What’s In a Name?

When Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” he was basically saying names are a social convention that do not carry any real meaning. The Bible, however, says something completely different. Throughout scripture we find numerous examples of names being tied directly to a person’s past or future work. One such person is Barnabas. Acts 4:36 defines Barnabas’ as “son of encouragement.” Wouldn’t that be a wonderful title to carry! Every time his name was mentioned, it would serve as God’s reminder, “You are an encourager!”

We see this character trait manifest several times in his ministry throughout the book of Acts. When Saul became Paul none of the apostles would meet with him, knowing he had been a major player in Stephen’s martyrdom. It was Barnabas who first believed his conversion to be real and extended the right hand of fellowship to him. Later, he and Paul traveled together on their first missionary journey. One of their assistants, John Mark, deserted them at Pamphylia due to the threats and difficulties. Paul basically washed his hands of him and didn’t want him to join them for a subsequent trip. It was Barnabas who saw the potential in John Mark and stood up to the great apostle on his behalf. Their disagreement was so sharp that each went his own way with Paul taking Silas and Barnabas sticking with John Mark. (Acts 15)

Ironically, during Paul’s imprisonment, he asked for John Mark specifically to come to his aid, noting he was “very useful.” (2 Timothy 4:11) Apparently, John Mark had matured to the point of being a strong leader. If you had asked Paul how this happened, he probably would have said it was because he took a firm stand against his cowardice and that brought about repentance, but it is more likely a result of the “son of encouragement” speaking blessing into his life on a consistent basis.

While some may be gifted more than others with encouragement, it is still a grace that all of us can and should possess. In a day and age where there is so much cynicism, sarcasm, criticalness, maliciousness, and polarization, encouragement is needed. This is especially true in the home. Whether or not we realize it, our spouse needs encouragement. Our children need encouragement. Siblings need encouragement. Although many don’t show it, most of us go through seasons where we question our abilities, our worth, or our potential. How refreshing it is when someone speaks encouraging words at the right time. (Is 50:4)

Homeschooling is a walk of faith. We are concerned that we are somehow messing up our children by keeping them at home in a loving environment (as if the public school could do a better job raising them!) We have times when we fail like John Mark. It is at these low times that we need a son of encouragement to speak to us, especially since homeschool success is seldom measured by days, weeks, or even months but in years.

As 2023 begins, perhaps you want to reflect upon your home and ask, “What is the encouragement level in my house?” Are we always shooting each other down through sarcasm or are we looking for ways to build one another up through encouragement? Is there any credit given for an honest effort or do we simply give a pass/fail according to results. If our children do not receive encouragement from the home and local church, they will be vulnerable to the world’s manipulations as they will look for acceptance in all the wrong places.

For the month of January, we are going to pray that God will make our homes sanctuaries of encouragement. As always, I encourage you to take one request each day and talk about it with your children, especially if your children are in their teen years. As a group, we appoint the second Tuesday of each month as a day for prayer and fasting, leaving the type of fast up to individual households. If you want to join our prayer team for the year, please send an email to Kirk at kirk@iche.org. May we all become sons of encouragement. It is more than just a name, it is God’s will.

1. Pray that God will supernaturally help us see the potential in our children by not focusing on where they are at for the moment but by looking at where they will be through God’s grace.
   • And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” –Judges 6:12 (this was spoken to Gideon while he was hiding from his foes)
   • Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? –1 Chron. 17:16
     • Questions to ask: 1) Do you feel like you only see people for where they are at or for who they can potentially be? 2) Can you name someone that started out small but God made them great? (e.g. Saul, David, Peter)
       
2. Pray that we will focus on people’s strengths and not spend unnecessary time and energy focusing on their weaknesses. Who can stand up to this time of judgment?
   • For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” –1 Samuel 16:7
   • For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? –Matthew 7:2,3
     • Questions to ask: 1) Do you feel you see the good/bad in people first? 2) In the home, do you brag on siblings (spouse) more than you criticize them? 3) Do you look for what is right first or what is wrong?
       
3. Pray that we will increase in faith regarding the power of God’s grace to change and grow people.
   • But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” –Matt. 19:26
   • Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” –Mark 9:24
     • Questions to ask: 1) Is your first response to pray or criticize when someone disappoints you? 2) How much do you complain about your lot in life versus praying about it?
       
4. Pray that our homes will be sanctuaries of encouragement.
   • Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. –1 Thes. 5:11
   • And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. –1 Thes. 5:14
     • Questions to ask: 1) On a scale from 1 – 10, how encouraging is our home? 2) Give some examples of how you have encouraged a family member in the last week. 3) Ask each other, “Do they feel encouraged by their family members? Why or why not? –Give them freedom to share honestly.
       
5. Pray that we will be able to help our children handle loss and failure from a biblical framework.
   • And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. –1 Samuel 30:6
   • And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” –Job 1:21
     • Questions to ask: 1) If our victories come from the Lord, where do our defeats come from? Why is this important to know? 2) What are some steps we may go through after experiencing a loss of some kind? 3) Is failure the end? Explain.
       
6. Pray that each of our family members will look for opportunities to speak encouragement into the lives of others throughout the day.
   • The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. –Is. 50:4
   • And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. –1 Thes. 5:14
     • Questions to ask: 1) How can you tell if someone needs encouragement? 2) Do you feel like you are an encourager? Why or why not?
       
7. Pray that in all situations—those we label as good and those we label as bad—we will understand the importance of God’s sovereignty.
   • And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28
   • For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: … He has made everything beautiful in its time. –Ecc. 3:1,11
     • Questions to ask: 1) Why is the concept of God’s sovereignty important to understand? (Every season has a beginning and an end. Everything is measured by God. Everything has a purpose) 2) Do you believe that even in our disappointments, God has a purpose? Explain.
       
8. Pray that our families will know the source of encouragement.
   • For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, –Romans 15:4,5
   • For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. –Psalms 92:4
   • … And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” –Nehemiah 8:10
     • Questions to ask: 1) How do the scriptures give us encouragement? 2) Discuss the fact that God is encouragement. What are the implications of this?
       
9. Pray that our knowledge of God’s greatness and goodness will cause us to have a more positive perspective.
   • “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, –Matt. 6:22
   • When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful, everything seems right! –Proverbs 15:15 (TLB)
   • A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick. –Proverbs 17:22 (TLB)
     • Questions to ask: 1) Are you more of a positive person or negative person. Explain. 2) If you are more negative, what are some things you can do to become more positive? (Pray, ask for accountability, write down 3-4 things each day you are grateful for …)
       
10. While we usually address the fathers—as scripture does—pray that all parents will be an example to their children when it comes to be encouraging.
    • Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. –Col. 3:21
    • So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. ³³ And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” –Numbers 13:32, 33 (leaders discouraged followers.)
    • “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. –Acts 7:51
      • Questions to ask: 1) Parents, if you are brave enough, ask your children if they feel encouraged or discouraged on a daily basis. 2) List some ways you have encouraged your children in the last week.