Spirit-filled authority is available to every believer and demonstrated by Paul on the island of Cyprus. Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, wanted to learn more about the Gospel, but an advisor tried to distort its message. Acts 13: 9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the …
Satanic struggles began in the Garden of Eden and will continue until Jesus comes again. But never forget God is victorious! Acts 13:6–8 introduces us to a pivotal moment in the early church’s mission. Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, arrived in Cyprus ready to proclaim the Gospel. They traveled across the …
Spirit-led sending is the amazing work of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:4So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.[1] These words anchor the entire mission of Barnabas and Saul. Their journey did not begin with personal ambition or strategic planning; it began with divine direction. The Holy Spirit was not merely assisting; …
Mentoring along the way is the story of Paul, the mentor, and Titus, the mentee, as they walked together on their journey of faith. When Paul (Saul) and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, they brought Titus with them. Later, as they returned to Antioch, they brought John Mark back as well. These were not accidental travel …
After Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and spent years training him, we find Saul teaching at Antioch. The Jerusalem church had sent Barnabas to check out the newly formed group of Jesus followers in Antioch. Antioch was the 3rd-largest city in the Roman Empire, with a population of half a million. …
Barnabas, the encourager, is an example for every believer. In Acts 9:27, we meet Barnabas at a critical moment in the early church. Saul, once a fierce persecutor of believers, had encountered Christ and been transformed. Yet the believers in Jerusalem were understandably afraid of him. They doubted his conversion and kept their distance. It …
Paul gives us a Biblical principle: we reap what we sow. Galatians 6:7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.[1] As you meditate on this verse, you will see that the Lord has much to say to us. We may fool others about our giving or …
Luke, the author of Acts, tells us about Barnabas the encourager. This man’s real name was Joseph, and he was from Cyprus. Yet, the apostles gave him a nickname that told what kind of man he was. It was Barnabas who encouraged Paul in the ministry. Because Paul had persecuted the church, the believers in …
There is something about a generous heart that affects others in a good way. To be generous is a fruit of the spirit that reflected people’s faith as the early church began to grow. Selfishly hanging on to material possessions can chain us to temporal things. When the Lord moves us to give what we …