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True Discipleship

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.

- Acts 9:26-27

After Saul's conversion, there was great doubt among the believers as to whether he had really put his faith in Jesus Christ. After all, he had been a relentless persecutor of the early church. Some even thought his alleged conversion might have been a scheme to infiltrate their ranks.

So God spoke to a man named Ananias and instructed him to go and visit Saul. Ananias probably couldn't believe his ears: "Are we talking about the same Saul here? Are you talking about Saul of Tarsus?"

But God told Ananias, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:15-16).

Then God brought another man into Saul's (or Paul's) life. His name was Barnabas, and he personally introduced Paul to all of the other disciples and reassured them that his conversion was sincere.

Now many of us would like to be a Paul. We would love to turn our world upside-down. But the question is, how many of us are willing to be an Ananias or a Barnabas?

You may not be the next Paul. You may not be the next Billy Graham. But you may have an impact the one who will be. That person you take under your wing could shake his or her world.

What Barnabas did is a good illustration of true discipleship, because discipling is not just teaching; it is also being a friend.



Greg Laurie
Senior Pastor
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Riverside, CA 92514

Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Used by permission from Harvest Ministries, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514

Pomp...or circumstance?

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

In the year 1920, young Oswald Smith stood before the examining board for the selection of missionaries. He had wanted to be a missionary for as long as he could remember, and for all that time had been crying out to God that He might open a door for him to do so. Finally, his time had come. There he stood awaiting his destiny. His long-awaited was about to come...No.

Smith had not met the missionary board's qualifications and was turned down for service. After a time of disappointment, he decided that if he couldn't be a missionary, he would build a church which would raise up some. And that is precisely what he did. The church he planted sent out more missionaries than any other church of its time. And God used Oswald Smith mightily for His Kingdom.

This is what happens when we don't let our circumstances rule us. We will always be victorious.

Have you been disappointed recently? Not all our hopes and expectations come to pass like we think they should. Let's not let it get us down. Surely God has something better! Continue to seek. Continue to knock. Continue to ask. Continue to get revelation. We need to be walking in victory! There's so much work to be done!!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah Whitten