Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:1-3
The church in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophets and teachers of all that Jesus had taught His Disciples, now Apostles. A list is given by Luke of some of them. Among the ones named are Manaen, a friend of Herod the Tetrarch, whom we just learned was killed by an angel of the Lord, and Saul, who would soon be named Paul and he would become the greatest Apostle to the Gentiles the church of Christ has ever had, a man blessed of God and gifted with the finest education a Jewish Pharisee could ever have. All of these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting and praying. While they were praying and fasting, the Holy Spirit “spoke” to them saying, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for the work which I have for them.” The church members continued to pray and fast a while longer. Then, the ones there, praying and fasting, gathered together and laid hands upon Barnabas and Saul to pray for them specifically and to consecrate them to the work the Holy Spirit had set them aside to do. After this, the church sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey to preach the gospel, receive converts, baptize them and, teach the new “Christians” all that Jesus had taught His disciples during His earthly ministry. In the coming devotionals, we will see the Holy Spirit at work in Barnabas’ and Saul’s lives to establish churches in Asia Minor, Greece and southern Europe. Their work for the Lord was the beginning of the Gentiles hearing and receiving the gospel message. These early Gentile converts were our ancestors! Praise God for His grace, mercy and, love extending salvation to many peoples. Pray today for missionaries who continue to preach the gospel and train new converts to become mature in their faith. Source:
S C Ball June 30, 2023
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