Tag: God’s Will

After fasting and praying

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 13:2–3 (ESV): 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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

EXPLAIN

Due to persecution, many believers were scattered, away from Jerusalem. A number of disciples went to Antioch of Syria and a strong church was started, a church that over time became a center, if not the center, of the church world in those days.

Paul had returned to his hometown of Tarsus, but Barnabus went looking for him. There, they taught many people for a year (Acts 11:26).

The influence of the believers in Antioch is seen in that they were first called Christians, a term of insult, there.

A prophet foretold a worldwide famine, and so the church of Antioch sent relief to the believers in Judea by Barnabus and Saul or Paul.

After they returned to Antioch, various leaders in the church were worshipping and fasting, when the Holy Spirit revealed to them that Barnabus and Saul/Paul should been sent out as missionaries. After praying and fasting, they laid hands on the men and sent them off.

APPLY

It was in the context of prayer and fasting that the Holy Spirit revealed to the church his desire to send Paul and Barnabus out as missionaries. But it was not enough to fast and pray to receive God’s direction. Rather, the believers continued to fast and pray as they sent them men to the work.

Do we regularly pray and fast enough that we are able to hear God’s call upon our lives and our church?

If God only revealed his will through prayer and fasting, would we ever hear from Him?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I desire to know your will and be guided by your voice. Help me to cultivate the discipline of both prayer and fasting so that my heart might be in tune to your voice. Amen.

Devoted to prayer

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 1:13–14 (ESV): 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

EXPLAIN

After Jesus’ ascension, the believers, about 120 people, began meeting in the upper room. As they waited for the Holy Spirit to come, they began to pray.

They devoted themselves to prayer.

During the prayer time, Peter was studying and meditating on scripture and realized that Judas Iscariot’s place among the Twelve needed to be filled.

Having replaced Judas, having prayed, the believers then waited in unity… and the Holy Spirit came upon them.

APPLY

Listening to some podcasts on disciple-making recently, the point has been made that Christians in the U.S., Christians in the Western world, know little about sustained, devoted prayer.

We tend to pray for a purpose. Once the purpose is accomplished, we think we no longer need to pray. Or, if our prayer is not answered, we look to other methods to accomplish our desires.

The purpose of prayer is to change our heart, mind, and will to be in conformity to God’s will. How might our lives and churches be different if we truly devoted ourselves to such prayer?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to take the next step in my life to becoming “devoted in prayer”. May I learn the joy of the sweet fellowship of prayer, of submission to your will, of living for your glory. Amen.