27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 13 01-03 THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL 10 Acts 13 02 Separated for the ministry
📖 Acts 13:01-03
10 – Mon, 24 Feb 2025 – *Separated for the ministry* - _Acts 13:01-03_ – THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL – _Acts 14:26-28_
_Acts 13:2 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."_
There are two levels of separation. As the people of God, we are separated from the world. _John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but *I chose you out of the world*, therefore the world hates you._
We are the people of God, chosen out of the world and separated for Him. This separation began with Abraham. _Genesis 12:1-3 Now *the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you*. (2) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."_
From Abraham, this separation flowed to the people of Israel. _Exodus 3:15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: *'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'*_
As a nation, the people of Israel have been set apart for God. _Leviticus 20:26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, *and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine*._
The people of Israel were to be a kingdom of priests unto God. _Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, *if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people*; for all the earth is Mine. (6) And *you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation*.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."_
Their separation as a people was caused by their obedience to God. By their obedience, they were to demonstrate God's greatness and glory to the nations of the world.
In Christ, the church is also the children of Abraham. _Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And *if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise*._
The same separation that applied to the people of Israel now applies to the church. _I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, *that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light*; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy._
This is the general separation for us as His people from the world and separated unto God. We are in the world but we do not conform to the ways of the world. _Romans 12:2 And *do not be conformed to this world*, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God._
We have been chosen by God to be holy before Him. _Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,_
From among us as the people of God, separated from the world and separated unto God, there is a second level of separation. This separation is when He separates each of us in the church for His specific tasks. To fulfil these specific tasks the Lord gives us gifts. _Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints *for the work of ministry*, for the edifying of the body of Christ,_
Barnabas and Paul were separated for a specific task by the Holy Spirit. We must all continue in the first separation so that we can be ready and prepared when He calls us for the second separation. *Even though we may branch off into our different ministries to which the Lord would call us, we still belong to the primary separation of being the church of Jesus in the world*.
_Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to *Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed*. (27) Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. (28) So they stayed there a long time with the disciples._
They continued to minister in the church of Antioch, where they were separated for a specific task. _Acts 15:35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also._