Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living – WordAction – The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House – The Global Church of the Nazarene for Friday, 28 July 2017 - "Led By God In Worship" by Jerry Frye – Acts 13:1-12

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living  – WordAction – The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House – The Global Church of the Nazarene for Friday, 28 July 2017 - "Led By God In Worship" by Jerry Frye –  Acts 13:1-12

Acts 13:1 In the Antioch congregation were prophets and teachers — Bar-Nabba, Shim‘on (known as “the Black”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Menachem (who had been brought up with Herod the governor) and Sha’ul. 2 One time when they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Ruach HaKodesh said to them, “Set aside for me Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 After fasting and praying, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

4 So these two, after they had been sent out by the Ruach HaKodesh, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 After landing in Salamis, they began proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues, with Yochanan (Mark) as an assistant; 6 and thus they made their way throughout the whole island.

They ended up in Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and pseudo-prophet named Bar-Yeshua. 7 He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. Now the governor had called for Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul and was anxious to hear the message about God; 8 but the sorcerer Elymas (for that is how his name is translated) opposed them, doing his best to turn the governor away from the faith. 9 Then Sha’ul, also known as Paul, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, stared straight at him and said, 10 “You son of Satan, full of fraud and evil! You enemy of everything good! Won’t you ever stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?[Acts 13:10 Proverbs 10:9] 11 So now, look! The hand of the Lord is upon you; and for a while you will be blind, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over Elymas; and he groped about, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then, on seeing what had happened, the governor trusted, astounded by the teaching about the Lord.

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The local church in Antioch, in Acts 13, was seeking the face of God and asking His direction. The preachers and teachers were looking for God-called followers to be sent out to new areas. Antioch was the launching pad for reaching the Gentiles with the gospel.
The devil isn’t omniscient, but he sensed that those who would “turn the world upside down” were about to be unleashed. He knew they were full of the Holy Spirit and sent by the Spirit. The proconsul Serguis Paulus was hungering for truth and ripe to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to share. Elymas, the sorcerer and a pawn of the devil, tried to hinder God’s messengers with deceit and trickery. Fortunately, Paul who had never heard the term “political correctness”, rebuked Elymas, leaving him blind as a consequence of his sinfulness.
This makes me ask if we, the local church, are as serious about God’s leading in our lives? Do we gather to fast and pray, waiting on God until He intervenes? How much different would our churches be, if right now we started doing what the early church practiced? What is God asking you to do today to make this happen?
Hymn for Today:

"Pentecostal Power" by Charlotte G. Homer

1. Lord, as of old at Pentecost 

Thou didst Thy power display, 

With cleansing purifying flame, 

Descend on us today.

Chorus:

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!

Thy floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide!

Lord send the old-time power. the Pentecostal power. 

That sinners be converted and Thy name glorified! 

2. For mighty works for Thee, prepare 

And strengthen every heart; 

Come, take possession of Thine ow.n

And nevermore depart.

Chorus:

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!

Thy floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide!

Lord send the old-time power. the Pentecostal power. 

That sinners be converted and Thy name glorified! 

3. All self consume, all sin destroy! 

With earnest zeal endue 

Each waiting heart to work for Thee; 

O Lord, our faith renew!

Chorus:

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!

Thy floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide!

Lord send the old-time power. the Pentecostal power. 

That sinners be converted and Thy name glorified! 

4. Speak, Lord! before Thy throne we wait, 

Thy promise we believe, 

And will not let Thee go until 

The blessing we receive.

Chorus:

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!

Thy floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide!

Lord send the old-time power. the Pentecostal power. 

That sinners be converted and Thy name glorified! 

Thought for Today:

However, from there you will seek Adonai your God; and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and being.[Deuteronomy 4:29].

Please pray:

That many people in Rwanda will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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