BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

When things come at us and tell us we don’t have what it takes, we need to remember that those fears cannot supersede our faith. If we stand, we will not go under! How do I know? Because of the very next verse… “But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus” (verse 6, "NLT"). When Paul faced a battle and fear tried to get hold of him, God didn’t send an angel. He didn’t speak like thunder from heaven. He sent Titus. Titus was a man who had been greatly impacted and mentored by Paul’s ministry. From what we read here, it appears that Titus didn’t even realize the significance of his visit. The Bible doesn’t indicate that he had the perfect words to say or a divine message to deliver. All we see is that Titus showed up. He had allowed himself to be available and obedient to God and to be used in a not-so-exciting way. But guess what? It was exactly the encouragement Paul needed. Sometimes all it takes is showing up. When You’re Alone Everyone needs a Barnabas and a Titus. And everyone needs to be a Barnabas or a Titus. You may say, “Dennis, I hear you, but what about when I get discouraged and there’s no Barnabas and Titus anywhere to be found?” We all face times like that. That’s when we need to take our cue from David. First Samuel records that the Amalekites had just raided David’s camp, captured the women and children, and burned their tents to the ground. And if that disaster wasn’t enough, David’s people then turned on him and conspired to kill him. It’s no leap to see that David was discouraged. I’m sure he would have loved to hear from a fellow believer, but he felt completely alone. In response, David did the one thing he knew to do best. He inquired of the Lord: “David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6, "Amplified Bible, Classic Edition"). Just because Barnabas and Titus are nowhere to be found doesn’t mean we can have a pity party. We don’t need to depend upon anyone but the Lord for our success and our future. We can rest in knowing that we can draw on the strength of God inside us. We can allow the Holy Spirit to give us the courage we need through prayer and His Word so we don’t lose sight of the plan God has for us. When we don’t allow ourselves to get depleted, we’ll be ready to be the encouragers He’s called us to be, so others can stay focused on God’s plan for their lives, too. The Power of Encouragement These are days of strength and courage. For the sake of our fellow believers, these are the days when we need to be like Barnabas and Titus, courageously rising up to encourage one another in the Lord. Let’s lock arms together and help make sure no one is ever without encouragement when they need it most. Hebrews 3:13 says we need to “encourage one another daily” ("New International Version"). Do you do that? When you walk into a room, are people delighted that you showed up? Whose Barnabas or Titus can you be today? Stir yourself up, step out and show up because the words you say may be exactly the word from the Lord that someone else needs. That’s the power of encouragement. V Dennis Burke and his wife, Vikki, are co-founders of Dennis Burke Ministries in Arlington, Texas. For information or ministry materials visit dennisburkeministries.org. ******************************************** O V E R C O M I N G ONE Don’t get upset and discouraged when things go wrong. John 16:33 TWO If the trouble persists, don’t give up; double up on the Word. Prov. 4:20-21 THREE Stick with it until your heart is so full of the Word it overflows through your mouth. Matt. 12:34-35 ******************************************** BVOV : 11

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