The Spirit of Barnabas jan feb 2015 #122

Issue 122 No. 14
The Spirit of Barnabas®
Acts 15:31 reads, “The people read it and were glad for its encouraging
message.”
Have You Heard the Good News?
THE GOOD NEWS!
© 2015 The Spirit of Barnabas. All Rights Reserved. 1

Issue 122 No. 14
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
who can be against us? He who did not spare His own
Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a
charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who
is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and
furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39, NKJV
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
I want you to know that God’s deepest
desire is to have an intimate love
relationship with His creation, you! I also
© 2015 The Sprit of Barnabas. All Rights Reserved. 2

Issue 122 No. 14
want you to know beyond the shadow of a
doubt that God’s gift of eternal life,
salvation, is absolutely free! Ephesians
2:8-9 says this: “For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God…”
Do you truly believe that God’s gift of
salvation is free, or do you, deep in your
heart, believe that you have to be good
enough to get into heaven? Do you feel
that something in your past or present
“disqualifies” you from being saved?
Absolutely not! Acts 16:31 says: “Believe
on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be
saved.” If you believe that Jesus was the
Son of God and that He died on the cross
for your sins, then you shall be saved. That
is all that is required! I want you to believe
that and hold onto that truth with all of
your heart.
God loves you and isn’t concerned
with what you’ve done or where you’ve
been. His only concern is that He loves
you and that He wants you to return His
love by accepting His Son, Jesus, as your
Savior. That’s the truth. If you want to be
saved, or if you simply want the
reassurance that you are saved, ask Jesus
into your life right now. Right where you
are tell Jesus that you believe that He died
on the cross for your sins, that you want
Him to forgive you for your sins, and that
you want Him to save you.
Jesus says that there is no other way to
get to the Father (God) except by living a
life where Jesus is your Lord. You can
say that you are a Christian or you can
even say that Jesus is your Lord, but if you
don’t obey God’s will and His commands,
the Bible says that you are a liar and will
not enter the Kingdom of Heaven
(Matthew 7:21, 1 John 2:4). But today
you can confess your sins and turn to
Jesus. Give up your old life and give it to
Jesus.
Now that you’ve accepted Jesus as
your Lord and Savior, unite with a church
so that you can fellowship with other
believers, who can encourage you in your
new faith. Seek to build a relationship with
God by reading the Bible and praying
daily. Finally, do what we’ve done and
share this wonderful news with someone
else THAT ETERNAL LIFE IS FREE!
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and
whoever lives and believes in me will never die….” John 11:25-26, NIV
A Word From God’s Leader Reverend Dr. James L. Netters
Senior Pastor

Issue 122 No. 14
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood
Conquering by Faith
After the death of Moses the servant of
the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son
of Nun, Moses’ minister, “Moses my
servant is dead; now therefore arise, go
over this Jordan, you and all this people,
into the land which I am giving to them, to
the people of Israel. Every place that the
sole of your foot will tread upon I have
given to you, as I promised to Moses.”
Joshua 1:1-3, RSV
Scripture Reading: Joshua 1:1-9
God has given us a wonderful picture
here of a servant of God who moved from
the position of a slave, and then to the
position of a soldier and then to a servant.
This book is considered one of the most
encouraging books in the Old Testament.
Some have called it the “Gospel of
Joshua”. All of us need to know the power
of faith so that we can become “more than
conquerors.” God’s Word says that “this is
the victory that overcomes the world, our
faith” (1 John 5:4). We need to know that
we can conquer the challenges that come
upon us day by day.
Joshua’s life is a beautiful illustration
of this kind of power of faith. Joshua
teaches us the key to victorious living. The
principles Joshua lived by, and by which
he had been successful, come to us as a
representation of the life of Christ and this
is the key principle of faith.
Who was Joshua? He was a man that
God used to fulfill the promise to His
people regarding the land of Canaan. He
was born as a slave in Egypt but
experienced the supernatural deliverance
from Egypt and he became one of God’s
chosen leaders crossing the Red Sea.
During the second forty years of his life,
Joshua was a minister to Moses,
considered as one of his protégés or
understudies, leading battles and fighting
wars alongside Moses. Observing the
ways of the Lord as given to him through
the man of God named Moses.
Now Joshua had come to the time in
his life when he must also take the helm
and lead God’s people to a place where
God had anointed them to go. In Moses
there was anticipation of the Promised
Land; in Joshua there was realization of
the Promised Land.
Joshua’s heart and life were prepared
for this challenge. Numbers 27:18 says
that he was a man in whom the Spirit
dwells. He was controlled by the Spirit of
God. And that’s what the Spirit of God
does for us, He empowers and controls. If
you understand the power of the Holy
Spirit and if the Holy Spirit dwells in you,
you are being empowered but you also are
being controlled. Amen. Somebody might
think that’s the Holy Spirit when you get
happy and go jumping and running and
acting like you may not be all there; no
that’s not so. The Holy Spirit doesn’t
make you crazy, He makes you happy; He
makes you glad. That’s what the Holy
Spirit does, empowers and controls. He
was a victorious man and he was obedient
to God. Deuteronomy 34:9 says he was
“full of the spirit of wisdom” (RSV).

Issue 122 No. 14
Joshua can teach us how to conquer by
faith. If there ever was a thing that we
need to know in this day and time is how
to conquer the enemy by faith. Faith
challenges us as it did Joshua.
Verse 2 indicated that it was a
challenge from God that Joshua had to
accept. Joshua’s greatest challenge is to
see what God will do. Some of us need to
test God and really find out how much He
will do. He had already seen the work of
God in some victorious experiences in
Egypt, at the Red Sea, and again at
Amalek.
Joshua already knew what the people
did not do. He already knew what the
people did not know. He saw the work of
God moving and bringing the children of
Israel out of Egypt and moving on toward
the Promised Land. A life lived according
to self is one that will let you wander in
the wilderness. If you get in self and think
that you got it all made you’ll find
yourself just like Israel, wandering in the
wilderness. Here the Israelites were now
having come out of Egypt, designated to
go to the Promised Land that God had
given them. Because they got wrapped up
in what they thought God wanted them to
do, instead it was really what they wanted
to do; they had to wander until they came
to the realization that that was not what
God wanted them to do. And when you get
wrapped up in self; get ready to wander in
your wilderness.
God challenges Joshua to go into a
land and possess it. It is a challenge to
experience the victory that God had
already given. It is God’s commission to
him. This is our challenge: to experience
the victorious living that God has given us
through His Son, Jesus Christ and
experience what the Spirit gives in helping
us to conquer. But you’ve got to be
obedient. You have got to be obedient to
the will and to the Word of God.
Somebody say, “Praise the Lord!”
Faith gives us assurance that we can
make it on this journey. Faith is the
assurance that we have. God not only
commands; He also assures fulfillment.
His promises are never without His
assurance. When God tells you to do
something, He tells you where to go and
He gives you power to go there.
Somebody needs to know that God doesn’t
let you go unprepared. He doesn’t let you
go without His power. And when God is
with you, He’s all you need! God’s will is
enough. He is enough to assure you that
whatever you need to do in this life His
will is enough to help you to get there. I
don’t know how you feel about it but I’m
glad that God’s power is with you and
with me. Whenever He tells me to do
something all of heaven, all of God’s
power is with me. I heard a song the other
day talking about I need a little more of
Jesus, No I need ALL of Jesus. Amen.
You can’t get a little of Jesus. You either
got to have All or none at all. Somebody
say, “Praise the Lord!” The promise is
divine authority. All of God is behind His
Word. God’s “I will” is enough. As He
commands us to service, so, He obligates
himself, God obligates himself to see us
through whatever we are involved in
according to His will (John 15:16;
Philippians 1:6).
There is the promise of divine
faithfulness. He says, “I will be with thee,”
and if God is with you; He is more than
the world against you. Somebody needs to
tell the Lord “Thank You”. When God is
with you; He is more than the world
against you. And I’ve got the victory on
my side because when God is with me
nobody can stand against me. That’s the

