Day 2: Sent Out by the Spirit
Reading: Acts 13:1-5
13 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
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Devotional:
The early church didn't strategize their way into missions—they worshiped, fasted, and listened. The Holy Spirit spoke clearly: "Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them." God's mission begins with His call, not our ambition. Notice the response: more fasting, prayer, and obedient sending. Before Paul and Barnabas faced any mob or performed any miracle, they were covered in prayer and commissioned by believers. Your mission field may not require sailing to Cyprus, but it requires the same posture—listening for God's voice, seeking His direction, and moving forward with the support of fellow believers who commit you to God's grace.
Are you listening for God's call on your life? Who is supporting you in prayer as you follow Jesus?
13 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotional:
The early church didn't strategize their way into missions—they worshiped, fasted, and listened. The Holy Spirit spoke clearly: "Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them." God's mission begins with His call, not our ambition. Notice the response: more fasting, prayer, and obedient sending. Before Paul and Barnabas faced any mob or performed any miracle, they were covered in prayer and commissioned by believers. Your mission field may not require sailing to Cyprus, but it requires the same posture—listening for God's voice, seeking His direction, and moving forward with the support of fellow believers who commit you to God's grace.
Are you listening for God's call on your life? Who is supporting you in prayer as you follow Jesus?
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1 Comment
Are we at NLB listening to God’s call on our life? Are we supporting each other in prayer? According to Paul, it certainly sounds like we should be! How can we be like Barnabas and encourage one another? I crave to be the church God Himself calls us to be. Are we missing anything? It sticks out to me today that God call Paul AND Barnabas to the field. We are meant to be together. Barnabas means “the son of encouragement”. I think God knew Paul would need his brother in Christ for the mission He called him to. God has given us our church and everyone in it for a reason, I believe.