SENT BY GOD
SENT BY GOD
Today we come to a new season and direction of the early Church. From chapter 13 to the end of the book of Acts, we see the launching of the ministry of Apostle Paul and the spread of the gospel to mostly Gentile world. This is also where we see Saul being referred to Paul for the first time (Acts 13:9). It was not so much of a name change but a new focus. We will also see a shift from Jerusalem to the city of Antioch which will now be the new missionary base to reach the Gentiles.
Many ministries abound today. Sometimes you begin to wonder who sent some of them. In our age, it has been highlighted by the TV and internet. The “TV evangelist” has become something of ridicule. The early church did not have this reputation and the ministers were ordained and sent by the Holy Spirit of God. Paul and Barnabas were sent by God. Has God sent you and me and to whom? They will also deal with false prophets and deceivers along the way and we must do the same.
Acts 13: 1-12
1In 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. 2While 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." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who 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. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then 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? 11Now 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. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. The Church at Antioch was a new and mixed congregation. There were Jews and Gentiles and there also various ministers. Note the two categories – prophets and teachers. Paul would later expand this list in 1 Cor. 12: 27-31 and Rom. 12:8 (apostles, prophets, teachers, givers, administrators, etc). There is room for everyone in the body of Christ. We can all fit at least in one category. What is your gifting from God and are you using it for His glory?
2. Dr. Luke, the writer of Acts by the Holy Spirit kept the emphases and importance of prayer in the Church. In the previous chapter 12, we saw the church praying for the release of Apostle Peter. Now we see the church in Antioch “worshiping” and “fasting”. We get the picture that prayer was not the thing they did after they had done every other thing. They first prayed. How different from us this days. We would first google for answers on the internet; then call a few folks to complain; then give our money for someone to pray for us and expect a miracle.
3. Did you notice the forgotten word “fast” and “fasting”? No wonder we now have an over weight congregation of saints. To us these days, fasting is a suggestion. When was the last time you fasted? I really enjoy fasting for the times I have done so. I need to be more regular but not religious in my fasting. Let’s not make it another “method” for “break-through”. For what it is, fasting is a time alone with God to cultivate a discipline of sacrifice and letting go. We are called to be disciples. A disciple is a disciplined one. Fasting helps instill discipline. Fast from food and fast from credit card purchases. Try it and let’s to say no to our cravings.
4. The Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Someone must have heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and I believe the prophets in their midst must have heard and proclaimed what they heard. They are being set apart not to make name for themselves and brag about their following but Paul and Barnabas were set apart for the “work’ which God had called them. Until you and I hear clearly from the Holy Spirit we will not be able to get to the work which God has called us. We will be groping and trying this and that. Have you found your niche for the work God has called you? Trying praying and fasting and involving other believers to pray with you. Your “work” may be where you least expect it to be. For Paul, it was not glamorous and often dangerous as we will see in later chapters.
5. Paul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit”. When you trace their journey, it was not all planned out which city and town to go to right from the beginning. They were led and moved around in faith not knowing exactly where. It is a walk of faith when the Holy Spirit is leading. Let’s not wait to get the entire picture before we take the first step into what God called us to do for Him. God who knows where we are heading will lead us to the expected end. You only need to know for sure that the Holy Spirit has sent you on the way.
6. Paul and Barnabas encountered all kinds. Here comes the false prophet and sorcerer (vs. 6-12) – a distraction to people hearing the true gospel 8”But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith” It is still the same in our day. There are many sorcerers and false prophets pointing to the latest short cuts and latest method of “receiving” and being “successful”. Unfortunately, they are now in the Church and often hard to distinguish. Listen to Paul call it what it is and it’s method of operation, "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”. Let’s not be deceived especially in the church by the “smooth talkers”.
7. There were results of Paul’s preaching. 12”When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord”. Just like Paul, we need to deal with sorcerers and false prophets so that people will come to believe in Jesus. False prophets must be “blinded” and exposed. The world will never take us serious when they see that we are even being deceived in our so called churches. Why should they believe in our Jesus and join the deception?
Have you been sent and by whom and to whom? Do not be deceived along the way. Lord, send me and show me to whom! Keep me away from deception and grant me wisdom to discern false prophets and deal with them. Amen.
