Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile

Acts 14: At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

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After mailing in a dollar’s worth of coins and box tops from cereal, I was on my way to elation. Weeks later a box came to the house with my name on it. The “free” kite had arrived. I had never flown a kite and didn’t know how. I put it together and went outside.

I ran with the kite behind me, but it would not fly. “Here, let me show you” a neighbor said. He stayed with me until I understood how to fly a kite on my own.

• Many people have stayed with me until I learned.
• Many people have been patient with me until I understood.
• Many people have had the courage to help me when I struggled with something.

Paul and Barnabas spoke to everyone they could in another town. Many believed, but there were those who poisoned the minds others, causing confusion. Paul and Barnabas stayed a considerable time, teaching and preaching. GOD saw this and enabled them to perform many signs and wonders.

• GOD wants me to stay with people until they understand HIM.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they can seek HIM on their own.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they see HIS message of grace.

Staying with people takes time and effort. Unfortunately, the pressures of life pull me away from staying with those who really need the time. BUT GOD wants me to make time. HE wants me to slow down for a moment and explain HIS love.

Since I am no expert on GOD, HE wants me to simply share what HE has done for me. I am glad HE has forgiven me for all my sins, even the one’s that are done over and over.

• Are you spending time growing people for GOD?
• Do you see someone struggling who needs to hear HIS grace?
• Will you slow down and speak to that person about GOD’s amazing love today?

Mentor’s Role

Mentor’s Role

Acts 13: ⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

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Excited about being asked to be a mentor, I went to a peer and asked, “What should I say?” I mean I had never mentored anyone before. Or at least I did not knowingly mentor anyone. He said “Pull them up, just like you are being pulled up.” I did this for a while but I learned a new twist.

• There were times when I thought I was higher than someone.
• There were times when I believed in levels.
• There were times when I compared my abilities to other people.

Paul and Barnabas finished speaking about JESUS to a group who had been attending church regularly. They were so intrigued, that they invited Paul and Barnabas to speak the next week. From that day, they became mentors.

• GOD wants me to point people upward.
• GOD wants me to grow people to believe in HIM.
• GOD wants me to take the focus off of me and place it on HIM.

The new twist I learned in mentoring was not to “pull someone up”, rather point “people upward.” GOD is the only One who is “up.” HE is the Most High. Encouraging people to follow HIM is the best mentoring I can ever do. I am grateful I can point people to the grace of GOD.

• Are you being followed by people?
• Do people take your advice?
• Will you provide people with encouragement to follow GOD and urge them to surrender their lives to JESUS today?

Blind Mentor

Luke 6: ³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

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Finally I got a chance to meet with the executive. I had been waiting to get on his calendar for weeks. Waiting on his sage advice, I was bubbling over with wonder. After I left the meeting I felt dejected. I mean he spoke in circles as if to protect his territory.

• There were times when I was blind.
• There were times when I sought advice from other blind people.
• There were times when I hoped to be richer and more powerful and even more blind.

JESUS spoke in a parable from which the meaning was not as direct. I believe HE is saying, “Those who desire to learn may sometimes seek the wrong mentors, but if you have the right teacher, you can grow.”

• JESUS says to me “Take MY yoke upon you and learn of ME.”
• JESUS says to me “Remember MY words and you will be well.”
• JESUS says to me “I AM the gate and the door, no one enters MY kingdom without coming through ME.”

Worldly advice carries some wisdom, but is faulty. If I seek evil wisdom, I can find it, but it has no gain. GOD says that worldly wisdom is blind. HE wants me to seek wisdom from the HOLY SPIRIT.  When I learn from GOD I can become more like HIM.

• Are you confused and looking for a mentor?
• Are your desires in line with GOD’s desires for you?
• Can you seek training from the HOLY SPIRIT  by asking GOD to guide you today?

Go back and help.

Acts 15: ³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

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“This party was going to be great” I thought to myself. I had just purchased a new shirt and that coupled with my new cologne was a winning combination to get the ladies to notice me. One of my fathers asked me “what are you doing with your money?”  What a strange question, but I was quick on my feet. “I don’t know” was my retort.

He showed me how to invest and kept following up with me. Wow, what drove this man? I wish I could do something like that!

• People need me to mentor them even though I may not have much to offer.
• People need me to reach back and show them the path especially when I fall off it.
• People need me to develop them and I need people to develop me.

The HOLY SPIRIT told Paul and Barnabas to preach the great news about CHRIST. They were obedient, preached and went on their way.  GOD said, “that’s not enough.”  Go back and check on them and see how they are doing.

• Mentoring takes time but it’s worth it.
• Developing others to achieve great things is wonderful especially when coupled to CHRIST.
• Growing someone to follow the ways of JESUS is the ultimate action I can take.

GOD wants me to seek mentors and be a mentor to someone. With the love I show for others someone will believe in HIS SON.

• Are you actively seeking a mentor?
• Do you think you are too old for a mentor?
• Do you think you do not have anything to offer someone by being a mentor?
• Are you purposefully seeking ways to grow people in CHRIST?