4 Types of People God Sends You in Different Seasons of Life

A few years ago, showed me that He was re-ordering the relationships in my life, including friendships. And He invited me to partner with Him in doing that. So I began to pray for friends who were more like Jesus than I was. Friends who would draw me closer to Him.

As those prayers were answered, I found myself wanting to seek Jesus more. And as I did that, I began to know him more. Then love Him more. Then reflect Him more. And it made me a more attractive witness for Jesus.

This went beyond just friendships. When I went through different seasons in life, I noticed that God brought certain people into my world to help me get to the next thing. Whether it was navigating the corporate world, learning how to lead teams, staying strong through sickness or stepping into ministry – I had people who mentored me, supported me, cheered me on and stood with me in faith.

I’m so grateful for each of those people. But they didn’t just stumble into my life, I had to partner with God to seek and nurture those relationships.

And there was someone in the Bible who did this really well – the Apostle Paul. Now, I’m going to take you on a journey, as we follow Paul’s footsteps through his missionary journeys.

Paul’s Testimony

If you’re not familiar with Paul, he was a Jewish leader back in the day and before he became Paul, he was Saul. [Note: I’ll use these names interchangeably]

Saul’s number one mission was to persecute Christians – and he was very good at it. Until he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to persecute more Christians at a town called Damascus.

Through that powerful encounter, Saul experienced a radical transformation and he was set on fire for Jesus. He then took the Gospel beyond the Jews and into the rest of the then-known world.

During his ministry, the Apostle Paul travelled more than 10,000 miles and established at least 14 churches. The Book of Acts records three separate missionary journeys that took Paul through Greece, Turkey, Syria – plus other regions we don’t even see on maps today.

And get this – Paul’s travels played a significant role in the formation and development of the early Christian church. He didn’t do that alone.

At each stage, God brought people to do the journey with Paul – people who played crucial roles in different seasons of Paul’s ministry. And God does the same with us today.

Dr Anthony George, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church says: “God has a way of bringing into our lives the people we need at just the right time.”

In the Bible, right from Genesis chapter 2, we see that from the beginning God intended for us to be in relationships. In verse 18, He says:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:18 NIV

But we don’t just need people, we need specific types of people in different seasons of our lives, just like the Apostle Paul. So let’s look at his missions and explore four things we can learn from the relationships God blessed Paul with…

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

#1: God sends people to equip and release you

We’ll start in Acts 9, moments after Saul encounters Jesus and loses his eyesight. The Lord visits a disciple named Ananias in a vision and tells him to go to Saul and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias protests a little (and who can blame him, Saul was known for killing Christians!) but obeys God. In Acts 9:17 we read:

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Acts 9:17-18 NIV

When Ananias came to Paul, Paul was a new Christian. His ministry that followed mainly came through receiving supernatural wisdom and revelation directly from God. But in order to receive those downloads from heaven, there had to be some form of impartation.

It’s a spiritual principle we see throughout the Bible and even today. Let me give you a few examples:

• Moses imparted anointing to Joshua
• Samuel anointed David to be king
• Elijah gave Elisha a double portion of his anointing
• Jesus anointed the Apostle Peter to build His Church
• Paul anointed Timothy for ministry (I’ll talk about this more later)

So, in the passage we just read, Jesus used Ananias to impart something to Saul and equip him for what God called him to.

If we go back to verse 17, Ananias says: Jesus has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Two important things happened here that I don’t want you to miss.

1. Jesus used Ananias to help Saul see – and something like scales fell off his eyes. This physical event is also symbol that Saul overcame his spiritual blindness. God opened his spiritual eyes to see and understand the truth.
2. Ananias was a vessel for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit – this means from that moment, Saul was empowered with the Spirit of God to do the work of God.

Second to Jesus, Paul was the most powerful and instrumental figure in the New Testament. And yet, he still needed someone to pour into him to then release him into his calling.

So, no matter how capable, gifted or anointed we may be, we need certain people (usually a spiritual parent) to pour or impart something to us as vessels of God.

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 1:11-12 ESV

You might be fresh to faith or still figuring out what being a Christian means. God has put someone – or multiple people – in your life to help open your spiritual eyes to understand the kingdom of God. Or even, people like Ananias, who will pray for you to be filled with the Holy Spirit so you can experience a greater measure of the power of God in your life.

I encourage you to ask God to show you who in your life has what you need to move you forward in His plans for you.

#2: God sends people who focus on your future, not your past

We’re going to jump a little further down in Act 9. Now, Saul has already begun preaching about Jesus in the synagogues and the Bible says he’s increasing in strength.

From verse 26:

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 

Acts 9:26-28 NIV

Saul had been zealously against Christians, and now he was a zealous Christian. So I get why the disciples weren’t so sure about him.

But Barnabas saw what others didn’t. He saw the genuine transformation. He saw a heart that wanted to serve Jesus, no matter the cost. He saw a servant chosen by God to bring the early Church into a new season.

Has God put someone like Barnabas in your life? Someone who sees what God sees. Someone who speaks life over you rather than death. Someone who doesn’t define you by your past but focuses on where God is taking you.

Barnabas validated Paul when others feared him. God used him to bring unity among the disciples. Barnabas took hold of the revelation that we’re better together and knew that if the disciples remained divided, they wouldn’t stand a chance against the opposition.

