God Speaks
Barnabas and Saul (aka Paul) on the First Missionary Journey
Verse of the Day: “Therefore, my friends, I [Paul] want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 325
We Respond
Acts 13
Reflection: Acts 13 is the record of the first organized sending of missionaries. Previously, individuals like Peter, Ananias, the persecuted believers, and Philip had gone and talked with people as the Holy Spirit directed. Now the Holy Spirit was using a group of seasoned leaders to send out men He had chosen to go in an organized manner. The first thing they had to deal with in Paphos on Cyprus was a Jewish false prophet who was opposing them and trying to turn the proconsul away from faith in Christ Jesus. Acts 13:13 tells us that John Mark, who had been travelling with Barnabas and Paul and helping them, left them at Perga in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem. We are not told why, but it was serious enough that Paul refused to take him on a subsequent mission trip. After this, Paul was invited by the leaders of the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia to speak to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in attendance. He delivered the message of the gospel by moving from the old and known (in this case the Jewish scriptures and history) to the new and unknown (the life, ministry, true identity, and saving work of Jesus Christ). At one point he referred to Isaiah 49:6 “. . . I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (NLT) This caused the Gentiles to rejoice and believe in Christ and the Jews to be so upset that they stirred up a mob of the leading citizens of the city who ran Paul and Barnabas out of town.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as head of the church, please guide our leaders as they worship, fast, and pray. Show them who they are to appoint and how they are to proceed with the next steps of Your plan. Holy Spirit, please make people of intelligence and position (like Sergius Paulus) curious about the word of God, but may people with wrong motives (like Elymas) be dealt with properly so that they cannot deter people from coming to faith in You. May those who are invited to speak in church be able to move from the old and known (in this case the Jewish scriptures and history) to the new and unknown (the life, ministry, true identity, and saving work of Jesus Christ). May as many as are appointed to eternal life believe and begin rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. May these new disciples be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit even when leaders are forced out and go on to minister in other places. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will pray and fast as God directs for wise and God-fearing leaders in every major area of culture: business, education, families, government (especially regarding elections), media, religion, sports, entertainment, and the arts.
- I will take significant time alone with God to be sure that I am clean and reconciled to Him.
- I will study God’s word and rely on the Holy Spirit so that I will be equipped to tell others about how they can have a new identity through the saving work of Jesus Christ.
- I will demonstrate in my day-to-day life what it means to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14
Reflection: In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas continued their missionary journey in Iconium. First, they went to the local synagogue and preached boldly about the grace of the Lord. The Lord showed His approval of their message by performing miraculous signs and wonders through them. Then, a mob of Gentiles and Jews were stirred up by their leaders which forced them to flee for their lives. They just went on to other towns and continued to preach the Good News. In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas met a man crippled from birth who had never walked. When Paul saw his faith, he said to him “Stand up!” The man jumped up and started walking. When the crowd realized what had happened, they began treating Barnabas and Paul like Greek or Roman gods, but Paul and Barnabas directed the worship back to the true and living God. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and again stirred up a mob which turned on Paul and stoned him. The believers gathered around him and prayed. God restored Paul, and he went back and appointed elders in the churches they had previously planted. Finally, Paul and Barnabas returned to their “sending church” and reported all that God had accomplished through them.
Prayer: Dear Lord who prayed for unity among Your followers, I see that this division among people who hear the truth goes back to at least the first century. Please help us face opposition courageously, faithfully, and graciously. Please use Your people to turn others from worshiping false gods to the true and living God who made the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that is in them. May those who have preached the truth of God in various places return and strengthen, encourage, and prepare believers for various trials and tribulations which will come. May emerging leaders be appointed with fasting and prayer. Help us to take time periodically to report and celebrate what You, Lord God, have done in and through us and the doors of faith You have opened for many people. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will join with Jesus in praying for unity among His followers.
- I will “take courage” and stand up for the truth (especially the truth of the gospel) wherever I see it under attack.
- I will faithfully and graciously point people away from false gods to the true and living God.
- I will gather with other believers to hear reports and praise God for what He is doing to expand His kingdom locally and around the world.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.