Issue 122 No. 14
reality of it all. Look what God does when
He tells you to do something.
Faith has appropriation. As Joshua
responded by faith, the promise would be
fulfilled in every place that Joshua placed
his foot. That’s the appropriation that is
going on now. Here is the principle of
appropriation. He was to claim what God
had already given. Some of us have
blessings waiting on us. Some of us have
peace and joy and even riches that God
has promised us waiting on us. All we
need to do is get up and put our foot in the
direction that God has told us to go and
possess what God has given. Somebody
say, “Praise the Lord.” God waited for
them to believe His Word. Faith will take
over when you start believing God. That’s
all you need to do is believe that God’s
Word is true. If you put His Word in your
heart it will bring you everything you
need. I’m satisfied that God has given us
blessings. He has joy, peace and harmony.
He has love. He has healing. He has
deliverance. All of this is legally mine
because God has promised it to us. It was
theirs to experience but God says get up
now and possess it.
All of God’s provisions are waiting to
be claimed today. Somebody say,
“Today”. After we have claimed salvation
in Jesus Christ by faith, there are other
vast spiritual possessions that we can
claim because God has given them to us.
Somebody needs to say, “Amen”. We
need to realize that there are riches untold,
blessings that God has put your name on
but you can’t claim it until you get enough
faith to get up and put your foot in the
direction of your blessing. Somebody
needs to walk out on His Word today and
tell God, “Thank You” because I got
something waiting on me that nobody can
take away from me. That’s what faith does
for us in giving us the power to conquer.
Faith has victory written all over it. Faith
has victory written all in it.
Joshua is told to “go over this Jordan.”
He is assured that not any man would be
able to stand before him―nothing could
stop the faith that he had if he would move
out and move in toward his blessing.
That’s what gives me the assurance to
keep going everyday in my life, that God
is with me. And when God is with you,
can’t nobody stop you. What God has
given you can’t nobody take it away from
you. Somebody needs to know that God
will assure you of everything that you
need. You may not have everything you
want but He will give you what you need.
Isn’t that a blessing for us today? God will
help you to claim all of your victory.
Faith has a secret and it teaches us that
successful living is living by the principles
of God’s Word. It was God’s promise to
Joshua that he would be a leader. Look
where God brought Joshua from; a slave in
Egypt to a leader in the wilderness that
would lead God’s people to the Promised
Land. God is a Mighty God. He can take a
nobody and make a somebody out of you.
Does anybody know that you are never too
low for God to reach down and pick you
up and give you a brand new life? Give
you a new start; give you a new joy that
you never had before. God is able to give
you everything you need.
How can we experience this faith
today? You can accept God’s challenge
that He has made to you, whatever it is.
God will let you know what it is. You may
not know what it is but God will tell you
what it is if you just believe in His Word.
You have some “land” to conquer. You
have some big things ahead of you now.
You have some blessings to receive. You
can believe in Jesus Christ and receive
Him as your Savior because God has given

Issue 122 No. 14
Him to the world. What else can God give
that’s more than His Son? He gave His
only Son that you might have the right to
the Tree of Life. His Son gave His life on
that rugged cross. He suffered, bled and
died that you and I might live. How much
more does God have to do to prove to me
that He loves me? No matter what shape
I’m in, no matter what condition I’m in,
God still loves me and He’ll make a way
out of no way. He’ll fix me when I’m
messed up. He’ll heal me when I’m sick.
He’ll feed me when I’m hungry. Put
clothes on me when I’m naked. He’s able!
You can receive Him today. Jesus
Christ is your Joshua and He is here today.
You can believe that God will never leave
you, never forsake you. You can believe
that whatever problem you have God can
solve it. He knows the answer to every
problem. I may not know them but God
knows and if I hold on to His hand He will
see to it that my problem is solved, your
suffering is healed, your circumstances are
delivered. You can believe that God will
make a way out of no way. You can
believe it if you understand His Word. But
let me just put a footnote here before I
close; You can’t understand God without
knowing His Word. You’ve got to study to
show yourselves approved unto God, a
workman that needed not be ashamed.
You can’t sit in the church on Sunday
morning and read one or two verses and
don’t pick up your Bible until next week.
You’ve got to read it, every day. You’ve
got to hide it in your heart. The Psalmist
said, Thy word Lord have I hid in my
heart that I might not sin against you.
That’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got
to make His Word a part of your life and
make it so heavy in your heart that every
step you make will be guided by the Word
of God. And if you have His Word, He’ll
make a way out of no way. His Word will
heal! His Word will deliver! His Word
will stand when everything is moved!
Don’t you know God is able today! I heard
Jesus say Heaven and earth will pass away
but my Word, my Word shall stand
forever.
If you can believe that God’s Word
will heal and deliver and conquer
whatever problem you might have,
whatever circumstances you may be in,
whatever difficulties you may experience,
God’s Word is the answer. Does anybody
have it today? Does anybody know that
His Word is all you need? He has given
you the power to conquer and deliver.
Somebody ought to say, “Yes” to Him
right now! If you want to conquer what
God has given for you, has already
ordained, has already planned for you…
He has a blessing with your name on it. He
has land that you have not conquered.
He’s ready right now. Will you come?
Will you come? Somebody ought to say,
“Yes Lord. I want your Word. I want Your
power. I believe in Your Word. I have the
faith to believe that You will give me all I
need.”

GETTING TO KNOW GOD
Minister Colley S. Cooper
Oak Spring Baptist Church
“The Curse of a Cain Complex”
Genesis 4: 1-16 (NASB)

Issue 122 No. 14
Many of you may or may not agree
with the fact that we all suffer from some
kind of internal issues, whether it be
psychological or emotional. There seems
to be something about our personality
and/or our character that is flawed, fickle,
and even frail. If we were to be honest,
we all must admit to the fact that we have
at times certain questionable behaviors
that we do not understand about ourselves.
Some stuff that we ‘do’ and we don’t
know why we do it. There is some stuff
that we do that doesn’t just baffle others,
but, if we were confronted about it, we
cannot account for the action, because we
are baffled as well. We have no
explanation for why we do what we do or
why we act the way we act sometimes. It
just seems to be this innate dysfunction
that we try to cover up, that we try to
conceal, that we close off to the public.
We can’t seem to put our finger on the
problem, because it’s too complex to
grasp, it’s too complex to articulate, it’s
too complex to describe or explain.
By definition, Psychology terms a
complex as “a system of interrelated,
emotional-charged ideas, feelings,
memories, and impulses that is actually
repressed and that gives rise to abnormal
or pathological behavior.” There are at
least two common complexes that we can
readily identify: (1) A Guilt Complex –
which is described as an exaggerated,
unreasonable, or unnecessary sense of
guilt about having done something wrong
or the extreme thinking that you have done
something wrong. (2) An Inferiority
Complex – whereby a person may feel
inadequate, lack self-esteem or lack self-
confidence. These are very, very serious
conditions that some folk suffer from and,
yet, we label them as crazy. If the truth be
told, in a sense, “We All Are A Little
Crazy!” We all have done some stuff and
displayed some behaviors that made folk
wonder, scratch their heads, raise their
brow, look over the top of their glasses
and even made some folk go Hum…
We’ve all acted out in some kind of
dysfunctional way at some point in time in
our lives.
Many Christians in church seem to be
suffering from what I call “A Cain
Complex.” We too display some of the
same behaviors as Cain. In view of this
passage, the ‘age old question’ has to be
considered, why did God accept Abel and
his offering, but reject Cain and his
offering? First, we have to understand that
there are many schools of thought
concerning this question as it applies to the
text. Second, many theologians and
scholars have argued the exegetical
interpretation of this text for centuries.
The main focus of the argument has
centered on the offering of Cain, not
giving any real attention to the fact that
God did not just reject his offering, but
God rejected Cain as well. Third, other
interpreters of the text have said it had
nothing to do with Cain or his offering.
However, the focus is on Abel’s offering
because it set the standard for what would
later become the requirement by God for
worship and for sacrifices. Fourth, there is
a view on the biblical interpretation of this
text which suggests that the writer/author
is using the homiletic writing style of
“Comparison and Contrast.” For example:
Cain and Abel both had the same parents
(v.1-2a); they each had a different
job/occupation (v.2b); they both went to
worship (vv.3-4); they both brought an
offering (vv.3-4); they each brought an
offering from the job/work assigned to
their hand (vv.3-4); they each brought a
different offering (vv. 3-4); and Abel and
his offering were accepted and Cain and
his offering were not (vv.4-5). This view
shows that the writer places emphasis on
the similarities and differences between
the two brothers. Last, the conclusion of

