How Does the Holy Spirit Speak? Acts 13:1-3










13 1 Now 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.


Remember it was at the church in Antioch that the believers were called "Christians".  This is also near the area where Saul was converted on the way to Damascus.  The passage says there were in the church both "prophets" and "teachers". These are two of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to Jesus disciples at Pentecost.  A prophet was someone who brought a word from God.  God used them as messengers in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament they brought words of exhortation and encouragement which built up the body of Christ.  Teachers explained how the stories and prophecies from Old Testament all pointed to Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. Teachers helped the believers to apply God's word to their everyday lives so they could become mature and effective for God's work in the world.    

 But now was the time for the church to "go out".  As the church was worshipping and fasting the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work for which I called them to."  You might ask how the Holy Spirit spoke?  The most plausible explanation is that they spoke through the prophets.  After all that is how spiritual gifts operate.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to do and say the things God would have us say and do.  

 In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul explains the nature of the gift of prophecy, 

 "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy." 

 The Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity.  The Spirit speaks.  He speaks through men and women of God who faithfully transmit the message God has laid on their hearts and minds.  These prophecies can happen in a sermon, a bible study, or prayer meeting.  Like the early church we need to encourage the gift of prophecy in people.  Like any spiritual gift it is to be used to glorify God and build up the body of Christ for the work of mission and minstry.   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more