Encouraging Others to Become Leaders!

Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10; Acts 11

Scripture

The Church in Antioch

Acts 11:19-26 “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Observation

A large number of people were being saved at Antioch and so the church sent Barnabas to them. More people were saved while he was there and he realized that he needed some help so he traveled to Tarsus and brought back his new friend Paul. Why did he go get Paul? I believe that he knew that Paul could minister to the people in a way that he couldn’t so he went to get more help. It takes a very mature Christian to go and get someone to help them that is more qualified and would probably become the leader. It wasn’t soon after this that instead of Barnabas and Paul it became Paul and Barnabas.

Application

We always need to be trying to find people that can replace us in the ministry that we are working in. Mentoring someone to take our place should be our goal.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me look at people as being more important than myself. Help me to mentor men and help them become the leaders that you want them to be. Help me to be a Barnabas to a Paul.



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