Acts 13:1-3 Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

The Church at Antioch had a great blessing to have prophets and teachers - at least five listed here! From that pool of workers, the Holy Spirit chose Saul and Barnabas for another work according to his calling. Throughout the New Testament, prophet and teacher are offices of great respect. Paul himself wrote later on that we should procure the best gifts, among them prophecy. Teaching and prophesying are highly regarded because through them the Word of God is explained for the conversion of souls and the edification of the church. A healthy church should institute ways to build up new prophets and teachers.

It is worth noting from the list of teachers and prophets that Antioch was a multi-ethnic church and not bound by partiality. Saul and Barnabas were Jews; Simeon and Lucius were black people from North Africa; and Manaen seemed to be well connected with the upper class in Rome. All of them worshiped together and worked together for the kingdom of God. The Church must be free from partiality and become an open community of Christ to make an impact in the world. Though there were many tendencies to separate Jew from Gentile and Greek from Roman due to socio-econo-political reasons, the Church fought against those tendencies to establish a Church that is united in its diversity.

Since the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit, it makes only sense that the Church is constantly seeking him in worship, fasting, and prayer. These are the basic disciplines of the deeper life in Christ. If I am to grow as a Christian, I must learn to worship, fast and pray. Notice that it is not a personal spiritual practice in this context. The Church at Antioch was devoted to these spiritual disciplines as a congregation. I must learn to worship, fast, and pray with my brothers and sisters as a concerted effort to seek his direction for the whole church. The Holy Spirit speaks to his church in an environment of worship, fasting, and prayer. How devoted am I to these disciplines? Moreover, how committed am I to practice them in unity with my brothers and sisters in the church?

The sendoff of Saul and Barnabas was the result of a church committed to seek the guidance of the Spirit in worship, fasting, and prayer. The fact that there is an imposition of hands for this sendoff tells us that the elders of the church were behind it. It also tells us that there is a process by which workers are recognized to be sent out to the field; there is a hierarchy; there is order. The expansion of God's kingdom depends on our willingness to send workers out into the field. I have to shift from the "us four and no more" paradigm to an open-fisted one, willing to send workers to the field under the guidance and direction of the Spirit.

Acts 2:14-41 Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

Peter takes the lead to explain what is going on. It is not that the people are drunk! It is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Joel2:28-32) right before their eyes. Joel spoke of the pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh with evident manifestations of prophecy, visions, and dreams. The second part of his prophecy speaks of the day of judgment with wonders in the heavens and signs on the earth. Some of these are: blood, fire, vapor of smoke, the sun turning into darkness and the moon turning into blood. These are all literary devices to express the coming of the day of the Lord, or Judgment Day. The Spirit is here! I am living the end times!

Then, Peter presents Jesus as the man God delivered up according to his plan and foreknowledge. At the same time, he accuses the crowd for crucifying and killing him. Many books have been written about the reconciliation between God's sovereignty and Human responsibility. The Scriptures teach both. Whatever philosophical system we devise to explain the interaction of these two perspectives cannot lose sight that both need to be upheld. My God is sovereign! From the little sparrow to the hairs on my head, he has dominion over it all. I am responsible! God will hold me accountable for my thoughts, words, and actions.

Now he turns to the Psalms (16:8-11) to prove that Jesus' resurrection was prophesied by David and links the pouring of the Spirit with the resurrection and ascension of the Lord. Finally, he states that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. The title of Lord implies that Jesus has power, authority, and influence over his people. The title of Christ identifies him as the promised one to Israel, the Messiah, the King to come, the Savior. I have to come to grips with who Jesus is in my life. Is he my Lord? Is he my Savior?

The people's response to Peter's sermon was that they were cut to the heart. It was devastating! It hit them really hard. Now what? What to do? Peter points the way with repentance and baptism so they can enjoy the promised Holy Spirit. It pains my soul to see many people today in our churches without making a commitment to the Lord through baptism. I will never forget my baptism. Mom and Dad did not like it. My friends then, told me I was crazy. Baptism is the confession to the world that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. The message continues to be the same: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the promised Holy Spirit.

Father, thank you for giving your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my soul. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me day by day. May I keep Christ as the center of my life to live in the fullness of your promise all the days of my life. Amen

Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus Heals Many

Some suggest that healing ceased and it is not for today. Others insist that healing is the "right" of every Christian. Empirical evidence proves both extremes wrong. There are testimonies of healing throughout Church History that prove that it did not end with the apostles, but continued with the spread of the Church until today. There are also plenty of testimonies from good, faithful brethren that their prayers for healing, for themselves or a loved one, were not answered as expected and it was not due to lack of faith. Somewhere between these two poles is the truth.

Jesus heals many, but not all. In this lifetime, we have to come to grips with the sovereignty of God in his choosing who he will heal and when. Faith is certainly necessary for healing, but not sufficient. The prophecy fulfilled is Isaiah 53. It specifically says that the Messiah would bear our grief and carry our sorrows. But we know that Jesus was not able to meet everyone who was sick and heal them even in his time. He healed all those that came into his path, and at times, he retired from the crowds to rest leaving many sick still.

But Isaiah 53:5 tells me more. It informs me that Jesus' death was substitutionary - he took my place. He was wounded for my transgressions. He was crushed for my iniquities. It tells me that the peace I enjoy today is the result of his chastisement. And there is a promise of healing as a result of his stripes. Why then, we don't experience healing all the time? 

Sickness and death are inevitable. The promise of healing is for all of us and it will ultimately be fulfilled at Christ's return when we are given new glorified bodies. But while in the flesh, God bestows healing as he sees fit to fulfill his plan for the ages. My responsibility is to believe and live by faith whether I experience healing or not, whether a loved one is healed or not. I must come to terms with the reality of the human condition: frail and temporal. I must grip the reality of a God who has a plan to ultimately heal me and wait patiently for its fulfillment even through death.

Lord, help me in my unbelief. When my own family suffers and healing does not come, help me believe. May I trust you and your plans for my life. May I have peace when illness strikes. May I have patience and hope as I wait for my final redemption.