Today we come to a new season and direction of the early Church. From chapter 13 to the end of the book of Acts, we see the launching of the ministry of Apostle Paul and the spread of the gospel to mostly Gentile world. This is also where we see Saul being referred to Paul for the first time (Acts 13:9). It was not so much of a name change but a new focus. We will also see a shift from Jerusalem to the city of Antioch which will now be the new missionary base to reach the Gentiles.
Many ministries abound today. Sometimes you begin to wonder who sent some of them. In our age, it has been highlighted by the TV and internet. The “TV evangelist” has become something of ridicule. The early church did not have this reputation and the ministers were ordained and sent by the Holy Spirit of God. Paul and Barnabas were sent by God. Has God sent you and me and to whom? They will also deal with false prophets and deceivers along the way and we must do the same.
Acts 13: 1-12
1In 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. 2While 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." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who 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. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then 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? 11Now 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. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. The Church at Antioch was a new and mixed congregation. There were Jews and Gentiles and there also various ministers. Note the two categories – prophets and teachers. Paul would later expand this list in 1 Cor. 12: 27-31 and Rom. 12:8 (apostles, prophets, teachers, givers, administrators, etc). There is room for everyone in the body of Christ. We can all fit at least in one category. What is your gifting from God and are you using it for His glory?
2. Dr. Luke, the writer of Acts by the Holy Spirit kept the emphases and importance of prayer in the Church. In the previous chapter 12, we saw the church praying for the release of Apostle Peter. Now we see the church in Antioch “worshiping” and “fasting”. We get the picture that prayer was not the thing they did after they had done every other thing. They first prayed. How different from us this days. We would first google for answers on the internet; then call a few folks to complain; then give our money for someone to pray for us and expect a miracle.
3. Did you notice the forgotten word “fast” and “fasting”? No wonder we now have an over weight congregation of saints. To us these days, fasting is a suggestion. When was the last time you fasted? I really enjoy fasting for the times I have done so. I need to be more regular but not religious in my fasting. Let’s not make it another “method” for “break-through”. For what it is, fasting is a time alone with God to cultivate a discipline of sacrifice and letting go. We are called to be disciples. A disciple is a disciplined one. Fasting helps instill discipline. Fast from food and fast from credit card purchases. Try it and let’s to say no to our cravings.
4. The Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Someone must have heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and I believe the prophets in their midst must have heard and proclaimed what they heard. They are being set apart not to make name for themselves and brag about their following but Paul and Barnabas were set apart for the “work’ which God had called them. Until you and I hear clearly from the Holy Spirit we will not be able to get to the work which God has called us. We will be groping and trying this and that. Have you found your niche for the work God has called you? Trying praying and fasting and involving other believers to pray with you. Your “work” may be where you least expect it to be. For Paul, it was not glamorous and often dangerous as we will see in later chapters.
5. Paul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit”. When you trace their journey, it was not all planned out which city and town to go to right from the beginning. They were led and moved around in faith not knowing exactly where. It is a walk of faith when the Holy Spirit is leading. Let’s not wait to get the entire picture before we take the first step into what God called us to do for Him. God who knows where we are heading will lead us to the expected end. You only need to know for sure that the Holy Spirit has sent you on the way.
6. Paul and Barnabas encountered all kinds. Here comes the false prophet and sorcerer (vs. 6-12) – a distraction to people hearing the true gospel 8”But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith” It is still the same in our day. There are many sorcerers and false prophets pointing to the latest short cuts and latest method of “receiving” and being “successful”. Unfortunately, they are now in the Church and often hard to distinguish. Listen to Paul call it what it is and it’s method of operation, "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”. Let’s not be deceived especially in the church by the “smooth talkers”.
7. There were results of Paul’s preaching. 12”When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord”. Just like Paul, we need to deal with sorcerers and false prophets so that people will come to believe in Jesus. False prophets must be “blinded” and exposed. The world will never take us serious when they see that we are even being deceived in our so called churches. Why should they believe in our Jesus and join the deception?
Have you been sent and by whom and to whom? Do not be deceived along the way. Lord, send me and show me to whom! Keep me away from deception and grant me wisdom to discern false prophets and deal with them. Amen.
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