June 20, 2010

First Advent Christian Church, Hickory, NC, June 20, 2010

“What Can I Give?”

Acts 11:19-24 NIV

Introduction:

“What can I give to my children that will make a genuine difference in their lives?” At some point every conscientious father asks that question. The question is born out of a father’s desire to be the best he can be. The question recognizes the fact that today children can be given many things. But, the question also recognizes the fact that children cannot be given everything. The question confirms that a father has to make choices—some of those are                                   hard.

“What can I give to my children?” If you are asking that question today let me suggest two things—FAITH and ENCOURAGEMENT.  Give them faith (as best you can) and give them encouragement.

Barnabas is the New Testament example of a man who gave those things and changed lives in the process. No, I don’t know that Barnabas was a father. He may have been. He may not have been. The Book of Acts makes one very powerful statement about him—“He was a                                  good man”. Good men make good fathers. As a good man his contribution was significant.

As men, as fathers, how can be give faith and encouragement? Look at how Barnabas                       did it.

Message:

First, Barnabas Gave Faith and Encouragement by Sharing.

We read about this back in Acts 4:32-36.  Hard times were about to nip the young Jerusalem church in the bud. Economic reprisal was one of the chief tools of the Jews. The Jews used it against the Christians. Many of the followers of Jesus had lost their jobs and their livelihoods. In that time when insecurity was mounting on every side, Barnabas stepped forward, sold his property and gave the money to the church. The effect on the church was electrifying. Others did the same thing. The result was that everyone had what they needed. Christians were encouraged. Faith grew and faith spread.

Fathers, today our families need faith and they need encouragement. At a time when the Jerusalem church was struggling and needed faith and encouragement Barnabas took Jesus at His word. What word is that? It is this word—“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33. Barnabas didn’t put his land first. He didn’t put his money first. He put God first and he believed what Jesus had said.

Families today are facing hard times just like the Jerusalem church was. There is not enough money to go around. There are temptations from all sides. The future seems anything but certain. Fathers need to believe God and stand up and say, “This is what God says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” And family this is what we are going to do.” It means living prayerfully—thanking God and asking God. It means using what to have in a way that glorifies God. It means using what we have to bless our families. It means holding our heads up and believing God because, “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7 KJV Fathers, our families don’t need to see our faith as a sideline in us. They to see our faith as the main thing, the center of us. When our families see that they will be encouraged.

Second, Barnabas Gave Faith and Encouragement by Trusting Others. Look at the trust in Acts 9:26-27.  Trusting others is risky. All of this could have been a trick to catch                                          Christians. Saul was really an unlikely convert. Trusting others can be costly. Saul could have ruined the Jerusalem church. Nevertheless, Barnabas gave Saul the gift of trust. There is no way this side of heaven that we will ever know what a difference this made in Saul.

Father, today our families need our trust. In a lot of families today the order of the day is doubt, suspicion and assuming the worst. Parents don’t trust children.  Parents if you feel you can’t trust your children it means one thing. It means you don’t think you have done a good job as a parent. If you don’t trust your children you think you are a failure. Being able to trust is one of the rewards for a job well done. Children don’t trust parents. Children believe the sole purpose of their parents is to make them miserable. Husbands and wives don’t trust each other. They hide things.             They withhold things. They tell lies. In every home someone needs to set the example of trust. Father, why not let that person be you.  You might find out that trust is contagious. You might find that trust leads to improved relationships. No, the reward for trusting may not always be immediate. In fact that reward may be a long time in coming. The father of the Prodigal Son trusted him.  In the short term that trust brought heartache. But in the end he gained a son he had never had. Fathers, we can give the gift of faith and encouragement by simply trusting. When we trust we follow the example of God who trusted each of us with the gift of life.

Third, Barnabas Gave the Gift of Faith and Encouragement by Extending a                    Second Chance. The person then who needed a second chance was John Mark. The story is in          Acts 15:36-41. Mark was a drop-out, a disappointment, a weakling. He was wishy-washy. He didn’t follow through. He set a bad example. After Saul and Barnabas finished their journey and returned to Antioch it was not long until they were planning another journey. Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul was totally against it. The result was two missionary teams instead of one. Of course, when it comes to giving a second chance the primary example is not Barnabas but God. Our God is the God of second chances. Adam and Eve sinned but they got a second chance. So it has been for every person since including us. God’s promise is plain and specific. “If we confess our sin he is faith and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Fathers, considering the second chances, the third chances, the fourth and the seventy-seventh chances God has given us can we do less? A second chance made a faithful witness out of Mark. We have the Gospel of Mark to prove it. Who in our family today needs a second chance? What difference might it make in their life?

Conclusion:

Fathers, today we are in position to give our children a lot of things—clothes, money,                        education, cars…..But, I don’t think we can give them anything better than faith and encouragement.