Forest Park church of Christ

Not many people know him as Joses. He was of the priestly tribe of Levi, and lived on the island of Cypress. Apparently his personal presence was such as to cause others to consider him a “man among men.” While at Lystra the Lycaonians began to call him “Zeus” (Jupiter), the chief of the Greek gods. They called Paul “Hermes” (Mercurius) his messenger. Joses was a man who was respected and trusted by the apostles at Jerusalem. They trusted him to go on a mission to Antioch to check on rumors they had heard that some Hellenists (Gentiles) had received the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:20-22). It is written in the eternal record of God of Joses saying, “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

Joses was not afraid of laboring with his hands. In 1 Corinthians 9:6 it is said that he was a worker beside Paul. These men worked to provide a livelihood for themselves as they preached the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.

This man was also a very generous man. In Acts 4:36-37, when Joses saw the need of the Christians in Jerusalem, he went and sold some property that he had and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed as the people had need.

Joses was a traveling companion of Paul; a man with the heart of a missionary. They stood together against the persecution of government officials. They were together when various trials were inflicted upon them by the Jews. And it was Joses who first brought Paul [Saul] to the apostles in Jerusalem. His courage and faith is an example to all Christians.

For all this Joses was not perfect. When Peter first came to Antioch he would eat with the Gentiles. But when other Jews came from James, Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles because he was afraid of what those of the circumcision would think. Joses also got caught up in this offense (Galatians 2:12-13). But he repented and followed God’s way rather than man’s way.

One of the outstanding characteristics of Joses was his talent for encouraging other Christians. It was because of this talent that the apostles gave him the name “Barnabas” which is translated “son of encouragement.”

Barnabas is mentioned in 28 different verses in the New Testament. He is an example of inspiration for every Christian man and woman. His dedication and commitment to the gospel of Christ led him to sacrifice his time, his money, his comfort, and his own personal safety. He gave up many worldly pleasures to do the work of God.

The challenge for the month of September is for every member of the congregation to look at Barnabas and grow to be more like him these areas of service.

ü Help someone in mission work.

ü Bring someone to church with you.

ü Give more of your time to doing the work of God.

ü Sacrifice your money to help those in need.

ü Make a decision to get out of your comfort zone to help someone.

ü Give up some worldly pleasure and replace that time with doing something for God.

ü Develop the habit of exhorting your brothers and sisters in godliness.

Looking at the examples of strong, faithful Christians is an excellent avenue for learning ways to improve yourself as you seek to become more like Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:12 says, “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). Joses, who was also named “Barnabas,” is an excellent example of a strong, faithful Christian who is worthy imitation.

“Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

John 18:37-38

Pilate was not interested in truth. He was interested in preserving his status as governor, and this business concerning Jesus was putting that status in jeopardy. Politics hasn’t changed that much over the years. But neither have people in general as it pertains to their love of truth.

Truth is defined as that which is genuine, actual fact, real or manifest reality. Vines Dictionary says, “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter.” Webster said, “conformity with fact or reality,” “the state or character of being true,” and “honesty; integrity; truthfulness.” There were other words used in defining truth. But these are sufficient for the purpose of this article.

God is Truth.

David said, “O Lord God of truth” (Ps. 31:5). Moses called Him “a god of truth” in Deuteronomy 32:5. Paul said that God cannot lie in Titus 1:2. The nature of God is such that lying is not within His ability. His holiness is so complete that lies cannot originate within or emanate from Him. Jesus Himself declared that God was true in John 8:26.

Jesus is Truth

In John 8:38 Jesus declared that He spoke the things that He had heard with His Father. He, being from the Father, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

The Spirit of Truth

In John 16:13, Jesus, speaking about the Holy Spirit, said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13).

God’s Word is Truth

The Bible is the book of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16 it says that all scriptures are God breathed. While He was praying to God, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Failure to recognize and love truth can be deadly. “[A]nd with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Worship in Truth

In John 4:23-24 the Bible says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Be Honest with Others

Seeing that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are truth, it should not be surprising that their followers are called to be truthful. “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,’ for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).

Be Honest with God

All liars will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal punishment (Revelation 21:8). God is able to look inside your very soul and see the truth or the lies that reside there. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7). The Lord knows what is in your heart and will reward accordingly (Revelation 2:23).

Be Honest with Yourself

James wrote, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” (James 1:26). Self deceit is a tremendous danger. It is not always easy to see yourself as God sees you. John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Satan is at the root of this. He is the great “deceiver,” a liar, and a murderer (Revelation 12:9; John 8:44). But all too often we are like Israel of old, where Jeremiah said, “The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:31.)