Acts 11

Acts 11:23

Barnabas (son of encouragement) goes to Antioch and is pleased that the Greeks (Gentiles) are believing in Jesus Christ. These converts came to know the Lord through the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit worked through the disciples, and many received Salvation.

In verse 23, Barnabas exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) the new believers to "cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart." - Amplified Version

Let us break this verse apart:

1. Barnabas encouraged, warned, urged the new believers.

• I remember having received Jesus Christ at the age of 17. There was no follow up done and I quickly fell to the wayside. It would be decades before I came to know the Lord again. Let us be diligent in helping new believers by encouraging them and walking beside them.

2. Cleave unto the Lord, remain faithful to the Lord, be devoted to the Lord.

• Why? Because as explained above, it is so easy to fall by the wayside. It is easy to get caught up in the daily tasks that we forget the Gift that was so generously given. Not only that, we must remember that the devil prowls around like a lion, seeking whom he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8) The closer we are to God, the harder it is for the enemy to get to us and pull us away from all that relationship with God.
• The closer you are to God, the more His voice becomes recognizable. He is at work, and He is inviting us to join Him in that work.

3. With resolute and steady purpose of heart.

• Make the decision - be disciplined in seeking our God who promises that if we seek Him, He will be found by us. (Deuteronomy 4:29) He wants to have a wonderful, vibrant, personal, and real relationship with us.

I noticed another thing about this chapter - a very encouraging thing. Each and every one of the disciples that brought people to the Lord, didn't do it. It was the Holy Spirit working in and through them.

My prayer is that we become encouragers for those who are just beginning their walk with the Lord; we seek the Lord and be devoted to Him with all of our hearts; we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us for God's Glory.

God bless you with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you may come to know Our Lord better!

Kat