God’s work and our part
As 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.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away (Acts 13:2-3).
We have much to learn from the first missionary journey, which began in Acts 13. Its springboard was a thriving assembly in Antioch in Syria. The Christians wanted to know the mind and will of God. They did not come with preconceived ideas or plans but “ministered to the Lord”. The word “minister” in this verse is associated with serving God in prayer or worship. They were willing and freely serving in this way. These Christians knew what it was to serve God and they had experienced great blessing. But they were demonstrating a desire to understand further the mind and will of the Lord so that they could honour Him. It was with this spiritual desire they presented themselves to the Lord in prayer and fasting. They set aside their natural and legitimate appetites, to appeal to God to fulfil His will and purposes through them. They sacrificed physical interests for spiritual ones. The Holy Spirit responds to this ministry and separates Barnabas and Saul for a special work. Notice the fasting and praying did not stop when this call came. It continued as the servants prepared for their mission. Laying on hands (v. 3) expressed fellowship and oneness with the ministry of Barnabas and Saul. The prayers of Christians in Antioch would follow them throughout their journeys. How much we need to keep the Lord’s servants in our hearts and prayers.
Barnabas and Saul travelled from Antioch in Syria to sail to Cyprus. Barnabas was from Cyprus and knew the island well. God often uses our background, experiences and abilities. But these need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd in the wilderness. He was called by God as a deliverer, then as a shepherd, leading and caring for an emerging nation as they travelled through the wilderness. His skills as a shepherd, like those of King David, were used of God. We should never be reliant on our natural skills in God’s service, but they are part of our living sacrifice to God for Him to use under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We see God time and time again using Paul’s Jewish and Roman heritage to further the gospel. The first missionary journey began in a place Barnabas understood. He and Paul moved through the island before sailing to Perga on the Turkish coast. It is at this stage John returns to Jerusalem. This was a disappointment to Paul. We can disappoint each other. But sometimes, our expectations may exceed the spiritual development of those we want to encourage in the work of God. Thankfully it was an issue the Lord would resolve in His time (2 Tim 4:11).
In Turkey, we begin to see how God used the vast network of synagogues to bring the Gospel to the hearts of Jews and Gentiles. We should never forget that God starts His work before we are ever involved. He prepares the ground, shows us where to sow and reap, and He gives the increase. It is God’s work. But He has also made us His servants and equipped us to take advantage of the opportunities presented to us, including the history of the people we seek to reach. In the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, Turkey, Paul takes the Jews on a journey through their history, to lead them to Christ (Acts 13:16-41). Through his preaching, Jews and Gentiles are drawn to the Saviour. Today we still meet people who have a spiritual history. When our grandson was born, the next-door neighbour, a rough and ready biker, asked what he was called. When he was told he was called Caleb, the neighbour replied, “I remember the story of Joshua and Caleb from Sunday School.” How many people still have the seed of the word of God lying dormant in their hearts, waiting for a Barnabas, Paul or you and me to spring it to life, through God’s grace?
