Acts 4:32-37

January 6, 2002    

Encouragement Flowing from the Cross

Many years ago, when Janet and I were first married and unpacking in our first apartment, I came across a box of Janet’s and on the lid was a warning against looking inside. I asked her about that box. Taking it from my hands, she informed me that it was personal, but that would only tell me it had something to do with my desire to be a pastor. I kept my promise for most of these 20 years, but curiosity got the best of me as the box beckoned me there in the closet. While she was not around, I glanced inside and was surprised to find 3 eggs and $1500.00 in cash. I couldn’t take the suspense and so I admitted to Janet that I looked in the box and wanted to know why there were three eggs and $1500 in cash. She replied, "Every time you preached a bad sermon I put an egg in the box."

Not too bad I thought, only 3 bad sermons in 20 years. "But what about all that cash?" I asked.

She said, "Whenever I got a dozen eggs I sold them."

Encouragement is something we all crave, but something we are not all good at doing. There is much we can learn about encouragement from something as simple geese. These large birds, who commute great distances and traverse continents, have three remarkable qualities. First of all they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time, for the lead bird takes the brunt of the work cutting through the air. Second, they choose a leader that can handle turbulence. The further back the bird is, the less effort it takes to fly. And then, all during the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking, signaling their affirmation. That's not a bad model for the church. (Larson, Wind and Fire)

Our passage this morning gives us a wonderful model for encouragement, giving good examples of what should encourage us as well as what an encourager looks like. READ Acts 4:32-37

What should encourage us?   32-35

Spiritual unity should encourage us   32

Having just prayed for boldness to proclaim the gospel in the face of persecution, this unity is all the more amazing. I can picture what a congregational meeting would look like in many churches today: “The government is threatening to harm us if we continue to proclaim that Jesus is the only hope in this life and the next. All in favor of being even more conspicuous in our declaring the gospel, raise your hand.” How many hands would go up?

What makes this more astounding, more encouraging for us is when we consider the make up of this group. Although they were of one heart and one soul, they were in the recent past, strangers to one another. Since Pentecost, the church was comprised of a variety of Jewish sects and differing backgrounds. Although united, they did not see everything eye to eye.

It is wrong to suppose that unity means believers will carry the same Bible, read the same books, promote the same styles, educate their children the same way, have the same likes and dislikes – that they become Christian clones. The fact is, the insistence that others be just like us is one of the most disunifying mindsets a church can have. It instills a judgmental inflexibility that hurls people away from the church with lethal force.  A.W. Tozer once said:

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. (Hughes, Acts, p69)

Here at Cornerstone, unity is not in a monochromatic culture or an economic homogeneity. Rather, we should be encouraged by diversity that seeks common ground at the foot of the cross of Christ. But what is the basis for this unity?

Placed in the midst of a section that focuses on how the church was encouraged we see the foundation for this encouragement. Sandwiched in a description on how the church meet physical needs, is the spiritual foundation for their concern for the community. Their compassion was directly related to and flowed from their confession. Their unity in heart and soul flowed from their unity over the gospel.

Sound preaching should encourage us   33

Verse 33 appears out of place as v32 ends with a description of the early church’s use of their own property to alleviate the needs of others and v34 picks up on that. But v33 appears to break in. But this verse show us where the force for the rest. In the proclamation of the gospel, in powerfully pointing to the work of Christ – that is where we are unified.

Notice once again how the resurrection of Christ serves as the summation for the whole of the work of Christ. This was the point which upset the Sanhedrin so that they resorted to threats of force for compliance. The early church was unwilling to settle for a lowest common denominator, a willingness to get along at all costs and comply with the courts wishes for the sake of external peace. Rather, the work of the apostles in proclaiming Christ as our only hope is central.

The preaching of grace brings the benefits of grace. There was not only much power in their preaching, there was much grace among all the people. The evidence of solid preaching is grace.

The point of encouragement is not that the church behaved themselves, next week we will see that wasn’t true. But where the gospel is proclaimed, where Christ is exalted as the author and finisher of our faith, there the emphasis is on grace and an experience of grace.

But what is meant when Luke says “great grace was on them all"? What does it look like?

Great grace and great power are connected. The power to proclaim the gospel comes not from the skill or bravery of the apostles, but is just another evidence of God’s compassion on them. They should be encouraged that God is with them as the gospel is preached. This connection is seen again in 6:8 where Stephen is said to be full of grace and power.

Yet this grace is not limited just to the Apostles preaching. It was on all, referring to the entirety of the church. This ties together the preaching and the sharing, the word and work, the good news proclaimed by the Apostles and lived out by all.

