COMMISSIONED BY THE HOLY GHOST
Memorise: As they ministered to the
Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Read: Acts 13:1-4, 13 Now there were in the church
that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that
was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up
with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed,
and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the
Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
MESSAGE!!!
Fasting is a biblical practice whose interpretation in
the Old Testament was slightly different from
what it was
in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, in addition to being a means of
prayer and supplication, fasting is also synonymous with mourning, shame and
lamentation. The practice typically took place when a crisis or other
significant event became more important than eating. However, the New Testament
presents fasting purely as a means of prayer and supplication of mourning,
shame or lamentation. As a matter of fact, Jesus taught us to fast without
giving neighbours any clues, which means we should look clean and happy as
always while fasting.
“Moreover when ye fast, be
not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces,
that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that
thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and
thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:16-18
The above passage forms the
basis and model for fasting in the New Testament Church. Fasting is therefore a
means of seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention in human affairs.
It is such a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare that Jesus His disciples that
some level of miracles may not be possible without adding fasting to our
prayers. That is probably the reason why the apostles of Jesus Christ took
fasting and prayer seriously after the physical departure of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Right from Chapter one of the book of Acts, fasting began to feature in
the activities of the disciples, and each time, God responded with great
miracles, signs and wonders.
Fasting was especially used by
the apostles whenever they wanted God to commission them or needed special instruction
or direction. Obviously, the apostles of old and the church at Antioch spent
quality time in worship, fasting and prayer, earnestly seeking the Lord’s will
as they opened themselves to divine direction. Their effort was honoured by God
through the power of the Holy Ghost as they received answers to their request
by physical manifestation of the power of God in their midst. The apostles
would not have been able to do much without the commissioning power of the
Spirit of God.
Prayer Point
Sweet Holy Spirit, please don’t let me do anything without
your
direction and commission in the name of Jesus.
Bible in one year: Mark 3:13-5:20, Job
17:6-18:4
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