by George | Dec 12, 2020 | Community News
He Was a Good Man
“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
We are first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37.
“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
The first thing you notice about Barnabas is that he is an encourager. (That’s probably why the apostles gave him that nickname.)
Later it’s said of him:
“Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to ENCOURAGE them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;”
Acts 11:23
Second, he was a Levite.
Oxford Languages says a Levite was: “a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi, especially of that part of it which provided assistants to the priests in the worship in the Jewish temple.” Barnabas was born into a “helper” clan.
Third, we note his generosity. He sold his land and gave it to the apostles. This money would be used for those in need.
Fourth, Barnabas could see the potential in a new convert named Saul, the one who had previously persecuted the church.
“But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.”
Acts 9:27
Later on, he went to bat for John Mark, who had deserted them previously but came back.
Barnabas could see his potential in spite of his past.
Unfortunately, Paul (who used to be Saul) disagreed, and this led to them splitting up.
“And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.”
Acts 15:39
That’s the last we hear of Barnabas, but Luke remembers him fondly:
“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
What kind of legacy are we leaving?
Let’s strive to be like Barnabas: an encourager, a helper, generous, and one who could see the potential in someone!
by George | Dec 9, 2020 | Community News
Everyone Is Important
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26
Certainly the main thing that Jesus is saying to us in this verse is to not worry.
But look at the last part of the verse: “Are you not of more value than they?”
To God, we are more valuable than the birds! Each one of us!
We tend to think of some people as more valuable than others.
My friend Jim Wallace observes that we don’t notice some of these “insignificant people” unless they mess up.
“One of the most pressured jobs in the world has to be that of a page turner. Sometimes in let’s say at church, or at a wedding or anyplace where one is playing a completed piano piece you will see someone sitting beside the pianist. Her job is to turn the page on the sheet of music at the right time. If she turns it too soon or too late or turns it the wrong way or too the wrong page or knocks the sheet of music off the piano it can mess up everything. Let us say it is a wedding and the bride is walking down the aisle and the page turner reaches up to turn the page and maybe for some reason her finger is sticky and when she moves her hand fron turning the page the music sticks to her finger and falls into the floor.It could mess up the whole bride walking down the aisle thing.”
Jim also said:
“It reminds me of the guy who holds the football for a field goal or extra point attempt. The snapper snaps the ball back. It has to be snapped back fast and hard. The holder has to almost immediately place in down and place it down in the right way so the kicker can kick. So the ball is being snapped back harder enough to possibly break the holders finger if he does not catch it right. While he is trying to place it down the kicker is moving up quickly to kick it. The kicker a about to deliver a swift kick to the ball only inches away from the holders hand. All this while the defensive players are rushing in on him, but nobody pays any attention to the holder except maybe his mother unless he messes things up.”
Remember, we are all important to God. Each one. No one is insignificant. God loves each one of us!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
by George | Dec 6, 2020 | Community News
December Community Church Ministry Newsletter
Facebook reminded me that I posted this two years ago:
“My mind was preoccupied this morning thinking about the Christmas parties we are doing in the neighborhoods and about the Easter egg hunts coming up in March, when I heard this verse in my Spirit. “Abide in Me… Apart from Me you can do nothing.” It’s important to spend time at the Master’s feet… Abiding… Resting in Him. I felt a great peace come over me.”
For me, this was a timely reminder. We have crossed over into December and suddenly we are getting busier and busier.
We get so busy that we forget to start off our days with God. When this happens, I feel like I don’t have the energy and strength for the challenges ahead. I’ve become disconnected from the power source.
So, let’s take a few moments with the Master, drawing on His strength. Carry on a conversation with God throughout the day!
Our busy December schedule begins this Saturday. We will be doing social distancing gift giveaways to children in the communities.
Please pray!
Merry Christmas!
