Daily Bread 2011 - Acts 13
Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 13, we see Saul (Paul) and Barnabas sent out on their first missionary journey, along with John Mark (a cousin of Barnabas), who is their helper. Saul, who from this point on is called “Paul” (Roman/Greek background name vs. Hebrew background), and Barnabas are set apart for this mission by Church at Antioch through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. As we see the environment for the Holy Spirit to work is cultivated through the disciplines of fasting and worship. Then, the other leaders laid hands on them and sent them off. I.e. They went with the blessing and anointing of the community through prayer.
We also see that the Holy Spirit guided them on this first missionary journey to go to certain places, and the Holy Spirit filled Paul as he confronted Elymas, the sorcerer. At their teaching the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, came to faith. We see how important the Holy Spirit was in the calling, setting apart and guidance for Saul and Barnabas as they carried on the mission of Jesus to faraway places.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We see throughout the book of Acts the importance of the church gathering for prayer, fasting and worship, and how through this intimate connection with God the Father, the Holy Spirit is powerfully present. And it is the Holy Spirit’s power and authority (as it is the power and authority of the God the Father and the Son) that fuels the early church. Sometimes we wonder why the modern day church is not filled with as many powerful things happening as the early church, and maybe part of this is related to the role of the Holy Spirit and things the early Church did to create an environment for the Spirit to flourish. We are told in the bible to “not quench the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit is a person, like the Father and the Son, and we are to rely on the Spirit for all we do. Apart from the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, we can do nothing of eternal significance.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Send Your Spirit to empower our churches with the same authority and power the early church acted in accordance with. May Your Spirit start His work in us as we surrender ourselves in prayer to Your purposes in our generation. Amen.
1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 13, we see Saul (Paul) and Barnabas sent out on their first missionary journey, along with John Mark (a cousin of Barnabas), who is their helper. Saul, who from this point on is called “Paul” (Roman/Greek background name vs. Hebrew background), and Barnabas are set apart for this mission by Church at Antioch through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. As we see the environment for the Holy Spirit to work is cultivated through the disciplines of fasting and worship. Then, the other leaders laid hands on them and sent them off. I.e. They went with the blessing and anointing of the community through prayer.
We also see that the Holy Spirit guided them on this first missionary journey to go to certain places, and the Holy Spirit filled Paul as he confronted Elymas, the sorcerer. At their teaching the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, came to faith. We see how important the Holy Spirit was in the calling, setting apart and guidance for Saul and Barnabas as they carried on the mission of Jesus to faraway places.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We see throughout the book of Acts the importance of the church gathering for prayer, fasting and worship, and how through this intimate connection with God the Father, the Holy Spirit is powerfully present. And it is the Holy Spirit’s power and authority (as it is the power and authority of the God the Father and the Son) that fuels the early church. Sometimes we wonder why the modern day church is not filled with as many powerful things happening as the early church, and maybe part of this is related to the role of the Holy Spirit and things the early Church did to create an environment for the Spirit to flourish. We are told in the bible to “not quench the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit is a person, like the Father and the Son, and we are to rely on the Spirit for all we do. Apart from the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, we can do nothing of eternal significance.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Send Your Spirit to empower our churches with the same authority and power the early church acted in accordance with. May Your Spirit start His work in us as we surrender ourselves in prayer to Your purposes in our generation. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment