Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Barnabas and Saul were the first two missionaries sent by God to start new churches. All the other men who went to various places throughout the Roman Empire at that time did so because of the persecution they were under. Not so with Saul and Barnabas. In their case, the Holy Spirit specifically called them to this mission. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)
Saul and Barnabas were not taken by surprise because the Holy Spirit had already been speaking to both of them in regard to this mission work. They immediately agreed, but they didn’t just set out without a specific direction. Rather, the whole Church fasted and prayed for the Lord’s direction first.
The Holy Spirit has the Mind of God and will impart to us that which God wants us to know. Consider this Passage of Scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by the Apostle Paul. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
God calls all of His children to be Kingdom minded. This means putting the Kingdom of God first above all else. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
What the Holy Spirit called Saul and Barnabas to do had never been done before. Just because something has not been done before or is out of the ordinary does not mean it is not from God. Consider what the Lord called Noah to do.
The world may call you foolish. That’s okay because they do not have the capacity to understand spiritual things. When we stay in constant communication with God, the Holy Spirit will give us specific directions and instructions and we, as born again believers, have the ability to spiritually discern them to be of God.
Seek the Will of God for your life. Pray, fast, and study the Word. He will reveal to you exactly what He wants you to do. Do not bother to seek the approval of man when God has already given you Divine Approval. Just be obedient to what God is saying and always be Kingdom Minded.
God uses Kingdom Minded people to……..….turn the tide
Here I am, Lord. Use me. Doreen
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