27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 12 20-25 THE WORD OF GOD GREW 17 Acts 12 25 The church at Antioch
📖 Acts 12:20-25
17 – Mon, 10 Feb 2025 – *The church at Antioch* - _Acts 12:20-25_ – THE WORD OF GOD GREW – _Acts 13:01-03_
_Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark._
Let us recollect the background for this verse. Paul, after his conversion had gone to Tarsus. _(Acts 9:30)_. Barnabas went searching for Paul, found him and brought him to Antioch. Both ministered with the church in Antioch for a whole year. It was here that the believers were first called, ‘Christians’. _(Acts 11:25-26)_
It was during this time, that prophets came from Jerusalem to minister to the church at Antioch. Agabus prophesied that there would be a severe famine throughout the whole world. _(Acts 11:27-28)_ The disciples in Antioch decided to send relief to the church in Jerusalem, and they sent this gift through Barnabas and Saul. _(Acts 11:29-30)_
In this period, James was killed, and Peter was arrested. Barnabas and Paul completed their assignment of bringing the blessing of the church at Antioch to the believers in Jerusalem. We can imagine the joy that this gesture would have brought to the church in Jerusalem. They were going through a traumatic time, and this gift was a blessing to them.
We can take a step back and see the way the Lord cares for His children. Even as we go through trials in life the Lord sends us His love and care through His messengers.
_II Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and *God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble*, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ._
*God comforts us so that we in turn can comfort others with the comfort that we have received from the Lord*. We are blessed to be channels of blessing. We see this principle being beautifully demonstrated by the churches of Antioch and Jerusalem. Will we pick up from them and ensure that we will continue to be a blessing to each other in the body of Christ?
Our focus of attention had been on what was taking place in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the hub for the word of God. The elders were in Jerusalem but now we can see the focus of attention for the growth of the Gospel moving to Antioch. We are witnessing the awesome ways of God.
As His people, we must always be sensitised to the move of God in history and we must be aligned with the ways of God. If we allow the material needs of life to dictate our choices and decisions in life, we will soon become insensitive to the move of God. This is what is happening with the majority of God’s people.
Will we repent and come back to the Lord and say, “Lord Jesus, I am sorry that my life choices are being driven by the material things of life. Please forgive me. Please make me sensitive to what you are accomplishing over history and make me a person aligned and in tune with You. Amen”
Antioch became the next hub, after Jerusalem, for the work of the Gospel because they were sensitive to the move of God. We can see the church of Antioch growing. _Acts 13:1-3 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (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." (3) Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away._
*Will we ask the Lord that all of our churches will be like the church at Antioch?*
The entire ministry of Paul began with the church at Antioch. It was the church at Antioch that dedicated and sent Barnabas and Paul away for the ministry of the Gospel. We know how the ministry of Apostle Paul has impacted church history. To a large extent, you and I are today walking with the Lord because of the writings and teachings of Paul in the New Testament. Paul became a powerful instrument in the hand of God for the Gospel because it was the church at Antioch that was his base from where his ministry began.
*Will each of our churches become hubs from where several Pauls will be sent out to minister the word of God and be aligned with God in creating history?*
The church in Antioch had the following qualities
- They studied the Scriptures
- They had a testimony before the world for the people of the world to call them, ‘Christians’.
- They welcomed prophets to minister to them.
- They discerned and acted on the message of the prophets
- They shared their material resources with other churches.
- They were faithful in their administration
- Believers could exercise their spiritual gifts in the church
- They exercised spiritual disciplines such as fasting and prayer
- They sensed the move of God and they sent Barnabas and Paul to the ministry
- They were one.
```Will we ask the Lord that we too will emulate the church at Antioch?```