November 2, 2023 | Miami, Florida, United States | Leonard Johnson, executive secretary, Inter-American Division
It is a privilege to continue you on the character Barnabas and our previous nugget.
We saw that Barnabas was a good man. But for this nugget, the Bible tells us and acts Chapter 11 and verse 24, that Barnabas was also filled with the Holy Spirit.
How do I know if I have the Holy Spirit of the Spirit of God is controlling me when the Spirit of God controls you?
It will show up in the way how you relate to others. And you will also have a spirit of design one to give you the backdrop.
You know about the Apostle Paul. But before he was the Apostle Paul, he was Saul and there was a time when he was converted. But the early believers would have nothing to do with him.They did not believe that his conversion was genuine. But do you know who commended him and stood in the gap and vouched for him? Yes, you guessed it right. It was Barnabas and Acts Chapter 9 verse 26, we read. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he is said to join himself to the disciples. But they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple.
But look, it was 27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So what do you find here when no one would accept Paul, Who was Saul at the time? It was Barnabas who was used by God, used by the Holy Spirit to say, Look, believe us, you can believe in Him, you can trust him. He is genuine. He is converted today.
We need more people with the spirit of Barnabas who are willing to see potential in others, where people only see problems, who need to see that these persons have something to offer, whereas some people are only inclined to see problems. I pray that God will help me to be a Barnabas today and also you, that we will seek to identify someone that we can vouch for, that we can help, that we can encourage, and so that person can realize his or her potential in the Lord Jesus Christ. Always remember I’m a promise. I’m a possibility. I’m a great big bundle of potentiality. God bless you.