God is on the Move.

Hang with me - be patient while I set this up, won't you?

In the thriving church in Antioch, Luke records there were prophets and teachers amongst them.  Stop for just a minute - prophets and teachers?  Aren't these, prophecy and teaching, gifts of the Holy Spirit?  Paul is still called Saul (his Hebrew name) just now, and he certainly has not taught on this subject yet!1  He has not yet written to the Ephesians or the Corinthians to describe the plan for Christ followers to be individually gifted.  Fascinating - and yet, here in Antioch of Syria, the gifts are evident.  Hmmm. . .

In addition to Saul, there are four other church leaders: Barnabas, (the encourager - the guy who everyone wanted to be near!) Simeon called Niger (means black; came from Africa), Lucius of Cyrene (modern day Libya), and Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch).  'Prophet?  It would appear that God had endowed Manaen with the prophetic at a young age.  First- century Jewish historian Josephus tells us, 'When Herod was yet a schoolboy, he was one day greeted in the street by this Manaen, who patted him on the back, and saluted him as future king of the Jews. As Antipater, Herod's father, was only a military governor, the prediction seemed absurd. But Manaen was an Essene, one of the stalwart Puritans of that day, who had a reputation not only for austerity but for predictive powers 2 and the words induced the lad to make further inquiry. Manaen persisted, adding that the coming dignity would not be accompanied by righteous living, and that God's punishment would visit his later life. About fifteen years later (b.c. 37), when the first part of the prophecy was fulfilled, Herod sent for the old Essene, and ever after honoured him and his sect.3

So God had been preparing Manaen for years. 

Have you ever noticed that God is on the move

long before you and I have any knowledge of it?

~>Where might God be moving in and around your life?<~

So we have five leaders in the dynamic church of Antioch in Syria. Luke writes, "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." So, let's see-God already had a mission in mind for these two dynamos?  Apparently!

         so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.   Ephesians 2.10

 

It was in their worship and fasting and seeking God that the Holy Spirit spoke to them. Notice, it was not in a strategic planning meeting or missions meeting, but in asking God what he had in mind for them.   

 

So after they had fasted and prayed, [AGAIN] they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The leaders commissioned them, and asked God to anoint them with Holy Spirit power.  Note to self: when the leaders felt a stirring that God was wanting to do something in their community, they sought him out, first worshiping and then fasting; fasting and continuing to pray.

Can you spell i-n-t-e-n-t-i-o-n-a-l?

Sensing change in the air for yourself?

Have you sought God, and asked for his input?

Saul and Barnabas, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 

The Holy Spirit sent them out - it is the way the Christian church is still to operate today.  We are to be dependent on the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, God's purpose is to direct the individual lives and affairs of his children through the Holy Spirit.

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.  Notice - Saul started talking to them about the Lord right where they were - Jewish people in the synagogues.  And he spoke to them in a way they would understand.

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,  "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun."

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Everything changes here - from here on out, Saul does not use his Hebrew name but the Greek form of his name, Paul.

Heretofore, we have seen primarily Peter's teaching and leadership and ministry, and now Luke focuses on the launching of Paul-literally.

Paul knew his mission was to spread the Gospel by all means possible.  People are just as desperate now for good news of love and hope and forgiveness and eternal life.  Do you tell them or do you invite them where they can hear it and feel it?  

Yes, God created you for good works - are you doing them? 

Do you even know what they are? 

You will if you search his word, seek his presence and listen to him.

God is on the move!

 

 

1 - https://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit

2 - Josephus BJ ii. viii. 12

3 - www.Studylight.org