was a Levite named Joseph and later the Apostles called him Barnabas - son of consolation/encouragement (Acts 4:36). He encouraged the young Antioch church (Acts 11:23).  Thank God, they sent Barnabas an encourager. He, despite the Greek outlook of the church, was delighted with what he saw.  In his view the evidence of God’s grace overshadowed lack of circumcision. He encouraged them to remain true to the Lord (Acts 11:24). What made Barnabas an encourager?

>He was a good man (Acts 11:24). Goodness inspires (Rom 5:7).  Barnabas’ character and heart to serve qualified him as an encourager. He was trustworthy. That is why he was sent to Antioch. Trustworthiness is crucial to being an encourager. People receive encouragement from someone whose knowledge and motives they can trust.  He was a caring and giving man. He gave from his heart, from his own pocket and through mobilizing help from others. Acts 4:37 11:30. To be an encourager one should show and strengthen others in love, hope and faith.  An encourager lifts the heart. He/she points others to hope. He/she instills confidence by helping people realize they are important, able and can make a difference.

>He had an eye for potential in people. He took time to listen to people’s stories. He spent at least a year teaching at Antioch. He came alongside Saul soon after his conversion, when he was a religious outcast opposed and held with suspicion by fellow believers. But Barnabas saw an uncut gem in Saul and took the risk by putting his credibility/reputation on the line for him (Acts 9:27).  At Antioch he went to Tarsus to look for Saul to come and help him teach and make disciples (Acts 11:25, 26). After this experience they became a formidable team and Saul was never the same (Acts 12:25; 13:1-2, 7, 42; 14:14). .  Where it began as ‘Barnabas and Saul’, it evolved to ‘Saul and Barnabas’. Barnabas then saw potential in John Mark and helped harness it (Acts 15:37; 2 Tim 4:11). He focused on strengths. He focused on what was well not what was wrong, what was there not what was not there. Celebrating what is there will release strength needed to attract or build what is missing. God is an encourager, He called fearful Gideon, man of valor (Judges 6:12). Childless Abram was called father of nations. Shaking reed Simon was called Peter a rock, etc

>He disregarded the cost. Encouraging has a cost. It means involving yourself in another’s problem. It means having loving patience with people. It costs resources of time, material possessions, physical and emotional strength you have to give away to encourage. Barnabas believed in Saul enough to face angry believers on his behalf. Later he faced angry Saul on behalf of John Mark. He left a secure and comfortable life to suffer with Saul to encourage him.  You can encourage by helping in practical ways, by kind words (Ephesians 4:29), sharing relevant scriptures, words of affirmation, hopeful words, by an inspiring example, listening (Job 13:5; 19:2, Proverbs 25:20), touching (Mark 1:31, 41), writing (Paul’s epistles), by linking with a resourceful person, a book, DVD, etc. Do not wait to be asked see the need and respond (Romans 12:13). There are times when there is no one to encourage you except God (1 Kings 19:3). Sometimes you have to encourage yourself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).  The Holy Spirit is our comforter who comes alongside (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) to encourage, comfort, help and enable in all life situations.