Jesus even said himself in Matthew 12:25:

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Matthew 12:25 NIV

With Barnabas’ backing, Saul got in the disciples’ good books, and they began to support his ministry. And we read in Acts 9:31 that their unity led to peace and increase!

Not long after this, the disciples began to spread the good news to the Gentiles (that’s the non-Jewish people), and they led many to Jesus. And the new partnership between Paul and Barnabas was a key catalyst for this. Now, in Acts 11:25-26 we read:

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 11:22-26 NIV

Then in Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit said to the disciples:

Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

Acts 13:2b NIV

Here’s something else I want you to catch…after Paul and Barnabas decided to partner, the disciples heard from the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas each saw something in the other that they needed – and they stepped out to do God’s work together. They didn’t wait for a burning bush moment or an angel encounter – they simply joined forces with another person full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

So, under the spiritual covering of the other disciples, they went from place to place, preaching the good news of the Gospel.

Until Acts 15 from verse 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.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

Acts 15:36-39a NIV

Paul and Barnabas went different ways after holding to opposing convictions. While God closed the door to this partnership, He opened another to a new partnership – Paul and Silas.

Photo by Andrew Moca on Unsplash

#3: God sends people for your breakthrough

Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 15:40-41 NIV

Notice that when Paul and Barnabas split up, Paul could have decided to just go out on his own. But he didn’t. He chose Silas.

That says something about who Silas was. His character, prophetic giftings and experience would’ve made him a suitable partner. Paul chose Silas based on the fruit of his life. This an example that you and I can follow when we’re choosing people to do life and ministry with.

And Jesus gives us some advice on this in Matthew 7:18-20:

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:18-20 NIV

Silas isn’t mentioned much in the Bible – he’s a bit of an unsung hero. But his presence and partnership were a key element for breakthrough in Paul’s ministry. There were gifts Silas had that Paul didn’t have, and there were gifts Paul had that Silas didn’t.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Paul was apostolic, while Silas was prophetic. Paul was a preacher, and Silas was a writer. Yet they both carried the anointing (the power of God) in their ministry. And we see that in the breakthroughs documented in Acts.

The story I want to focus on is found in Acts chapter 16. Paul and Silas are going to pray when they’re met with a slave girl who has a spirit that enables her to predict the future. She keeps following them for days until Paul becomes so annoyed that he commands the spirit to leave.

The slave girl’s owners are angry because they can no longer use her to make money. So they drag Paul and Silas to face authorities in the marketplace. The crowd beats them, they’re thrown into prison, chained up and heavily guarded.

Now, we’ll read from Act 16:25…

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

Acts 16:23-26 NIV

The jailer freaks out, finds Paul and Silas plus the other prisoners still there and immediately asks what he can do to get saved. They preach the gospel to the jailer and he and his entire household give their lives to Jesus and get baptised.

Powerful story, right?!

But think about this – if Paul hadn’t been so intentional about who he chose to take on the next leg of his journey, would this have been the outcome? Maybe. Maybe not. Thankfully, Paul’s partner Silas was a man who wasn’t afraid to be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.

He was right there praying and worshipping God with Paul. Their praise brought breakthrough. And not only that, but their actions also spoke volumes to the people around them, even bringing others to Jesus!

Who in your life is willing to pray and praise with you, even before you see the breakthrough? Who will stand with you in faith, regardless of whether you’re in the valley or on the mountain?

#4: God sends people to learn from you

In the background of Paul and Silas’ adventures, there was Timothy. Timothy was a half Greek, half Jewish young man who joined them on some of the journey. He was also the Apostle Paul’s spiritual son. You’ll catch that in a few scriptures, including:

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Philippians 2:22 NIV

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:17 NIV

So you can see that Timothy:

1. Served with Paul
2. Learned from Paul
3. Was sent by Paul to help disciple the Church

Paul had a heart for advancing the kingdom of God. So he embraced his role as a spiritual father and was willing to invest in others – to see the gospel carried through the generations.

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 NIV

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, he says:

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

God used Paul as an example for other believers to follow, including Timothy.

Now Paul could’ve shied away from this responsibility, thinking it was too much pressure. But he chose to agree with God and carry the weight of this responsibility.

Here are a few nuggets of gold that Paul taught Timothy, some of them might sound familiar…

• Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young (1 Timothy 4:12)
• Don’t neglect your gift (1 Timothy 4:14)
• The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10)
• Fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)
• All scripture is God-breathed, useful for teaching and training…(2 Timothy 3:16)

I could go on with all the words of wisdom Paul shared with Timothy – and with us because we get to read it in the Bible! But more than words, Paul also imparted something to his protégé:

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

2 Timothy 1:6 NIV

Paul recognised that he had something Timothy needed – so he imparted a greater measure of the power of God to him. He didn’t hold it to himself out of pride but shared it with Timothy and encouraged him to steward his anointing.

Is there something you carry that you’re meant to release to another person? Maybe there’s a “Timothy” in your life who God is calling you to walk with, mentor and invest in their future.

You never know the impact it could have not only on their life but also on all the people God uses them to reach. And all glory goes to God!

To recap, we’ve explored four different types of people God sends people in different seasons of life:

1. People to equip and release you
2. People who focus on your future, not your past
3. People for your breakthrough
4. People to learn from you

How kind is God in blessing us with these people?! But, as I said before, we can’t be passive about partnership. We need to stay alert to who God has put in our paths and actively nurture these relationships to become the people He has called us to be!