Today's passage starts with a beautiful picture of Christianity: a diverse array of believers knit together in God-honoring worship, prayer and fasting. We then see a great example of Christian obedience and humility toward fellow believers. This is a wonderful example of how we should be living our lives. Be on mission together, worshiping God, striving after His will, encouraging one another in holy obedience, and submitting to the Holy Spirit's leadership as He uses fellow believers. What follows such times will not always be the same, but will certainly be significant opportunities to serve God on mission, in active obedience to show love to one another and share His Good News to those who need to hear it.

May the word of God encourage us toward a more pious life in unity with one another, that we may be prepared for whatever spiritual warfare we encounter.

[Acts 13.1-12]

13.1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Who were at Antioch and what was the Holy Spirit's command to them?

+ What were they doing when the Spirit commanded them, and what was their response?

+ What did Barnabas and Saul (Paul) do?

+ What did the Proconsul want with Barnabas and Saul, and what did the false prophet magician try to do?

+ How did Saul (Paul) respond?

+ What happened to the magician?

+ How did the proconsul and why?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Are you able to follow the example of the prophets and teachers (previously exemplified by Jesus, as well) by spending time fasting and praying, either yourself or with fellow believers?

+ Is there guidance and instruction being given to you by Godly brothers/sisters that you should humbly follow like Barnabas and Saul/Paul?

+ Are there people working against the spread of God's word that you need to address directly?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?