As you understand the empowering nature of the gospel, the importance of grace centered preaching, you are encouraged. I am amazed how Scriptures return again and again to God’s grace as the only answer to our problem and how encouraging that is for us. We have encouragement and comfort knowing that our standing before God is secure because of Christ

Sacrificial giving should encourage us   32b, 34-35

When we understand God’s compassion, that we deserve nothing but wrath, yet he pours out his grace on us, the response to God’s grace is to be gracious. As God has given us Christ, we are then encouraged to give what we have. Luke’s description here often shows similarities to the Greek ideals of what true community entails through the phrases: “one mind” and “all in common”.

The Greeks shared a common myth that in primitive times people lived in an ideal state in which there was no ownership but everything was held in common. Plato envisioned his ideal republic as one devoid of all private ownership. Aristotle defined a friend as one soul dwelling in two bodies. What they esteemed as an ideal became a reality in the Christian community

But this response to the gospel by helping the poor flows from the Old Testament. When Luke says, “there were no needy persons among them” he points back to Deut 15:4 which was understood in the first century as a sign that the end times had come. The eradication of poverty was seen to be an evidence of God’s favor. But just as we heard earlier in the reading from the Law and in the Gospels, the means to eradication of poverty is not through law, not by demanding money from people, but by hearts changed by the gospel. That voluntary response is what Luke describes here.

• The selling of homes and lands in v34 is described as an occasional practice. The verbs used here are iterative imperfects, that is, describing an action done from time to time, as the NIV translates them. As needs arose (35b) this was done.
• Barnabas’ example, which would be hardly exemplary if it was mandated
• Ananias and Sapphira’s sin was not in refusing to give, but their hypocrisy in lying that this is what they had done. Peter is clear that their land was theirs to do with as they wished. (5:4)
• In Acts 12:12 Mary still owned a home and had a maid.

The effect of the gospel does not mandate that you give, rather it makes your heart want to give. You see that what you have is all by grace, that God has given you so much, what little you have you want to share with others. I am constantly thankful that here at Cornerstone, giving is not an issue. We don’t have to brow beat or harangue. People give in response to grace.

Some have called Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37 examples of early communism or the repudiation of personal property. Yet what we see here is not the ending of private ownership or the demand by those in need to be cared for, but rather people desiring to meet the needs of others. Communism says what is yours is mine, whereas Christianity says what is mine is yours.

This kind of giving, this encouragement is then summarized in one person, Joseph. There see what an encourager looks like.

What does an encourager look like?

In verse 36 we are introduced Joseph, a man who becomes an important figure in the early church. But as soon as we learn his name, we are given his nickname, a name which well describes what an encourager looks like. The apostles called him Barnabas.

Luke translates the name for us, but it is not clear for the exact etymology of Barnabas is a mystery. In Aramaic “Bar” means son of, but no scholar can figure out what nabas means. Yet Luke’s explanation of “son of encouragement” helps us understand Barnabas’ role in the early church, as we will see in a moment.  We are also told he is a Levite and from Cyprus.

• Levites were officials in the temple, subordinate in rank to the priests. Prohibited from offering sacrifices and barred entrance to the holy place, they served in such capacities  as policing the temple grounds, keeping the gates, and providing the music at sacrifices and on ceremonial occasions. It was their heritage to support and help.
• What is more, he was a Cypriote Jew with relatives in Jerusalem. Mark, the author of the second gospel was his cousin as we read in Colossians 4:10, which would then relate him to Mary who owned the home in Jerusalem in Acts 12:12.

What stands out about Barnabas is what we read of throughout Acts. He is an encourager at heart.

An encourager aids poor people

Barnabas, along with others looks for ways in which he can help those with physical needs. The early Jerusalem church had many poor people. Some of the poor were widows. Some were working men who could not secure or hold employment after confessing Christ. Others were pilgrims from other nations who were converted on Pentecost and stayed there for fellowship and teaching. Barnabas responded by selling property, so that the proceeds would be used for the poor

Our diaconal fund is but one way in which you can help those in need. The talent survey we mailed out is but another way for you to be moved by God’s grace to serve God’s people.

An encourager welcomes new people  Acts 9

The next time we meet up with Barnabas is 9:26. Saul of Tarsus, the, persecutor of Christians had just been radically changed. Now professing faith in Christ, Saul heads to Jerusalem to join the church, but no one wants anything to do with him. The Sanhedrin sees him as a renegade, the church knows him as a murderer. It’s not hard to imagine how the early Christians would have been a little bit suspicious about the validity of Saul’s conversion experience. Was it really genuine or was he just a ruse so that he could get access to the inside of the church?

How would you respond to an obnoxious neighbor who is attempting to sue you and then all of a sudden sends you a dinner invitation. You would be really cautious.

But there was one person in the Jerusalem church who saw beyond fear and skepticism.

Rather than seeing what Saul had been, he saw what God was doing. So Barnabas welcomed Paul, introduced him to the leadership of the church (27).

