THE BLESSING OF INTRODUCERS

About ten years ago, I was just getting into the city of Lagos when my phone rang. A dear father in the faith was calling. “Pastor Temi, I am in so and so place. I just finished speaking there. The pastor told me about their youth conference. I told him I had the perfect person to minister. I am calling you to inform you that you will get a call from them. When you are done in Lagos, you will be kind enough to come over to bless us also in Oyo. God bless you, dear”.

I was in awe. Could someone believe so much in God’s calling upon my life? And if you ever knew how our relationship began. It blossomed greatly and added so much value to my life and ministry.

Listen beloved, one of the key people you need in life are those I will call “introducers”. They can recognise your assignment and are bold enough to make a call on it by introducing you to people, places, and opportunities.

Joseph had an “introducer” in the cupbearer. He was the voice the Lord used in the palace to mention the name of Joseph. He may have forgotten Joseph for two full years but the day he remembered was a great day for Joseph. It began a great turnaround. May the Lord bless you with introductions.

Finally, the king’s chief cupbearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cupbearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.” Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:9-14 NLT

Pharaoh sent for him because someone close to Pharaoh introduced Joseph. I pray for you today: May your name and the name of your business be mentioned in the right places.

Jesus did not commence ministry until the announcement made by his forerunner, John the Baptist. John had a measure of influence in the land. He was used by God to announce Jesus as the lamb of God that is taking away the sins of the world. After that announcement, even some of the disciples of John followed Jesus Christ. He had an introducer.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

John 1:29, 35-37 NLT

Barnabas was a great blessing to the ministry of Apostle Paul. When the Apostles in Jerusalem refused to accept that he was indeed a changed man, Barnabas took the risk of bringing and breaking Saul into that circle. He was eventually accepted. Everyone needs a Barnabas.

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

Acts of the Apostles 9:26-27 NLT

When persecution hit Jerusalem, Paul left for Tarsus and there was nothing recorded about him anymore. But when Barnabas was sent to Antioch, he saw that someone would be of great help in that land. He left Antioch and went to Tarsus to look for Paul. He brought Paul to Antioch, and we can say the rest is history. That was the base for the missionary work that Paul eventually pioneered.

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

Acts of the Apostles 11:25-26 NLT

You need men who believe in you and your gifts, callings, and assignments. God’s method to bless you will be men. If you despise men, you will remain stranded in life.

Do not despise men.

© temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa