“他们事奉主,禁食的时候,圣灵说,要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗,去作我召他们所作的工。” - 徒 13:2
在使徒行传1:8,耶稣告诉祂的门徒,他们要“在耶路撒冷,犹太全地,和撒玛利亚,直到地极”为祂作见证。在使徒行传第13章中,安提阿的教会,包括扫罗和巴拿巴,都祷告等候神的指引。耶稣基督的教会蒙召要聆听圣灵的指引,求问祂说:“你要我们接下来做什么?”
安提阿教会在禁食和祷告中已经预备好,他们渴望听到主的命令并且顺服。神的灵以一个明确的指令回应了他们:“要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗,去作我召他们所作的工。”
他们不是去做自己的或教会的宣教项目。他们要做的是圣灵差遣的工作。他们需要继续聆听圣灵要他们做什么,以及在哪里做。
你和我必须要有一颗顺服圣灵的心。我们需要对神的圣灵为我们所定的计划持开放态度,好使神能在我们的生命中工作,并藉着我们的生命作工。圣灵在寻找我们,好使耶稣的工作继续下去。
祷告
慈爱的神,世人都是蒙你所爱的。你藉着你的灵呼召我们为你的真理作见证。我们祈求你赐给我们清楚的指引。阿们。
使徒行传 13:1-3
1在安提阿的教会中有几位先知和教师,就是巴拿巴和称呼尼结的西面、古利奈人路求、与分封之王希律同养的马念并扫罗。
2他们侍奉主、禁食的时候,圣灵说:“要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗,去做我召他们所做的工。”
3于是禁食、祷告,按手在他们头上,就打发他们去了。
Make Yourself Available
"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.'" - Acts 13:2
In Acts 1:8 Jesus told his disciples they would be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In Acts 13 the church at Antioch, including Saul and Barnabas, prayerfully waited for direction from God. The church of Jesus Christ is called to listen for the Spirit's leading as we ask, "What do you want us to do next?"
The Antioch church was fasting and praying in a position of readiness, eager to hear the Lord's orders and to obey them. And the Spirit of God responded with a clear directive: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
They were not to go on their own mission project, nor the church's. They were to do the work of the Holy Spirit. They needed to continue to listen for what the Spirit would tell them to do and where to do it.
You and I must have a heart of submission to the Spirit. We need to be open to the plans that the Spirit of God has for us so that God can work in and through our lives. The Spirit is looking for us to continue the work of Jesus.
Prayer
Loving God, each person in this world is an object of your love. And by your Spirit you call us to bear witness to your truth. Give us your clear directions, we pray. Amen.