Do you have a Barnabas? Acts 11:22-26

Good morning everyone. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

Acts 11:23 "When he arrived and saw this evidence of Gd's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the LORD."

Encouragement - and just what is encouragement.

When you take a small child to the park, put them on a swing, then you push them. So, you push the child, but after a few swings the child learns to "pump themselves" by swinging their legs forward and back. That is our life, someone pushed (encouraged) us, they gave us a push and then we were able to do it on our own.

Encouraging other in life is a worthy purpose. Joses, a godly man mentioned in the book of Acts, had that gift as well. In the days of the early church he sold land and gave money to the church for the less fortunate and he traveled with Paul on missionary journeys and preached the gospel. Acts 11:22-26

This Joses in Acts in known to us a Barnabas, which is the name the apostles gave to the"Son of Encouragement." When the Jerusalem church heard that people in Antioch were coming to know Jesus as Savior, they sent Barnabas because he was "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (11:24).

Barnabas encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should coninue with the LORD (v. 23). We too, need to be a Barnabas or son of encouragement. We also need a Barnabas. Now my question to you is, Are you a Barnabas (encourager)? Do you have a Barnabas?

Remember, a little spark of encouragement can ignite great endeavors. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

adapted and paraphrased
from Our Daily Bread 2010