Issue 122 No. 14
the argument to the question, “why did
God reject Cain and his offering?”
therefore, gives way to the point that the
author/writer was making in the text. The
writer was emphasizing the fact that sin
(sin nature) was now in the hearts of men
(mankind) due mainly to the disobedience
and rebellion that took place in the Garden
of Eden with Adam and Eve. The
remaining verses in the passage focus only
on how God dealt with Cain and his sin.
So, what exactly is “A Cain
Complex?” The answer to this question is
suggested by the behavior that Cain
displayed in the text. Moreover, some of
the same kind of dysfunctional behavior is
among us. Please understand and note, in
order for certain negative behaviors to be
corrected, they must first be identified.
Even under the circumstances of medical
and behavioral health issues, professionals
often do a diagnosis before they can give
consideration to the prognosis. Therefore,
a close look at Cain’s behavior in the text
can help us to identify his problem and
what might be many of our problems in
comparison.
Point #1: Cain’s Attitude was Insulting.
(Vv. 3-5)
3
So it came about in the course of time
that Cain brought an offering to the LORD
of the fruit of the ground. 4
Abel, on his
part also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of their fat portions. And the
LORD had regard for Abel and for his
offering; 5
but for Cain and for his offering
He had no regard. So Cain became very
angry and his countenance fell.
According to verse 3, it was during the
time of harvest for which an offering was
to be given to God in worship. Notice that
the author places emphasis on Abel’s
offering (firstlings and fat portions).
However, he says nothing to emphasize
the quantity nor the quality of Cain’s
offering. What this literally means is that
Cain did not present to God the best of his
substance from his harvest. As Christians,
when we fail to bring a substantial and
sacrificial offer to our God in worship, we
fail to please God. God considers this act
as dishonorable toward Him. We can’t
just bring God anything that we think we
want to bring. God has standards for the
substance we bring in our hands to Him.
Proverbs 3:9-10 says for us to, “Honor
the Lord with thy substance and with the
first fruits of thine increase: so shall your
barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses
shall burst out with new wine.” Not only
did Cain not present to God the best of
substance from his harvest, but Cain also
did not present to God the best of his
service from his heart. (Romans 12:1).
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable
service.” What we bring to God in our
hands is reflective of what is in our hearts
toward God. Therefore, if Cain would
have come into the presence of God with
the right spirit, he would have not been
rejected. The Bible says, “They that
worship Him must worship Him in Spirit
and in Truth.”
Point # 2: Cain’s Anger was Inappropriate.
(Vv. 6-10)
6
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are
you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen? 7
If you do well, [e]
will
not your countenance be lifted up? And if
you do not do well, sin is crouching at the
door; and its desire is for you, but you
must master it.” 8
Cain told Abel his
brother. And it came about when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against
Abel his brother and killed him .9
Then the

Issue 122 No. 14
LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your
brother?” And he said, “I do not know.
Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10
He said,
“What have you done? The voice of your
brother’s blood is crying to Me from the
ground.”
God wasted no time in confronting
Cain about his anger. In essence, God told
Cain that there was no reason for him to be
angry. If Cain had come correct in the
beginning, he would have been accepted
by God and not rejected. Then God
informs Cain that if he did not get a grip
on his anger; his anger will inevitably have
a grip on him. The Bible instructs us as
believers “do not let the sun go down on
your wrath.” In other words, don’t
procrastinate in settling conflict; come to a
resolution. What’s interesting in the text is
that Cain never admitted, acknowledged,
or addressed his anger before God. Here
was God giving Cain the opportunity to
confront and to confess the very sin that
brewed and boiled within his heart. But
yet, Cain’s inappropriate display of his
angry led him to commit one of the most
hideous crimes ever known to man;
murdering his own brother. How many of
us have committed spiritual murder toward
someone else because of our own
displaced and misplaced anger. We
become jealous, envious, and angry at
others when we see them blessed and
favored by God. In every sense of the
vernacular, we become “Haters” on others.
Who and what are we really mad at? Are
we mad at others, ourselves or God? The
Bible says that its o.k. to be angry, “but sin
not!” There are countless men and women
that can share with us how they allowed
their anger to get the best of them and
what price they had to pay because of it.
Point # 3: Cain’s Appeal was
Insensitive. (Vv. 11- 13)
11
Now you are cursed from the ground,
which has opened its mouth to receive
your brother’s blood from your hand.
12
When you cultivate the ground, it will no
longer yield its strength to you; you will
be a vagrant and a wanderer on the
earth.” 13
Cain said to the LORD, “My
punishment is too great to bear! 14
Behold,
You have driven me this day from the face
of the ground; and from Your face I will
be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a
wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds
me will kill me.”
In spite of Cain’s punishment, it is
obvious that he still doesn’t get it. I say
this because Cain only seems to be
concerned with his future without any
confession of his failure. Here is a person
that just massacred his own brother, and
still has yet to show any sense of guilt or
remorse for his own actions, neither does
he take responsibility, nor is he repentant
for what he had done. It is the case of a
sad commentary and not only that, but the
case of a sad Christian that fails to
acknowledge and confess their sin, in
order to get right with God. The Bible
tells us according to 1John 1:9, “if we
confess our sin, He (God) is faithful and
just, to forgive us of our sin.” Yet, it is
possible for a believer in Jesus the Christ
to be “turned over to a reprobate mind,” as
the Bible puts it. Nothing can be more
devastating than for a Christian to have a
relationship with God, but not be in
fellowship with God. This is the curse of
a defeated life. I know that it seems like
an oxymoron, but it is indeed a possible
punishment, in view of the text. Though
we have been saved, sanctified, sealed,
baptized, blood-washed, and bought with a
price, we as believers cannot allow
ourselves to become so desensitized to the
sins of our flesh that we negate and
neglect the opportunity to repent.

Issue 122 No. 14
In Conclusion, God still has mercy
even on the worst of us. God, in spite of
Cain’s insulting attitude, inappropriate
anger, and insensitive appeal, extended
unto Cain His mercy. The text concludes
by saying,
“15
So the LORD said to him, “Therefore
whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be
taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD
appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one
finding him would slay him. 16
Then Cain
went out from the presence of the LORD,
and settled in the land of Nod, east of
Eden.”
Aren’t you glad that you serve a God who
is “rich in mercy and loving kindness?” He
is a God that has the power to break any
curse, restore conditions, fix
circumstances, and heal any complex,
because His Is Able!!! The Word says,
“He is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above anything we ask or think.” Cain
was marked for His protection, but we are
marked because of His pardon. God has
enough Grace and Mercy for anyone
willing to receive. Don’t allow “A Cain
Complex” to keep you from living in right
relationship and in fellowship with God,
yourself, and others.
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
WORDS OF INSPIRATION
Bishop Lawrence Vaughn
Senior Pastor
The Agape Christian Center
The Good News is that God has a
Purpose and a Plan
According to Isaiah chapter 49:9-11,
God says, “He knows the purpose He has
for us”. Many of us because of life’s
difficulties and present conditions have not
fully come to comprehend God’s plan for
us and His way of escape. Often, we look
at our present or past situations and
question how? How did we endure it?
How did we come out? How are we going
to go forward? And out of nowhere and at
just the right moment God steps in. The
answer is and has always been that God
has a purpose and a plan for us. Ironically,
God knows when to deliver, when to heal
and when to bring us out. All we would
have to do according to the Word of God
is remember: First, where He brought us
from, secondly, what He delivered us from
and finally, have a made up mind or an
idea of where He is taking us. God’s
Word says “that he that had begun a good
work in you shall perform it until the
coming of the Lord”. God said, “I am God
and there is none like me”. When we
know God's purpose and plan for us,
nothing else should matter to us.
Most of us, if we would agree are at a
state of panic, or at a state of depression
mainly because we cannot figure out
what's really going on in our lives. Many
of us have the tendency to question God's
authority in our lives. We must realize

