OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Sunday February 7th 2016
TOPIC: COMMISSIONED BY THE HOLY GHOST
Memorize: 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. Acts 13:2
Read: Acts 13:1-4,
1 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.
Bible in one year: Mark 3:13-5:20, Job 17:6-18:4
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 devoid 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 told 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.
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