Lesson 96 – When the Spirit Separates for Work

Acts 13:2-4

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus."

    One of the most exciting roles of the Holy Spirit is to set apart people for a specific ministry. Throughout the history of the church, we've seen the Spirit lead men and women to specific ministry callings. Likewise, the Spirit has used the church to identify and affirm these men and women.

    That's what we see happening here. The Spirit tells the church to set aside Barnabas and Saul, agreeing the God had already called these men to ministry. Still today, men and women surrender to God's call upon their lives and local churches send them out to serve the Lord in a joint partnership for faith.

    Every church and believer needs to follow the model for sending out into ministry shown here. We need to be about ministries wherever the Spirit has already planted us. It was while the church was busy ministering to the Lord when the Spirit spoke to them. Wherever God has put us, we need to jump right in and serve the Lord. The Spirit will lead from there.

    We also need to remain sensitive to the Spirit's leading. As the church fasted, they were ready to hear what the Spirit wanted of them. Fasting is not about getting God to bless the ministry you've chosen, but setting aside yourself to listen to what God wants to accomplish. Unless we're listening, as believers and the church, we'll miss the Spirit's leading and fail to set aside those the Spirit is calling to ministry.

    In my own life, I heard the Spirit's call to the preaching ministry, and sure enough, so did those in the church where I was already serving.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I thank you for your call upon my life to set me aside for ministry. I thank you that your church was sensitive to this calling and has joined me in serving you. Amen.