Issue 122 No. 14
that God knows what He is doing. If we're
going through it's not because God is
shorter than His word but that we must
face the reality and come to the conclusion
that it's really because of us. If we would
stop and take a second look and if we can
be truthful with ourselves we’d say that we
have been here before. When we feel like
giving up we must continue to tell
ourselves, God has a plan. When we can't
seem to see our way through our storm, we
must again tell ourselves, God has a plan.
We must come to the realization that there
are two most important days in our lives.
Day number one is the day we were born
and day number two is the day we figure
out why we were born. While we're
trying to figure it out we must continue to
say within ourselves, God has a plan. The
good news is in knowing that our purpose
in life is bigger than any problem that we
may have. Again, I say always remember
that God has a purpose and a plan for all
of us. Be blessed!
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
Dr. E. Catherine Pearson
Hopewell M. B. Church
Praise conquers Defeat
Living a life undefeated each day of
the week- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday is my goal as a Christian young
woman; but I just do not know how. I
want to shine for His glory and for my
good, for only what you do for Jesus
Christ will last; but I just do not know
how! I want to get up everyday happy,
content; but I just do not know how.
Yes, I am saved; baptized at eleven
years of age, filled with the Holy Spirit,
attend church services twice weekly on
Sundays and Wednesdays and sometimes
four to five times a week depending on the
season of the year. I also teach Sunday
school, pray daily, read the Scriptures
daily, honor my husband, fellowship with
my family and friends, pray for my
enemies, and help others. Nevertheless, I
am being defeated in my walk with the
Lord. I am not content! What is
wrong? Yes, I know how to sing and pray
but something is missing!
The answer came from the Lord
through prayer when I asked, "Lord help
me to memorize Scripture and live closer
to you. I want to be content and live
undefeated.” The Scripture passage that I
was led to was Psalm 34:1: “I will bless
the Lord at all times; his praise shall
continually be in my mouth.” How can
praise be in my mouth continually was the
question to answer? By learning the
revealed attributes of God and praying
them back to Him, is the answer to the
question.
The Bible, the inspired Word of God
with over forty different authors and sixty-
six books, is God’s love story with His
revealed attributes (nature and character)
of what He is like. Reading, studying,
memorizing, meditating and applying the
Scriptures that I read became the joy of
my life. The sun was shining brightly on
my face. What love was demonstrated
from the Father through the Son to me, a

Issue 122 No. 14
fifty-seven year old woman. I have come to
believe and agree with others that
Scripture memorization is the most
powerful investment strategy to build a
lasting spiritual fellowship through prayer
with the triune God of the Bible- God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit, and to live a life undefeated on this
side of heaven.
Sixty-six books in the Bible declare
that God is worthy to be praised because
He is the Creator, Deliver and Sustainer.
This is the answer! I can praise God
continually as the Scripture declares for
who He is (revealed attributes),
thank Him for what He has done, and
worship Him because He is worthy.
The method below helps me to praise
God using nine attributes. Each letter of
my middle name Catherine is represented
with an attribute of God plus a Scripture
reference for the attributes = praising God
continually in a creative way to conquer
defeat daily.
Comforter (II Corinthians 1, 3, 4),
Accessible (James 4:8),
Truth, John 3:33,
Healer (Psalm 103:2, 3),
Everlasting (Isaiah 40:28),
Refuge (Psalm 46:1),
Immutable (James 1:17),
No other God (Isaiah 45:5, 6),
Eternity (Isaiah 57:15).
This creative way of reverence and
praising God keeps my focus on Him and
not on my circumstances. God honors my
efforts and shows me kindness and gives
me favor in all situations. The benefits of
kindness are demonstrated in improved
knowledge of Scripture, enhanced prayer
life, enriched worship experience,
enlarged witness opportunity, and the
daily presence of the Lord. I know how to
approach each day of the week by trusting
in the Lord with all my heart and leaning
not on my own understanding but in all
my ways I acknowledge the Lord and He
directs my path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
For those who are just doing church
work and filling empty, not content, try
praising God! Give Him all adoration;
acknowledge Him through His revealed
unique attributes. God is Transcendent
(Isaiah 40:22), Triune (Matthew 28:19),
Omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6), Omnipresent
(Psalm 139:7-12), Omnipotent (Psalm
139:13-18), Omnirighteous (Psalm139:19-
24), Unchangeable (Malachi 3:6), Eternal
(Deuteronomy 33:27a). Praising God for
who He is is the key to being content.
For all believers in Jesus Christ, my
wish is that we will come to know God
Almighty more intimately spiritually, to
anticipate Jesus Christ (the Author and
Finisher of our faith) more fervently, and
to allow the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) to
lead and guide in all truth. Be content and
live an undefeated life, which is life more
abundantly… for praise does conquer
defeat.
E. Catherine Pearson, Christian teacher,
first lady, and author of the book that
explores 102 attributes of God with
creative methods of praise - An Attribute
A Day keeps the devil away, available
at amazon.com. Connect with her
at ecatherine8@icloud.com or 901-871-
5455.
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WITNESS FOR THE LORD
Gwen McGee
Royston Chapel CME Church

Issue 122 No. 14
I was born and raised in Cleveland,
Ohio, and I moved to Michigan. My Mom
moved back to her hometown in Holly
Springs, while I was in college. In
December 2008 my stepfather passed and
my Mom’s brother also passed in the same
month.
I took an early retirement and in 2009 I
moved from Michigan to Memphis to help
her. Soon after moving south Mom had to
go on dialysis, which was devastating for
her at first because her husband and
brother had died while on dialysis. My
step brother lived with her and I made
frequent trips to Holly Springs to assist in
her care. After about a year, I was
studying the book of Ruth and the Lord,
without a doubt, prompted me to move in
with my mother and care for her fulltime.
After living in Ohio and Michigan all my
life, this location was a tremendous
adjustment. But God strengthened me to
handle the bugs, snakes, ticks, the flying
confederate flag, etc. I moved in with her
in Holly Springs, Mississippi. My Mom
and the Lord allowed us to rent out her
house to a very dependable tenant, which
in turn paid our rent.
We lived there almost three years and
then the heater stopped working properly.
After several weeks of the problem, we
decided to move. In February we moved to
an apartment complex with beautiful
landscaping, on the bottom floor and no
worries about repairs, heat, grass cutting,
etc. In August she needed her fistula
moved to another vein in her arm for
dialysis. While healing she began to
experience great pain in her hand. She was
admitted to the hospital Labor Day
weekend and her regular doctors were
vacationing. Due to her age and other
health concerns she had several issues
going on and not one doctor to coordinate
her care. We were at the mercy of on duty
nurses and non-attentive doctors at the
hospital. Unknowingly the catheter placed
in her artery until the vein healed caused
an infection in her body.
We walked in the ER for this pain in
her hand and nine days later she passed.
The loss was shocking, sudden, confusing
and unexpected. At the time I didn’t
understand the cause of death and did not
know it until I received her death
certificate. I was her only biological child,
and I was an only child. I felt alone, and as
if I had not cared for her properly. God’s
grace kept me. My daughter traveled from
Florida immediately and helped me with
the final funeral arrangements. During this
time I had reconnected with a man who
was a friend and also helped me
tremendously with the care of my mother,
lifting her when she could no longer walk,
sitting with her and me. He had shown
signs of verbal abuse in the past but now
he was extremely kind and helpful. This
kindness ended the day after my Mom’s
death; he became agitated and verbally
abusive during this time. My daughter
intervened and he left me alone to grieve. I
was heartbroken, but old things were
passing away.
The morning of the wake my daughter
and I left the apartment to do last minute
shopping. It was raining, hard. When we
returned to the complex the driveway had
been blocked due to flooding. I parked on
the road and we walked to the apartment.

