COMMISSIONED BY THE
HOLY GHOST
Memorise: As they ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
separated me, Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. Acts 13:2
Read: Acts 13:1-4, 13 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.
2 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.
3 And
when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them
away.
4 So
they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from
thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Bible in one year: Mark 3:13-5:20, Job
17:6-18:4
MESSAGE!!!
Fasting is a biblical
practice whose interpretation in the Old Testament was slightly different from
what it was in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, in addition to being a
means of prayer and supplication, fasting is also synonymous with mourning,
shame and lamentation. The practice typically took place when a crisis or other
significant event became more important than eating. However, the New Testament
presents fasting purely as a means of prayer and supplication of mourning,
shame or lamentation. As a matter of fact, Jesus taught us to fast without
giving neighbours any clues, which means we should look clean and happy as
always while fasting.
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a
sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men
to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to
fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in
secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:16-18
The above passage
forms the basis and model for fasting in the New Testament Church. Fasting is
therefore a means of seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention in
human affairs. It is such a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare that Jesus His
disciples that some level of miracles may not be possible without adding
fasting to our prayers. That is probably the reason why the apostles of Jesus
Christ took fasting and prayer seriously after the physical departure of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Right from Chapter one of the book of Acts, fasting began to
feature in the activities of the disciples, and each time, God responded with
great miracles, signs and wonders.
Fasting was especially
used by the apostles whenever they wanted God to commission them or needed
special instruction or direction. Obviously, the apostles of old and the church
at Antioch spent quality time in worship, fasting and prayer, earnestly seeking
the Lord’s will as they opened themselves to divine direction. Their effort was
honoured by God through the power of the Holy Ghost as they received answers to
their request by physical manifestation of the power of God in their midst. The
apostles would not have been able to do much without the commissioning power of
the Spirit of God.
Prayer Point
Sweet Holy Spirit, please don’t let me do
anything without your
direction and commission in the name of Jesus.
0 Comments
Please drop a comment. God bless you!