Sunday we flipped over to Acts and met up with Barnabas and Saul. It's been 12 years since Jesus ascended to the Throne and word of His death, burial, and resurrection has spread from Jerusalem to the surronding Gentile cities. Peter's preaching to the Gentiles and the subsequent filling of the Holy Spirit, gave boldness and power to all those preaching the gospel!
In Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul, now called Paul in v. 9, are seperated for ministry. After returning to Antioch, the Bible mentions five prophets and teachers that were gathered to pray and fast. It's then that the Holy Spirit set the pair apart for ministy. The five mentined continued to pray and fast and laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them forth in obedience to the call.
In my preparations for Sunday, I was drawn to the fact that praying and fasting opened them up to hear from the Holy Spirit and also gave them the power for obedience. It confirms to me that our journey should be covered in prayers. Seeking His will and His power should will always be a priority in a faithful walk with the LORD! However, I missed something in this event. The laying on of hands for the ministry. Barnabas and Saul were called; yet, the men around them joined them in praying and blessed them by the physical touch. I won't pretend to understand exactly what occurs in the Spiritual realm when we lay our hands on another person while praying for them. I do know this, touching of another person is comforting, it's an agreement, it's uniting, and it's Biblical!
The duo left Selucia by boat and went to Cyprus. My question through the week was, "why did they go to this island when there were plenty of opportunties on the main land?" North, south, east, and west of Antioch would have given the countless times to share the gospel. But, that was not God's plan for them. God's plan included Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who desired to hear the Word of God. They continued through the island of Cyrus and ended up in a meeting with him, the Proconsul of the island. This Roman ruler wanted to hear the Gospel and the only thing standing in his way was a sorcerer who feared the Proconsul turning to the faith. Here's a truth...The enemy does not want us to know the truth! He will use any means necessary to prevent use for hearing the WORD! Trust me!
Paul wasn't having it. And proceeded to boldly rebuke the man and his father, the devil. Oh, to have the boldness to stand up to sons of the liar, the evil one, the father of darkness, and cast down anything that stands in the way of TRUTH! Where did this power come from? It came as a result to the praying, fasting, and laying on of hands before the journey even started!
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