Issue 122 No. 14
The parking lot had flooded and water was
above our waist as we slowly made our
way to the apartment. All of the bottom
apartments were flooded. It was surreal.
We grabbed my dog and our funeral
clothes. We were only able to leave the
complex by boat. All the cars parked in
the complex were flooded, but God again,
graciously protected my car that day. I
could not get back to Holly Springs (30
miles) in time to release the body and to
arrive at the wake. I bought clothes to
wear to the wake.
After the funeral, and when my
children left I felt there was no place to go
and mourn my Mom’s death.
The day after the funeral my family
and I returned to the apartment and “they”
packed our stuff in a mad mess. I was
overwhelmed but extremely calm and
reassured in my spirit all would be well. I
take great comfort in knowing my Mother
did not have to go through this loss. He
kept me in perfect peace through it all. He
showed me I will have a new beginning,
new place and new things. The flood was
a sort of cleansing, a baptism, old things
were passed away, behold all things are
new now. I lost my Mom, my home, my
apartment, my stuff and it really doesn’t
matter because I have My Lord who has
plans for me and I look forward to the
adventure.
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
Linda Taper Tompkins
Christ Missionary Baptist Church
Three years ago, February 2012, my
granddaughter Khloe was born and on that
day my life changed. My every thought
was how to be a good grandmother. Khloe
became my Why, meaning the cause, my
reason and purpose. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
NLT says, “And you must commit
yourselves wholeheartedly to these
commands that I am giving you
today. Repeat them again and again to
your children. Talk about them when you
are at home and when you are on the road,
when you are going to bed and when you
are getting up.”
The first thing I did was thank the
Lord for blessing me with a beautiful,
healthy granddaughter and then I gave
Khloe back to Him, our Lord and Savior,
the Giver and Creator of all things. I am
truly grateful for Him entrusting me with
Khloe. Me, a grandma, WOW!
I began to exercise, eat healthy and
lose weight. I started a new business and I
am now a Herbalife independent
distributor. Herbalife is a global nutrition
company, nutrition for a better life. My
focus is on longevity of life; Khloe is my
Why.
I will teach Khloe about the Lord’s
love for her; John 3:16 NLT says, “For
this is how God loved the world: He
gave his one and only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him will not

Issue 122 No. 14
perish but have eternal life.” I pray for
wisdom, knowledge, insight, good sense
and good judgment, so I can share those
things with Khloe. Wisdom will allow me
to explain things so she can understand
what I am teaching her.
I was very young when I gave birth to
Khloe’s mother, Nikki. I didn’t know what
I know now. I thank the Lord for wisdom.
I am now able to share it with both my
girls. God You are so awesome. In spite of
myself, being young and without a clue
about life, wisdom…You blessed me with
my daughter Nikki now 36 years old.
I am so proud of Nikki. Over the years
she has learned how to trust God with all
the details of her life, applying faith,
wisdom and patience to her life. My Nikki
is a good mother to Khloe. I love my girls.
They are my Why.
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
A Word From The Staff
Cecilia S. Barnes
Mt Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood
The Spirit of Barnabas
Assistant Editor
“When all these blessings and curses I
have set before you come on you and
you take them to heart … and when you
and your children return to the LORD
your God and obey him with all your
heart and with all your soul according
to everything I command you today,
then the LORD your God will restore
your fortunes and have compassion on
you” Deuteronomy 30: 1-3
Those of us who are students of the
Bible are familiar with the promised
blessing of prosperity God makes to
believers who are careful to keep His
commands, found in Deuteronomy 28:1-
14. These verses motivate and encourage
us to believe that God plans for His
children to live prosperous lives.
If you fully obey the LORD your God and
carefully follow all his commands I give
you today, the LORD your God will set you
high above all the nations on earth. All
these blessings will come on you and
accompany you if you obey the LORD your
God:You will be blessed in the city and
blessed in the country. The fruit of your
womb will be blessed, and the crops of
your land and the young of your livestock
—the calves of your herds and the lambs
of your flocks. Your basket and your
kneading trough will be blessed. You will
be blessed when you come in and blessed
when you go out. The LORD will grant that
the enemies who rise up against you will
be defeated before you. They will come at
you from one direction but flee from you
in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on
your barns and on everything you put your
hand to. The LORD your God will bless
you in the land he is giving you. The LORD
will establish you as his holy people, as he
promised you on oath, if you keep the
commands of the LORD your God and
walk in obedience to him. Then all the
peoples on earth will see that you are
called by the name of the LORD, and they
will fear you. The LORD will grant you
abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your
womb, the young of your livestock and the

Issue 122 No. 14
crops of your ground—in the land he
swore to your ancestors to give you. The
LORD will open the heavens, the
storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on
your land in season and to bless all the
work of your hands. You will lend to many
nations but will borrow from none. The
LORD will make you the head, not the tail.
If you pay attention to the commands of
the LORD your God that I give you this day
and carefully follow them, you will always
be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not
turn aside from any of the commands I
give you today, to the right or to the left,
following other gods and serving them.
Those of us who are familiar with
Deuteronomy 28 are also aware that God
promises curses when we are disobedient
and fail to follow His commands. In fact,
whereas the first 14 verses in
Deuteronomy 28 describe the blessings
associated with obedience, the remaining
53 verses (verses 15-68) describe the
curses that will result from disobedience:
However, if you do not obey the LORD
your God and do not carefully follow all
his commands and decrees I am giving
you today, all these curses will come on
you and overtake you: You will be cursed
in the city and cursed in the country. Your
basket and your kneading trough will be
cursed. The fruit of your womb will be
cursed, and the crops of your land, and
the calves of your herds and the lambs of
your flocks. You will be cursed when you
come in and cursed when you go out. The
LORD will send on you curses, confusion
and rebuke in everything you put your
hand to, until you are destroyed and come
to sudden ruin because of the evil you
have done in forsaking him. The LORD will
plague you with diseases until he has
destroyed you from the land you are
entering to possess. The LORD will strike
you with wasting disease, with fever and
inflammation, with scorching heat and
drought, with blight and mildew, which
will plague you until you perish. The sky
over your head will be bronze, the ground
beneath you iron. The LORD will turn the
rain of your country into dust and powder;
it will come down from the skies until you
are destroyed. The LORD will cause you to
be defeated before your enemies. You will
come at them from one direction but flee
from them in seven, and you will become a
thing of horror to all the kingdoms on
earth. Your carcasses will be food for all
the birds and the wild animals, and there
will be no one to frighten them away. The
LORD will afflict you with the boils of
Egypt and with tumors, festering sores
and the itch, from which you cannot be
cured. The LORD will afflict you with
madness, blindness and confusion of mind.
At midday you will grope about like a
blind person in the dark. You will be
unsuccessful in everything you do; day
after day you will be oppressed and
robbed, with no one to rescue you. You
will be pledged to be married to a woman,
but another will take her and rape her.
You will build a house, but you will not
live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but
you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.
Your ox will be slaughtered before your
eyes, but you will eat none of it. Your
donkey will be forcibly taken from you and
will not be returned. Your sheep will be
given to your enemies, and no one will
rescue them. Your sons and daughters
will be given to another nation, and you
will wear out your eyes watching for them
day after day, powerless to lift a hand. A
people that you do not know will eat what
your land and labor produce, and you will
have nothing but cruel oppression all your
days. The sights you see will drive you
mad. The LORD will afflict your knees and
legs with painful boils that cannot be
cured, spreading from the soles of your
feet to the top of your head. The LORD will
drive you and the king you set over you to

