Week 9 Day 4 Devotions
The Church in Mission
“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." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2&3
In the first three verses of Acts 13, the beginning of Paul’s great missionary thrust into the wider Mediterranean world begins. This will become what is known as his first missionary journey and by verse 49 we read that the word of the Lord spread everywhere in that region. In the midst of being both accepted by some and persecuted by others, the missionaries convert many to Christ, churches are planted and leadership structures are put in place. In Acts 14:23 we read: “and when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” In his comments on verse 23, Wesley says of these new converts: “So soon can God enable even a babe in Christ to build up others in the common faith.” It’s an exciting period in the life of the church and the whole endeavour, this first missionary journey, is conceived and birthed in prayer and fasting.
What missionary journey are you on? Where is your mission field? (These questions can be answered by the church, the family, as well as the individual). The verses before us highlight how important worship, prayer and fasting are in a mission oriented person and church. If you don’t know what your mission focus should be, God can reveal it to you through worship, prayer and fasting. Moreover, He can use these same means to equip you for the work He calls you to. What are you waiting for?
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky;
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will. (309)
