1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:1-3
Acts 13:1-3
This is another example of God’s people establishing worship (ministering to the Lord) and then having evangelism flow from that. The book of Exodus reports that Moses and the recently delivered Israelites spent about 15 months building the tabernacle and developing the worship practices the Lord prescribed to them. Then they went forth.
Here the teaching/preaching leaders are worshipping when the Holy Spirit directed them to send Barnabas and Saul to minister to the world at large. This was of course the inception of all the churches that they would establish throughout Asia Minor. I believe this is the normal pattern we should follow today. I believe Jesus confirms this with His teachings: So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
Our first priority is loving God with our complete person. Next we are to be responsible for our own lives and finally we are to include our neighbor in our planning with the same care we give ourselves. When we get this pattern establish then the church grows around us. Paul, Barnabas, and the rest were worshipping, they were together watching out for the church, and then the Holy Spirit sent them out to work salvation among the rest of the world.
Worshipping, Fellowshipping, Witnessing,
Pastor Jason
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