Devotional #22
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away” Acts 13:1-3.
The Holy Spirit spoke to all five of them who were ministering unto the Lord,
asking them to separate Paul and Barnabas for the work He prepared for them. The Holy Spirit is a person who communicates the message directly to other persons, about what He wants and how they should do. When believers minister unto God with an earnest desire to do His will, the Holy Spirit will reveal His
will. He also prepares the places, and people, and work ahead of them.
At the time of Saul’s conversion on the way to Damascus, the Lord told Ananias
that Saul was a chosen vessel to be a witness before the Gentiles, Kings, and children of Israel (Acts 9:15). The Lord took him to Arabia and Jerusalem and Tarsus and finally brought to Antioch by Barnabas. They both were in Antioch for more than two years ministering unto the Lord and edifying the saints.
The Holy Spirit spoke to Prophets and teachers that they should separate Saul and Barnabas for the work He called them. Saul’s conversion to present call by the Holy Spirit for the work is about eight or nine years and the Lord was preparing him to fulfill what He said about him at the time of his conversion. First, the plan was revealed and prepared and then called for His broader work than what Saul was doing at Antioch. Lord executes His plans in an orderly manner in the lives of His chosen vessels.
As they ministered unto the Lord, it appears as if the Holy Spirit spoke with all of
them at the same time with the same message. Ministering unto the Lord prepares His servants to hear His voice diligently. It is a privilege and a preparation for His purpose.
They also fasted which made them set aside anything connected with flesh and self and preparation to do the will of the Lord. When we are truly baptized in one Spirit, He brings us to hear the same message by the Spirit because the spiritual sense of hearing His voice is quickened. if needed at the same time to avoid any confusion. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” 1Cori 14:33. This is the work of the Holy Spirit because of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Separate me, Barnabas, and Saul, Natural affections play in our normal lives and
brings us to move closer to one another especially when we are functioning in one place in the same capacity. Separation is the opposite of it and natural man may not like it. The Greek word for “Separate” is “Aphorizo”, which means “To mark off by boundaries or Tookaway”.
Here the word Aphorizo is used as if there is a force required to bring the separation to keep Barnabas and Saul away from what they are doing now. The force might be because they have a hesitancy to agree with the Spirit for the Separation. But the Spirit made them also see what the greater effect caused by the separation in His work.
This has broken all natural affections and made them yield to the voice of the Spirit. It is always a blessing to have brothers in the assembly who can hear the voice of the Spirit along with us either to do His work together or separate for the greater plans and work of God in Unity. Maintaining the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace even in Separation caused by God to fulfill His plans for others’ blessing. When we leave our focus from self-centered lives to Lord’s focus and His work, His Kingdom will expand.
And when they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them, they sent
them away (Acts 13:3). They continued in fasting after the Spirit to spoke with them. This time it enabled them to execute what the Spirit had spoken with them. Fasting in these three verses had a double effect that is to hear His voice and to do His will. Recognizing the need of the Lord and gathering together for
fasting and praying to know His will and do His will is a great armor given to us.
They laid hands on them, showing their oneness with the Spirit’s call and their oneness with the brothers are about leave. It is not separation but agreeing to the call of the Spirit. Simply saying we are one with you though the Spirit is taking you to other places for other work. They sent them away, in other words, they released them or set them free to be available for the Lord.
Great missionary work began as the Holy Spirit led the chosen vessels to the Gentile lands. The work began in Acts 13 still being continued by the same Spirit and the word was spread all over the world. God-centered assemblies released the chosen vessels to be led by the Spirit to far-flung places to preach and teach and raise the testimonies of the Lord even now.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). God’s work will continue in this manner till His Son appears in Glory. Blessed is the one who has sensible ears to hear the voice and the heart to do His will.
May Lord prepare us to have both, circumcised ears to hear and hearts to do.
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