Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 27
Saturday


GIVING OTHERS
A PUSH

READ:
Acts 11:19-26
__________________________

[He] encouraged them
all that with purpose
of heart they should
continue with the Lord.
__ Acts 11:23
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When Jean was a teenager, she often walked through a park where she saw mothers sitting on benches and talking. Their toddlers sat on the swing, wanting someone to push them. "I gave them a push," says Jean. "And you know what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he's pumping, doing it himself. That's what my role in life is I'm there to give others a push."

Encouraging others along in life__that's a worthy purpose. Joses, a godly man mentioned in the book of Acts, had that gift as well. In the days of the early church, he sold some land and gave the money to the church to use for the less fortunate (4:36-37). He also traveled with Paul on missionary journeys and preached the gospel (11:22-26; 13:1-4).

You may know Joses as "Barnabas," which is the name the apostles gave to the "Son of Encouragement,". When the Jerusalem church heard that people in Antioch were coming to know Jesus as Savior, they sent Barnabas because "he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (11:24). He "encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (v.23).

We too can give others a "push" of encouragement in their walk with the Lord. __ Anne Cetas
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lord, I would be to others~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A cheering ray of light,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Inspiring them with courage~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~To climb some new-found height! __ Bosch~~~~~~~
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A little spark of encouragment
can ignite great endeavors.

*****************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 11:19-26**********

19 Now those who were
scattered after the
persecution that arose over
Stephen traveled as far as
Phoneicia, Cyprus, and
Antioch, preaching the
word to no one but the Jews
only. 20 But some of them
were men from Cyprus and
Cyrene, who, when they
had come to Antioch, spoke
to the Hellenists, preaching
te Lord Jesus. 21 And the
hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number
believed and turned to the
Lord.

22 Then news of these
things came to the ears of
the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent out Barnabas
to go as far as Antioch.

23 When he came and had
seen the grace of God, he
was glad, and encouraged
them all that with purpose
of heart they should
continue with the Lord.

24 For he was a good man,
full of the Holy Spirit and
of faith. And a great many
people were added to the
Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed
for Tarsus to seek Saul.

26 And when he had found
him, he brought him to
Antioch. So it was that for a
whole year they assembled
with the church and taught
a great many people. And
the disciples were first
called Christians in
Antioch.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Barnabas' life exemplified encouragement He gave generously
to the needy in the church (Acts 4:34-37). He stood up for Paul
when no one trusted him and encouraged him in his preaching and
teaching ministry (Acts 9:26-28); 11:25-26). The Lord used Barnabas
to help give us the apostle Paul; without him, we may not have had
the benefit of Paul's tremendous ministry. Barnabas also took a risk
with a young failure, John Mark (Acts 15:36--41), who became a
great asset to Paul (2 Tim. 4:11). __ SKT