Acts 13 - Be a Backyard Missionary!



Click Here to Read Acts 13

 Acts 13 "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."

 We often hear of missionaries being sent out to preach the Good News to a group of people who have not yet heard it.  The sense of calling and the sense of a church setting apart and sending those called is described here in the sending of Saul and Barnabas by the church at Antioch.  Notice the church is known by the area where it is located.  The church is always called to reach people around its four walls in its community.  But it is also called to send people out beyond its locality.  Rather than an "either/or", it is a "both/and".  

 In this church there were both prophets and teachers.  Prophets spoke God's word in a timely fashion, communicating God's specific will, in alignment with scriptures.   Being a prophet was not always an easy job because they did not always preach what the people wanted to hear.  Teachers taught the word of God to help believers to learn how to apply the Good News in their lives and become mature.  You might say prophets preach the word, and teachers teach the word.  We need both.  Some think it was the through the prophets that the Holy Spirit spoke and told the church to set apart Saul and Barnabas.  But I think they also could have heard the Holy Spirit audibly and directly say this to them.  After all, we have seen how powerful the Holy Spirit is in these first few chapters in the book of Acts.  

 Notice the intentionality of the church to seek God's will through fasting and prayer.  They didn't presume God would drop out of the sky to tell them what to do, but they actively sought God by withdrawing from their daily lives (fasting) and asking him for direction (praying).  Through this process they discerned that they needed to set apart Saul and Barnabbas, and send and release them for the mission God had called them to.  You can imagine with how gifted and charismatic Saul and Barnabbas were, it would not have been easy to part with them.  But with the same obedience with which they sought God, they also obeyed him and sent the apostles with their blessing.  Saul and Barnabas would be an extension of the church's ministry in Antioch. They could celebrate all the people who would come Christ partly due their faithfulness to listen and obey God. 

 God is still calling, setting apart and sending people to proclaim the Good News today.  God may be sending you out.  And, it doesn't have to be to Africa or China.  God can send you out in your own community, to your neighbors, and unchurched friends or co-workers.  With the blessing of your church, God can call you to be a "backyard missionary".  As you pray and seek God He will communicate his will to you with the help of the prophets and teachers in your church!  

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