27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 13 01-03 THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL 07 Acts 13 02 The epitaph of our lives
📖 Acts 13:01-03
07 – Fri, 21 Feb 2025 – *The epitaph of our lives* - _Acts 13:01-03_ – THE COMMISSIONING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL – _Romans 12:02_
_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."_
The church in Antioch ministered to the Lord in worship, praise, and adoration. They also fasted in the presence of the Lord. Fasting is to set ourselves completely in the presence of the Lord to adore Him. We focus entirely on Him and Him alone. This is the purpose of fasting.
While fasting traditionally involves abstaining from food, it can also extend to giving up other comforts or distractions to focus more fully on honouring God and other spiritual matters. _Daniel 10:2-3 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. (3) *I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth*, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled._ / _Luke 4:1-2 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (2) being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days *He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry*._
This is the testimony of Anna, the prophetess. She was devoted to God. _Luke 2:37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, *who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day*._
Fasting is our devotion to God. We are not impressing anyone. We seek God. _Matthew 6:16-18 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (17) But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (18) *so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father* who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly._
We have been discussing serving the Lord with worship. Fasting has to be a part of serving the Lord. We give ourselves entirely to Him. *Fasting, therefore, is at the very heart of our worship of God*.
God is the centre and the pivot of our lives. He is our sustenance. _I Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live._ / _Job 12:10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being._ / _Colossians 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist._ In Him we live and move and have our being.
Since God is the centre and pivot of our lives, our devotion to Him, with fasting, should be regular and normal for us. Today, we seem to have come to a stage where we need to be taught about fasting. Whereas, fasting before God to focus our worship of Him, should have come naturally from us.
Since we are highly distracted and cluttered, we need to come back to the Lord to worship Him with fasting. This was not the case with the church at Antioch. They were fervent in their love and worship of God. Fasting was an integral part of their lives of serving God. We, are not in that place, and we must be restored to our intimacy with God.
The following passage applies to us. _Joel 2:12-13 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, *"Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."* (13) So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm._
Fasting prayer, and worshipping God are necessary for us. _James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded._ / _Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (13) And you will seek Me and find Me, *when you search for Me with all your heart*._
It is in this place of worship and intimacy with God that the Lord shares His burdens with us and He commissions us for the ministry that He has for us to accomplish. This was what was taking place in the church at Antioch. They were in the right place in their walk with God, and the Lord revealed His plans and purposes for them and through them. _Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'_
Are we looking at our lives and the world around us from the perspective of God or is our focus of life determined by what we think will give us our safety and security in life? _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._
What will be the epitaph of our lives? We lived for our agenda or was it God’s?