Foundations Feb 4, 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 5

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV); While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

The men present at this time of worship were clearly in tune with the Holy Spirit. The preceding verse describes some of them as prophets and teachers, but, though they were gifted in these areas, their gifting didn’t allow them to stand alone; they needed the body.

When we come before the Lord in worship, fasting and prayer, He moves! God responds to us when we press into Him. As He promised in Jeremiah, we will find Him when we seek Him wholeheartedly. These men were seeking the Lord through their worship, fasting and prayer, and in that they were attuned to the whisper of the Spirit. Imagine the unity of receiving a prophetic word as a community! They were corporately seeking the Lord, and in that were prompted to send Paul and Barnabas on a mission!

We should expect to hear from the Spirit if we are pressing into Him. As a church body, we have come out of a concentrated month of prayer and fasting, but that does not mean that we can put fasting on a shelf and prayer in the closet until next January roles around! As we grow in a lifestyle of worship, fasting and prayer, we will be more adept in hearing the promptings of the Spirit.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   Read the verses in Acts 13 a few times over. What strikes a chord in your heart from these two verses? What is the Holy Spirit trying to tell you?

2)   Worship, fasting and prayer; what do these things look like in your life? Do you live a lifestyle that incorporates these? How can you continue to grow in these things?

3)   Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a promise through a word, thought, picture or Scripture about what He wants to do in your life as you pursue this lifestyle of prayer, worship and fasting.

4)   Paul and Barnabas were set apart for specific ministry. How has God set you apart and appointed you to do His good work today. Spend time in prayer and ask Him to help you fulfill this calling.