Devotional #24
“So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed…sailed to Cyprus” Acts 13:4. “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,” Acts 13:9 “And the disciples were filled with Joy, and with the Holy Ghost” Acts 13:52 “But when the comforter… even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me”, “And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning” John 15:26-27
When the Holy Spirit asked the prophets and teachers at Antioch Church to separate Barnabas and Saul for His work, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them away. It appears in Acts 13:3 as if Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen, the brethren in the assembly at Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul away. However, Acts 13: 4 affirms that “they were sent by the Holy Spirit”.
The call for the separation of Barnabas and Saul and the preparation of the hearts of prophets and teachers, while they were fasting and praying and sending them away, is the work of the Holy Spirit. So we read that they were sent by the Holy Spirit. Here we see a clear principle of how, in the first-century church, the Holy Spirit set apart His workers, sent, and led them to the unreached for the expansion of His kingdom.
Sadly, this cardinal principle of how the workers should be sent to His work is not practiced the way it should be with the passing of time. More and more human inventions and man-made means and methods have been employed to send the workers for His work. We did not notice the call for any contributions to foot the expenses of the workers in the first-century church. They trusted the Lord for
their provisions throughout their missions because they were sent by the Holy Spirit. Let us be careful to hear what the Holy Spirit says when we are engaged in serving the Lord as the Church at Antioch. What joy and peace, both, the people who are sending out, and those who are going for His work, will enjoy!
Paul and Barnabas as they began their preaching, the first opposition they faced was from the child of the devil the Elymas in the isle of Paphos. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and said “And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the Sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand” Acts 13:11.
The Holy Spirit sending for the work of the Lord also equips His servants with all the power that the Lord manifested through His resurrection by defeating the powers of darkness. Paul filled with the Holy Spirit could boldly face the Elymas and say that he would not see sun for a season. It confirms to both the hearers and proclaimers that the Power of the Lord was with them and was being used as needed either in preaching or in wonderous acts because of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Similarly, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit could speak boldly with the rulers and elders of Israel, Acts 4:8. What a blessing it is for His workers, not only do they carry the experience of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to give peace in facing of opposition but also, filled by the Holy Spirit to use the power of the Lord!
Blessed are those who carry both these experiences.
Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down Acts 13:14. In Pisidia they shared the word of God on two sabbath days and there were many Jews and Proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:43), And when the Gentiles heard this,…and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48).
In their first missionary journey the beautiful picture of Jews, Proselytes, and gentiles believing in the same Lord, is seen. “And the disciples were filled with Joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52). Another remarkable thing is the believing hearers were filled with the Holy Spirit. These signs are confirmation to those who are preaching, the Lord is with them and leading them to bring people to believe in the Lord. The believers being filled with the Holy Spirit upon hearing the word of God is a precious experience.
We do not see this happening present times the way it had happened in the first century. Leading of the Spirit, prayers of upholding brethren at Antioch, and sincerity of the servants are some of the essential elements to make these joyful occurrences happen.
Paul and Barnabas after completing their work at Antioch in Pisidia, came to Iconium and they both went into the synagogue of the Jews and preached the word of grace. A great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. Unbelieving Jews instigated the Gentiles and polluted their minds with evil. The Lord was working to bring people to know the truth while the enemy simultaneously worked to mislead the minds of the people by using unbelieving Jews.
Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time in Iconium despite this situation. They preached the word of His grace with much freedom, unobstructed, and with great power because the Lord gave testimony to their preaching.
Paul and Barnabas also did signs and wonders which were authorized/granted by the Lord Himself. The Lord did the preaching, signs, and wonders by filling Paul and Barnabas with the Holy Spirit. “For it is not ye who speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you” (Matthew 10:20).
The Holy Spirit testifies about the Lord by filling the Lord’s servants and giving them the power to preach and act with power in their ministry (John 15:26). His servants testify about the Lord and bring salvation and joy of the Lord to the hearers (John 15:27). The proof of the collective testimony, by the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and His servants Paul and Barnabas, was that the hearing believers were also filled with the Holy Spirit.
Working together, carrying a joint testimony, by the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and His servants, is a tremendous blessing to the work, the workers, and hearers alike.
Lord may help us to come into this blessed experience.
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