Issue 122 No. 14
a nation unknown to you or your
ancestors. There you will worship other
gods, gods of wood and stone. You will
become a thing of horror, a byword and
an object of ridicule among all the peoples
where the LORD will drive you. You will
sow much seed in the field but you will
harvest little, because locusts will devour
it. You will plant vineyards and cultivate
them but you will not drink the wine or
gather the grapes, because worms will eat
them. You will have olive trees throughout
your country but you will not use the oil,
because the olives will drop off. You will
have sons and daughters but you will not
keep them, because they will go into
captivity. Swarms of locusts will take over
all your trees and the crops of your land.
The foreigners who reside among you will
rise above you higher and higher, but you
will sink lower and lower. They will lend
to you, but you will not lend to them. They
will be the head, but you will be the tail.
All these curses will come on you. They
will pursue you and overtake you until you
are destroyed, because you did not obey
the LORD your God and observe the
commands and decrees he gave you. They
will be a sign and a wonder to you and
your descendants forever. Because y did
not serve the LORD your God joyfully and
gladly in the time of prosperity therefore
in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and
dire poverty, you will serve the enemies
the LORD sends against you. He will put
an iron yoke on your neck until he has
destroyed you. The LORD will bring a
nation against you from far away, from
the ends of the earth, like an eagle
swooping down, a nation whose language
you will not understand, a fierce-looking
nation without respect for the old or pity
for the young. They will devour the young
of your livestock and the crops of your
land until you are destroyed. They will
leave you no grain, new wine or olive oil,
nor any calves of your herds or lambs of
your flocks until you are ruined. They will
lay siege to all the cities throughout your
land until the high fortified walls in which
you trust fall down. They will besiege all
the cities throughout the land the LORD
your God is giving you. Because of the
suffering your enemy will inflict on you
during the siege, you will eat the fruit of
the womb, the flesh of the sons and
daughters the LORD your God has given
you. Even the most gentle and sensitive
man among you will have no compassion
on his own brother or the wife he loves or
his surviving children, and he will not
give to one of them any of the flesh of his
children that he is eating. It will be all he
has left because of the suffering your
enemy will inflict on you during the siege
of all your cities. The most gentle and
sensitive woman among you—so sensitive
and gentle that she would not venture to
touch the ground with the sole of her foot
—will begrudge the husband she loves
and her own son or daughter the
afterbirth from her womb and the children
she bears. For in her dire need she intends
to eat them secretly because of the
suffering your enemy will inflict on you
during the siege of your cities. If you do
not carefully follow all the words of this
law, which are written in this book, and
do not revere this glorious and awesome
name—the LORD your God— the LORD
will send fearful plagues on you and your
descendants, harsh and prolonged
disasters, and severe and lingering
illnesses. He will bring on you all the
diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and
they will cling to you. The LORD will also
bring on you every kind of sickness and
disaster not recorded in this Book of the
Law, until you are destroyed. You who
were as numerous as the stars in the sky
will be left but few in number, because you
did not obey the LORD your God. Just as it
pleased the LORD to make you prosper
and increase in number, so it will please

Issue 122 No. 14
him to ruin and destroy you. You will be
uprooted from the land you are entering to
possess. Then the LORD will scatter you
among all nations, from one end of the
earth to the other. There you will worship
other gods—gods of wood and stone,
which neither you nor your ancestors have
known. Among those nations you will find
no repose, no resting place for the sole of
your foot. There the LORD will give you an
anxious mind, eyes weary with longing,
and a despairing heart. You will live in
constant suspense, filled with dread both
night and day, never sure of your life. In
the morning you will say, “If only it were
evening!” and in the evening, “If only it
were morning!”—because of the terror
that will fill your hearts and the sights that
your eyes will see. The LORD will send you
back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said
you should never make again. There you
will offer yourselves for sale to your
enemies as male and female slaves, but no
one will buy you.
If we can learn anything at all from this
28th
chapter of Deuteronomy is that God
demands our obedience!
I am often moved by the
demonstration of God’s grace that is seen
over and over again in the Bible. I believe
Deuteronomy 30 is one illustration of
God’s grace. Deuteronomy 30 is really a
continuation of the promises in
Deuteronomy 28. Deuteronomy 28 ends
with the many curses for disobedience, but
Deuteronomy 30 opens with God’s
promise of restoration when we repent of
our disobedience. Even if we sin—which
we inevitably all do—and experience the
serious consequences of our disobedience,
God stands ready to restore us to His
promised prosperity when we turn back to
Him. Deuteronomy 30: 1-10 states:
When all these blessings and curses I have
set before you come on you and you take
them to heart wherever the LORD your
God disperses you among the nations, and
when you and your children return to the
LORD your God and obey him with all
your heart and with all your soul
according to everything I command you
today, then the LORD your God will
restore your fortunes and have
compassion on you and gather you again
from all the nations where he scattered
you. Even if you have been banished to
the most distant land under the heavens,
from there the LORD your God will gather
you and bring you back. He will bring you
to the land that belonged to your
ancestors, and you will take possession of
it. He will make you more prosperous and
numerous than your ancestors. The LORD
your God will circumcise your hearts and
the hearts of your descendants, so that you
may love him with all your heart and with
all your soul, and live. The LORD your
God will put all these curses on your
enemies who hate and persecute you. You
will again obey the LORD and follow all
his commands I am giving you today.
Then the LORD your God will make you
most prosperous in all the work of your
hands and in the fruit of your womb, the
young of your livestock and the crops of
your land. The LORD will again delight in
you and make you prosperous, just as he
delighted in your ancestors, if you obey
the LORD your God and keep his
commands and decrees that are written in
this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD
your God with all your heart and with all
your soul.
I am so encouraged that God promises
to reward faithfulness, and although He
will and must punish sin, He stands ready
to welcome us back with open arms when
we repent and return to Him. Not only
does God offer forgiveness of sins but He

Issue 122 No. 14
promises to restore His many, promised
blessings when we return to a lifestyle of
obedience.


BIBLE TRIVIA
It’s a Matter of Faith
Place the correct answers in the puzzle
found on page 23. Answers found on page
30.
ACROSS
2. Psalm 46, KJV
Be still, and know that I am
_______....
5. Acts 7
The Bible says this man was “a man
full of faith and the Holy Spirit”. His
faith was exemplified in his message
given before the Sanhedrin counsel.
Afterwards, he was dragged out of the
city and stoned to death.
9. Judges 6-8
This man, though he was sacred,
trusted God to deliver the Midianites
into his and the hands of Israel despite
the vast difference in the size of their
armies: Midianites 135,000 men verses
Israelites-300 men.
11. Genesis 5
Hebrews 11, KJV says that this man
(who was the father Methuselah),
because of his faith “was translated
that he should not see death; and was
not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.”
13. Joshua 6
This man became the leader of Israel
because of his faith. He led Israel in
their victorious battles with the
inhabitants of the Promised Land.
When the walls of Jericho fell, it was
because this man trusted in God and
His Word.
14. John 19, 20
This woman was a devoted follower of
Christ. She was faithful to Christ and
His ministry during His time on earth.
She was there during His crucifixion
(unlike most of Jesus’ close disciples,
she did not abandon Him), and even
after His death wanting to attend to
Him at His grave. She was the first to
witness Jesus’ resurrection. (2 words)
16. Proverbs 3, KJV
_______ in the LORD with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths.
18. Matthew 21, KJV
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask
in _______, believing, ye shall receive.
19. Old Testament
This man was a man of strong faith. In
the midst of many obstacles and
scoffers such as Sanballat, he
depended totally on the Lord to help
him accomplish the work he had been
called to do, the rebuilding of
Jerusalem physically and spiritually.
23. Acts 18