How do we welcome newcomers? Those who walk through our doors may not raise those suspicions. Yet rather than fear them, we just ignore them. How might you be an encourager like Barnabas and do something as simple as warmly receive those who come?

An encourager enfolds diverse people

Barnabas again shows what an encourager looks like in Acts 11. As the church expanded beyond the Jewish borders and began to include Gentiles, it was Barnabas who was called on to aid the church in making the transition from being largely ethnic Jews, to including other people.

This ability is described in 11:23 so that he exhorted them. The word “exhort” here is the same as encourage. What is more, he knew the perfect man to work in this environment, Saul of Tarsus. Barnabas had an open mind for something new that God was doing. Jewish boys and girls had been brought up believing that the only reason God created the Gentiles was to fuel the fires of hell, but here Gentiles were worshipping and following the same Messiah as the Christians in Jerusalem. Barnabas’ mind was open to see and accept something new that God was doing. Barnabas threw all his energies into the work, staying over a year. This church has special significance in that it was here that believers were first called Christians. It was also the church at Antioch, which first sent missionaries to Europe.

Another place where we see how Barnabas is an encourager is in Acts 15. Up until this point Saul and Barnabas are a powerful team, traveling throughout the known world planting new churches. But in Acts 15 a serious rift forms.

As Paul and Barnabas ready to return to their travels Barnabas wants to bring John Mark along. Paul is not convinced. Mark accompanied them before and in the middle of the trip he abandoned them, he wouldn’t hold up his end of the bargain, he wimped out. He was not trustworthy. But Barnabas saw something in Mark that Paul couldn’t. Yes, he had failed. He had really let them down and no doubt Paul had some justification at being angry at him. However, Barnabas also saw potential for good. Barnabas saw beyond failure or mistakes to future and restoration. Barnabas was willing to give him another go. The conflict between Paul and Barnabas was so severe over this issue that they ended up parting company.

The encourager has been likened to rubber tires on the go-cart track.

When we get out of control, when we stray, we hit them and bounce back. James says that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins. The ministry of admonition, of warning, is the hardest of all the ministries of the encourager, the mercy-based person. It's a strategic ministry. Without it, the go-carts careen off the track, through the parking lot, and out onto the highway, where death is sure.(Galli & Larson, Preaching that Connects, p.65)

If Cornerstone is going to be a church that impact metro-Milwaukee we must be including those diverse and hurting people. As scary as it may be, we are called to be encouragers of those who may well be unlike us, people with whom we otherwise would never rub shoulders

What is the source of encouragement?

It is all well and good for me to encourage you to encourage others. But if you have ever tried that on a regular basis you will quickly learn that there is only so much you have to give. The encourager, like Barnabas, gives constantly. When you do that, burn out soon follows. In order to you to be an encourager, you need to know the source of encouragement, you have to constantly tap into that place where you are encouraged. Where is that source? It is in the gospel.

Paul speaks of the source of our encouragement in Romans 15 where he points out our obligation to bear with those weaker and not to seek our own ends. The power behind this is Christ. He takes us to Christ, as an example and the source. Paul calls us to endurance and to encouragement, to patience and comfort. Which is found (4) in the Scriptures and there we can have hope. In v5 he prays to God, who is the source of what he demands we possess. It is through Scriptures God imparts the patience and comfort, the endurance and encouragement that are his. But it is not just that Scriptures encourage us with happy thoughts, but focus us on Christ, the means by which we know we can do what God has called us to do.

Paderewski, (padrefsk), the famous composer-pianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. It was an evening to remember—black tuxedos and long evening dresses, a high-society extravaganza. Present in the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, he squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother was in hopes that her son would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski at the keyboard. So—against his wishes—he had come. As she turned to talk with friends, her son could stay seated no longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway and its leather tufted stool on the huge stage flooded with blinding lights. Without much notice from the sophisticated audience, the boy sat down at the stool, staring wide eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play "Chopsticks." The roar of the crowd was hushed as hundreds of frowning faces pointed in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout: "Get that boy away from there!" "Who'd bring a kid that young in here?" "Where's his mother?" "Somebody stop him!" Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front. Hurriedly, he rushed toward the stage. Without a word he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance "Chopsticks." As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy's ear: "Keep going. Don't quit. Keep on playing...Don't stop.. Don't quit.” And so it is with us. We hammer away on our project, which seems about as significant as "Chopsticks" in a concert hall. And about the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers: "Now keep going; don't quit. Keep on...don't stop; don't quit," as He improvises on our behalf, providing just the right touch at just the right moment. –(adapted from Swindoll , Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life 1983) 

God’s comfort and encouragement of us comes in his simple feeding us the gospel as we hear it proclaimed and as we partake in bread and wine as well as in baptism. This is why we gather around the table, to be encouraged by God’s grace, that he accepts us because of Christ and that we can then be empowered by his grace to encourage others to live lives pleasing to him.