The Propelling of the Church

Introduction

Acts 13 is a very interesting chapter. We see the progression of God’s work and the demonstration of how He grew His universal church. It is an unusual place to start, but I want to start at the end to help us see what happened. Acts 13:49

Acts 13:49 NIV84

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

This was the result which with the Lord blessed the church. What propelled this to happen? How did they get to this point? There three components directly mentioned in Acts 13 and one that is indirectly mentioned that helped the word of the Lord to spread through the whole region. We are going to look at each of these components and how they are defined, demonstrated and directed.

The Church and Worship

First, the church was about worship.

Acts 13:2 (NIV84)

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.”

Worship Defined

Worship is defined simply as serving God. Sometimes we think that worship is gathering in a sanctuary on a Sunday morning. Sometimes we think that worship is a set of songs we sing during that gathering. The reality is that worship is simply serving God, wherever you are, whenever you do, and however you can. Psalm 95:6

Psalm 95:6 NIV84

6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Worship Demonstrated

We see the early church demonstrating worship. If worship defined is as serving God, then everything we do should be worship. The early church was serious about serving God and scripture indicates that they worshiped, even on days that they were not at the synagogue. It was a lifestyle! Do you have a lifestyle of worship? 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV84

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Worship Directed

But, let’s be clear. We are talking specifically about worshiping God. We must make sure that our worship is directed to God and not to ourselves, idols or any other person!

Luke 4:8 NIV84

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

We often direct our worship to other people and things. The success of the early church was that their worship first and foremost was centered on God, who He is and what He has done. Has God been good to you? Worship Him!

There’s another component the early church was doing, and that is fasting.

The Church and Fasting

This is something you might hear about being practiced in many ways.

Fasting Defined

Acts 13:2 (NIV84)

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.”

Fasting defined is a voluntary abstinence from food, often using the time to focus on prayer. This is something that was part of a cultural custom dating back to the Levitical law.

Leviticus 16:29–31 NIV84

29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

It was a time of mourning and a time of inquiring before the Lord.

Judges 20:26–27 NIV84

26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,

Fasting Demonstrated

Fasting is demonstrated in the preparation of Jesus before He began His ministry. Matthew 4:1-2

Matthew 4:1–2 NIV84

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

However, like many of these components, the temptation is always to make it about yourself.

Fasting Directed

The early Church was given directives on what and to do with fasting, and especially a stern warning from Jesus Himself:

Matthew 6:16–18 NIV84

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

There are many people that fast and post it on social media. I don’t think that is what we are called to do. We are not called to draw attention to ourselves, but we are to focus on God and His plan for us. Have you ever fasted? Maybe that is something we as a church need to do! If you are medically able, I want to invite you to plan a day or 1/2 a day of fasting. As you do, center your hearts on God’s will and ask Him to reveal to you His direction for you and what He wants you to do for His glory in His church!

The Church and Prayer

In our text in Acts 13, worship and fasting led to a time of prayer.

Acts 13:3 (NIV84)

3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Specifically, the early church is sending out Saul and Barnabas to the uttermost parts of the earth. Remember our theme verse for the Book of Acts?

Acts 1:8 NIV84

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

That verse should be our theme as well! We should be the Lord’s witnesses in Boone, in North Carolina and out into all of the world! But we cannot do this without the direction that comes from prayer.

This third component of the propelling church is absolutely critical.

Prayer Defined

We need to define what prayer is, but before we do, let’s define what it is not. Prayer is not like the Sears Christmas Wishbook! Remember getting that catalogue? I would look at it for hours to tell mom and dad which toys I wanted for Christmas. Prayer is not rubbing on a special lamp and asking a genie to grant wishes. According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary, prayer is communication with God, primarily offered in the second-person voice (addressing God directly). It may include petition, entreaty, supplication, thanksgiving, praise, hymns, and lament.

We pray the model prayer that Jesus taught. It is a combination of Matthew 6:9-13

Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV84)

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

There is a similar prayer in Luke 11:2-4

Luke 11:2–4 (NIV84)

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.3 Give us each day our daily bread.

4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.’ ”

We combine the two to recite weekly the Lord’s prayer.

Prayer is simply taking your concerns before God in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer Demonstrated

The early church was all about prayer. In fact, in this passage we see that the instruction for the first missionary journey came while they were praying, just as the visions of Cornelius and Peter occurred during times of prayer as we see in Acts 10:2-6, 9.

We have already mentioned the example in verse 3 of Acts 13. There are many other examples in scripture as well to how prayer should be directed.

Prayer Directed

We are to pray continually.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84

17 pray continually;

We are to pray with thanksgiving.

Colossians 1:3 NIV84

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

We are to pray for enlightement. Ephesians 1:18

Ephesians 1:18 NIV84

18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

And like the early church, we are to pray that the Word of God would spread. 2Thessalonians 3:1

2 Thessalonians 3:1 NIV84

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

We have seen three direct components in Acts 13 that tell us to worship, fast, and pray.

The Church and Scripture

The fourth component that is indirectly shown to us here is related to the church and Scripture. We are to be students of the Word of God!

Scripture Defined

Scripture is defined in multiple passages in the Bible. I always like to come to Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 NIV84

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV84

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture Demonstrated

Scripture is demonstrated throughout the whole chapter in Acts 13. Barnabas and Saul are able to confront a false prophet named Bar-Jesus who is also called Elymas. He tries to use Scripture for selfish gain in deceit and trickery. The missionaries can confront it because they are students of the Word of God. Saul shares historical scripture in sharing the story of redemption from Old Testament heroes all the way to the story of Jesus. He quotes passages from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalm, 1 Samuel and Isaiah. Could you?

Scripture Directed

Scripture here becomes direct when he quotes Habakkuk 1:5

Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV84)

5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

And then He proclaims Jesus Christ as the Savior of all mankind.

These components were essential to the early church. And guess what? They are essential to us today.

The apostles carried out the commands and instructions given to them through worship, fasting, prayer and scripture. We must do the same today. In fact, we are going to practice what Jesus commanded us to do to remember Him and His sacrifice as we come to the Lord’s table.

Preparation for Communion

1 Corinthians 11:28–29 NIV84

28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.