Issue 122 No. 14
This woman and her husband were
pillars in the early church of
Jerusalem. They accompanied Paul on
his missionary journey to Syria. Paul
said this of them in Romans 16:3-4,
NKJV, “…my fellow workers in
Christ Jesus, who risked their own
necks for my life…” This says a lot
about their faith. It is one thing to
proclaim the gospel yet another to risk
your life for it. What was this woman’s
name?
26. Romans 10, KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the _______ of God.
27. Mark 11, KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them,
Have faith in God. For verily I say
unto you, That whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, Be thou removed,
and be thou cast into the sea; and shall
_______ doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith
shall come to pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith.
28. Mark 10
This blind man was sitting by the road
and he heard that Jesus was coming he
shouted out for Jesus to have mercy on
him. Despite the fact that people tried
to make him be quiet, the Bible says
that he shouted all the more for mercy.
His encounter with Jesus resulted in
Jesus saying the following, “…your
faith has healed you.” He received his
sight.
30. 1 Samuel 1, 2
This woman was a great woman of
faith. Although she is not mentioned in
Hebrews 11, God recognizes her son
Samuel, who followed her example of
faith and trust in God, as a hero of
faith.
31. Esther 4-7
By faith, this woman decided to stand
up for her people even though it could
result in her death. She revealed her
heritage as a child of God, a Jew, and
stopped the evil plan against her
people. Who knew she had come to
that kingdom for such a time as this.
DOWN
1. Genesis 50
This man made the sons of Israel
promise they would take his bones out
Egypt and into the land that God had
promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Hebrews 11, KJV says, By faith
_______, when his end was near,
spoke about the exodus of the
Israelites from Egypt and gave
instructions concerning the burial of
his bones.”
3. 1 Samuel 13, 2 Samuel 11
This man was Israel’s greatest king.
He committed adultery, conspired to
commit murder and then pre-meditated
murder, yet God called him a man
after His own heart.
4. Matthew 14, KJV
When Jesus entered this land and was
recognized, word was sent to all the
surrounding country. People brought
their sick and begged Jesus to let their
sick touch the edge of His cloak. All
who touched His cloak were healed. In
what land did this occur?
6. Luke 1
For with God _______ shall be
impossible.
7. 2 Timothy

Issue 122 No. 14
Paul speaks highly of Timothy and his
genuine faith. Paul says that Timothy
shares the faith that first filled his
grandmother and his mother. Who was
Timothy’s grandmother?
8. Joshua 2
This woman risked her life to hide
spies sent to Jericho. In Hebrews 11,
God includes her name amongst the
faithful saints. She believed in the
Lord and believed that it was He who
was bringing Israel into the Promised
Land.
10. Luke 1, KJV
This woman who was barren had no
problem in believing when an angel of
the Lord came to her husband and said
that she would conceive. Her husband
did not believe and because he didn’t
believe, he was struck dumb, unable to
say a word until the day of his son’s
birth. Who was this woman of faith?
12. This Evangelist and Apostle went
through more pain and suffering in his
life for Christ than any others. 2
Corinthians 11:23-28, KJV tells of
some of the things he endured, “in
labours more abundant, in stripes
above measure, in prisons more
frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews
five times received I forty stripes save
one. Thrice was I beaten with rods,
once was I stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I have
been in the deep; In journeyings often,
in perils of waters, in perils of robbers,
in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the
city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; In weariness and
painfulness, in watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
cold and nakedness. Beside those
things that are without, that which
cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches.” Why? He was “not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ”.
13. Matthew 11
This prophet was sent to speak the
truth and prepare the way for the Lord.
Jesus said this about him, “Among
them that are born of women there
hath not risen a greater….” (3 words)
14. Numbers 12, Deuteronomy 34
The Bible says that he was the meekest
and most humble man on the face of
the earth. There has never been a
prophet like this man in all of Israel, a
man who God knew face to face.
15. Daniel 6
This courageous man though
threatened with death refused to
change his way of worshiping and who
he worshiped, the LORD. Even though
a law was put into place, irrevocable
under any circumstance, that stated
that for thirty days anyone who prayed
to any god or human other than the
king, would face death. The Bible says
after realizing that a written decree had
been issued, this man “went into his
house; and his windows being open in
his chamber toward Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three times a
day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did aforetime.”
He was willing to die for his faith.
17. James 1, KJV
My brethren, count it all joy when ye
fall into divers temptations; Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith
worketh _______.
20. 2 Kings 13

Issue 122 No. 14
This miracle worker raised the dead,
feed a multitude, healed a leper and
performed other miracles through God.
Even after death, the very touch of his
dead bones revived a dead man.
21. Hebrews 11, KJV
But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a
______ of them that diligently seek
him.
22. Luke 5, KJV
The friends of this paralyzed man
brought him to Jesus to be healed.
Because of the crowd, they were
unable to take their friend into the
house so they went up on the roof and
lowered him down through a hole in
the roof. When Jesus saw their faith he
said, “Man, thy sins are _______
thee.” Because of their great faith,
this man was healed, he stood up and
walked.
24. Genesis 12-25, Romans 4
Who was more faithful than this man
who was called “a friend of God”. His
actions and obedience to God
demonstrated the reality of his faith.
He was a man who was willing to
sacrifice his own son, in order to be
obedient to God. He believed God
would do whatever He promised to do.
25. Job 1, 2, 13
This righteous man suffered much
including losing all of his children, all
he owned and even his good health.
Yet, in the midst of his suffering he
was able to say, “the LORD gave, and
the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the LORD” and “Though
he slay me, yet will I trust in him….”
29. Genesis 4
This man willingly offered God the
best offering he possibly could. God
accepted his offer with favor. Hebrew
11, NIV says that, “By faith he was
commended as righteous, when God
spoke well of his offerings. And by
faith _______ still speaks, even though
he is dead.”
30. Psalm 42, KJV
Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
_______ thou in God….

Answers to Puzzle can be found on page 30
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 8
9
10
11 12 13
14
15
16 17
18
19 20
21 22
23 24
25 26 27
28 29 30
31
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 8
9
10
11 12 13
14
15
16 17
18
19 20
21 22
23 24
25 26 27
28 29 30
31
It’s a Matter of Faith

KJV
Fill in the missing words and find them in the Word Find puzzle on page 28.
1. Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt _______
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good _______.
2. Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of _______ unto
righteousness?
3. 1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to _______ than the fat of rams.
4. Mathew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that _______ the will of my Father which is in heaven.
5. Isaiah 1:19-20
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye
refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the _______ of
the LORD hath spoken it.
6. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through _______
to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of _______; And having in a
readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Obedience to God

7. Genesis 22:18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast
_______ my voice.
8. James 1:22-25
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. For if any be a _______ of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a
man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth
his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso
looketh into the _______ law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not
a forgetful hearer, but a _______ of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
9. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole _______ of man.
10. 1 John 5:2-3
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and
keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not _______.
11. Deuteronomy 11:1
Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his
statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, _______.
12. Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, _______ unto God, which is your reasonable
service.
13. Psalm 119:1
_______ are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

B T C E F R E P A P E Y
L I G N C F O F N U A U
D O U E E G I E A W E D
E M E N A F K E L L Y S
S E A T O R H A I R A S
S P H E A R E R H W D U
E T F E G T Y L L R E C
L W H I I N I A I R S R
B I T R A V E D A Y B T
A C U S U C U V E Y E R
C P O B E L B T A M L S
C T M H T E O D O E R U
E S L U G N A A U U R O
P E A S S E C C U S A V
T S S O E D I U U T U E
A L T S I R H C P C Y I
B A W I E L C G H T U R
L R D E Y E B O U D V G
E P H L I A F D S O N W
C H E C N E I D E B O S
Answer to Word Find puzzle can be found on page 28
Match the Scripture in Column A with the Correct Verse in Column B
Obedience to God

Scriptures were taken from the King James Version (KJV)
Answers are found on page 31.
Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord!
A. (Scripture) B. (Verse)
1. _____ Psalm 134:2 A. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless
thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless
thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; and his
greatness is unsearchable.
2. _____ Psalm 106:1 B. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his
anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in
the morning.
3. _____ Psalm 5:11 C. O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his
name: make known his deeds among the people.
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all
his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let
the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek
the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
4. _____ Psalm 28:7-8 D. O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto
the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless
his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders
among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly
to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
.
5. _____ Psalm 95:1-2 E. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall
shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice;
else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt
offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise.

