27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 13 01-03 THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL 03 Acts 13 01 Fulfilling God’s calling
📖 Acts 13:01-03
03 – Mon, 17 Feb 2025 – *Fulfilling God’s calling* - _Acts 13:01-03_ – THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL – _Galatians 02:09_
_Acts 13:1 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._
The gifts of prophesy and teaching being exercised caused the church in Antioch to grow. _Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. (26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that *for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people*. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch._
How does the gift of prophesy cause the church to grow? _I Corinthians 14:24-25 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. (25) And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you._
It is the prophetic word that is preached to us, which we receive. _II Peter 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (20) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, (21) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit._
This prophetic word which we have received causes us to grow. _II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work._
Similarly, teaching too is critical for church growth. _Acts 2:42 And *they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine* and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers._
Teaching along with the other gifts causes the church to grow to the fullness of Christ. _Ephesians 4:11-13 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, (13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;_
The church in Antioch was blessed to have the full flow of the gifts and the exercising of the spiritual gifts caused the church to be powerful witnesses to Christ. They were called Christians by the public.
We now call ourselves and introduce ourselves to people as ‘Christians’. It should be the other way around. The community must see the exercising and the effect of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the church, and they should call us, ‘Christians’. They should be drawn to the church.
*This phenomenon of the exercising of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and its effect on the church was what caused people to be added to the church daily*.
_Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And *the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved*._ / _Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,_ / _Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and *increased in number daily*._
We pray for revival in the church, which is good but let us realise that *revival in the church is a choice*. We can choose to have revival by going back to the model of the early church where there was the exercising of the spiritual gifts and their effect.
God gives us spiritual gifts but they come along with our talents, abilities and strengths. It is the Lord who has created us with different potentials and He knows what will be the specific spiritual gifts that would best suit our profile. _Psalms 139:13-16 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. (15) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them._
It is the combination and exercising of spiritual gifts with our profile that helps us and others around us know what is the calling to which God is calling us.
_Galatians 2:9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, *perceived the grace that had been given to me*, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, *that we should go to the Gentiles* and they to the circumcised._
God had called Paul to minister to the Gentiles, and this call from God was affirmed by the church.
```When we faithfully exercise our spiritual gifts with our God-given potential, we will fulfil God’s calling for us.```