Morning with Ebenezer

WE NEED BARNABAS'

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:26-27 NIV

After Paul conversion on his way to Damascus, the Jews who were in Damascus wanted to kill him. He learned their plans and fled to Jerusalem. When he came to Jerusalem, disciples who were there, refused to accept him, because they knew he was the one known as Saul who persecuted the church. But Barnabas who is believed to be among of those seventy [72] disciples of Jesus, took him and brought him to the apostles.

The name Barnabas itself means the son of encouragement, consolation, or the son of a prophet. As we know a prophet has three works which are to strengthen, encourage and comfort, 1 Cor 14:3. Barnabas was this kind of person, who strengthened, encouraged and comforted Paul during all that time which he was rejected by the church of Jerusalem. They were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

In our churches, there are some people who met the Lord somewhere when they headed to commit sins against Him. These people changed from their old Saul and became Paul. When they came among the believers who they knew them as sinners , the found themselves instead of getting the love which they desperately needed, they got rejection. And since we don't have Barnabas' in our churches, most of these precious saints found themselves turning back! 

This morning, God wants you to be a Barnabas to someone in the body of Christ. God wants you to stand for someone who is young in faith, still fighting with the ghosts of the past; that one day he may be able to stand by his own. God wants you to be the strengthener, encourager, and comforter of someone today. Instead of being a judge of your fellow believers, God wants you to start interceding for their change.

If we will have Barnabas in our churches, fellowships and ministries. We will have the number of people which we always believing God to give us. People will not be forced to come to church, they will come because they will know that it is the place where they can get true rest and comfort. Ask yourself, are you a judge, finger pointing, or Barnabas? Shalom.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord please forgive me where I have judged my fellow believers falsely; help me to be the one who will strengthen, encourage and comfort new believers in the Body of Christ. Use me as you used Barnabas to Paul, that I may be Barnabas to someone out there. In Jesus' Name, Amen.