6. _____ Psalm 34:1-3 F. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I
will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be
glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy
name, O thou most High.
7. _____ Psalm 139:14 G. O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a
joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us
come before his presence with thanksgiving, and
make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
.
8. _____ Psalm 9:1-2 H. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her
boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof,
and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let
us exalt his name together.
9. _____ Psalm 105:1-4 I. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my
heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my
heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I
praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the
saving strength of his anointed.
10. _____Psalm 96:1-4 J. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:
let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest
them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in
thee.
11. _____Psalm 51:15-17 K. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and
that my soul knoweth right well.
12. _____Psalm 145:1-3 L. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless
the LORD.
13. _____ Psalm 30:4-5 M. Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord;
for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The Spirit of Barnabas

OUR MISSION:
Acts 15:31 reads: “The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.” What the new
believers in Christ, the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, read was a message sent by the apostles,
elders and the whole church in Jerusalem, proclaiming by grace were these new Christians saved. To
encourage and strengthen them even more, Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to confirm by
mouth what was written (Acts 15:1-35).
God provides hope and encouragement through His Word, the Bible. His Word helps us to understand
and know Him, His purpose for us individually and collectively as the body of Christ and the purpose of the
trials and tribulations we sometimes face. Through His Word, God reaches out to us, as only our Heavenly
Father can, providing loving guidance and encouragement. No message is of greater importance or more
encouraging than the message of God’s mercy and grace demonstrated in His gift of salvation through Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)
In Neil T. Anderson’s book, The Bondage Breaker, he emphasizes the importance of Christians
encouraging one another. He states, “We all benefit from the spiritual growth we can see occurring in the
lives of other Christians. We all need to feel we have a sense of purpose and direction. (What we are doing
in some way has a positive impact on the spiritual growth and lives of others).”
The book of Acts tells us about a man by the name of Joseph. Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus, who
sold some land he owned and gave it to the church. He was nicknamed Barnabas by the apostles, which
means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). He is described as, “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and
strong in faith….” (Acts 11:24) It was Barnabas who introduced a man named Saul, later called Paul, to the
apostles because he knew that God’s grace and power can transform and convert those we feel are
hopelessly lost in sin. Paul later became one of the most influential Apostles of Christ writing 13 (the
Pauline Epistles) of the 27 books found in the New Testament of the Bible. As you read the book of Acts,
you will find that Barnabas was kind, generous, full of compassion and considerate of others, with a heart
filled with love and forgiveness. He gave encouragement and hope to his friends, to the new believers in
Christ and to those who had not yet accepted the truth, that Jesus is the Way (John 14:6).
Like Barnabas, Son of Encouragement, the purpose of this ministry is to walk in that same Spirit,
providing words of encouragement and messages of hope that will help bring about spiritual growth
and awareness to those who are in Christ and those who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their
personal Lord and Savior, and to help us all remember that We are not Alone (Matthew 28:20).
The Staff of The Spirit of Barnabas
Editor-Linda F. Holloway Assistant Editor-Cecilia S. Barnes
Ministerial Leader/Advisor-Rev. Dr. Wyvonia Woods Harris Editorial Staff-Bettye L. Cooper
Production Editor/Designer-Kimberly M. Gayden Ministerial Advisor-Rev. Willie Wilson
Ministerial Leader/Advisor-Rev. Melvin D. Watkins, Jr. Distribution-Brenda Key
ANSWERS TO BIBLE TRIVIA PUZZLE

Across: 2. God, 5. Stephen, 9. Gideon, 11. Enoch, 13. Joshua, 14. Mary Magdalene, 16. Trust, 18.
Prayer, 19. Nehemiah, 23. Priscilla, 26. Word, 27. Not, 28. Bartimaeus, 30. Hannah, 31. Esther.
Down: 1. Joseph, 3. David, 4. Gennesaret, 6. Nothing, 7. Lois, 8. Rahab, 10. Elisabeth, 12. Paul,
13. John the Baptist, 14. Moses, 15. Daniel, 17. Patience, 20. Elisha, 21. Rewarder, 22. Forgiven,
24. Abraham, 25. Job, 29. Abel, 30. Hope.
J
1
G
2
O D
3
O G
4
A
S
5
T E P H E N
6
V L
7
R
8
E N O G
9
I D E O N A
P N T D I H E
10
H E
11
N O C H P
12
J
13
O S H U A L
S I A O B I
A N U H S
M
14
A R Y M A G D A L E N E A
O E T D
15
B
S T
16
R U S T P
17
H A E
E P
18
R A Y E R N T
S T B N
19
E H E
20
M I A H
R
21
F
22
I A L E
E O E P
23
R I S C I L L A
24
J
25
W
26
O R D N
27
O T S B
O A G C I H R
B
28
A R T I M A
29
E U S H
30
A N N A H
D V B T O H
E E E P A
R N L E
31
S T H E R M
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 8
9
10
11 12 13
14
15
16 17
18
19 20
21 22
23 24
25 26 27
28 29 30
31
ANSWERS TO MATCHING
1. L, 2. M, 3. J, 4. I, 5. G, 6. H, 7. K, 8. F, 9. C, 10. D, 11. E, 12. A, 13. B

ANSWERS TO WORD FIND
1. Meditate, Success, 2. Obedience, 3. Hearken, 4. Doeth, 5. Mouth, 6. God, Christ, 7.
Obeyed, 8. Hearer, Perfect, Doer, 9. Duty, 10. Grievious, 11. Alway, 12. Acceptable, 13.
Blessed
If you would like to share your words of encouragement or message of hope, please contact
us: The Spirit of Barnabas Staff at: lflhn@aol.com
The Staff of The Sprit of Barnabas would like to say “Thank You” to the members of the
following churches who have shared words of encouragement and messages of hope. Matthew
28:19-20
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood Sunday School-9 a.m.
Reverend Dr. James L. Netters, Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship-10 am
Reverend Melvin D. Watkins Jr., Co-Pastor Sunday Evening Worship-6:30 pm
620 Parkrose Avenue Wednesday Night Prayer/Bible Study-7 pm
Memphis, TN 38109 Website: www.mt-vernon.org
Phone: (901) 785-1612 Broadcast-WDIA -Sundays-7 pm
24 hour Prayer lines: (901) 785-2046 Televised Worship-CATV 17-Mondays-9 pm
1-888-481-0053
Email: Dove@mt-vernon.org
Reverend W. Michael Martin, Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship-9 am
Oak Spring Baptist Church Wednesday Night Adult and Youth Bible

10250 Godwin Road Study-7 pm
Arlington, TN. 38002
Phone: (901) 829.3562
The Agape Christian Center Sunday School-9 am
Bishop Lawrence Vaughn, Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship-10 am
1823 East Broadway Wednesday Night Prayer/Bible Study-7 pm
West Memphis, Arkansas 72301 Broadcast: Monday-7 pm Bvsgospelnet.com-
Phone: (870) 702-7008 Internet TV
Hopewell M. B. Church Sunday School-9:30 am
Dr. R. D. Pearson, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship-11 am
40 Zinnia Lane Wednesday Night Prayer/Bible Study-6 pm
Grand Junction, TN 38039
Phone: (731) 764-2418; (901) 277-6570
Email: rogerprsn@yahoo.com
Christ Missionary Baptist Church South Location:
Reverend Dr. Gina M. Stewart, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship Service-10 am
(South location) 494 South Parkway East Bible Study-Tuesdays-6:15 pm
Memphis, TN 38106 Bible Study-Wednesdys-12 pm & 5:30 pm
Phone: (901) 948-9786 Prayer-Saturdays-9 am
(East Location) The Esplanade East Location:
901 Cordova Station Sunday Worship Service-8 am
Cordova, TN
Royston Chapel CME Church Sunday School-1st
and 3rd
Sunday-10 am
Pastor Gwendolyn Nelson Sunday Service-1st
and 3rd
Sunday-11 am
3701 Royston RD Sunday School-2nd
, 4th
& 5th
Sunday-9 am
Potts Camp, MS 38659 Sunday Service-2nd
, 4th
& 5th
Sunday-10 am
Phone: (662) 333-7799 Wednesday Night Prayer/Bible Study-6 pm
Jeremiah 29:11-13, NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then
you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And
you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

The Spirit of Barnabas jan feb 2015 #122

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The Spirit of Barnabas jan feb 2015 #122