Mission Through Fasting & Prayer
SUNDAY Worship Service: JANUARY 26, 2025
MISSION through Fasting & PRAYER
Rev. Charles Lee
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of 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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
A. Worship fueled by fasting launches missionaries
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” (Acts 13:1-2)
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.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)
B. Partnership for mission expands through relationship and sacrifice
How many people went on the first missionary journey in Acts 13?
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.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. (Acts 13:2-5)
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Acts 12:25)
Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13-14)
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41)
Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13 & 14)
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)
“Not a social tea but a consecration fast marked the first missionary church leaders. Later we see these men appointing elders in every church, with prayer and fasting’ (Acts 14:23). Thus were the local leaders consecrated to their holy office. Where are the churches today where the leaders are set apart in a solemn season of prayer and fasting? Perhaps here is one reason why office in the church is so often lightly taken up, loosely held, and readily tossed aside when difficulties or differences emerge. Little wonder we lack strong spiritual leadership, and the sheep tends to drift.” (Arthur Wallis in God’s Chosen Fast)
The 10/40 Window