Prayer and Fasting
“One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”
Acts of the Apostles 13:2-3 NLT
The early church was marked by passionate prayer, devotion to the kingdom, and worldwide evangelism. However, they did have a strategy that was given to them from Christ. It’s a strategy that they watched diligently while with Him for 3 years. He would make it His daily habit to be alone with God for directives, strategy, and relational development between Father and Son.
In Acts 13 we see a group devoted to this strategy. In Acts 13:1 we read...
“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man” ), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas ), and Saul.”
Acts of the Apostles 13:1 NLT
The prophets and teachers of the church included Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. Out of this prayer room it was so evident that the voice of the Holy Spirit was calling some men to the mission field. Two in particular were being sent by the Spirit to do a work for God. ThIs wasn’t a period where people “felt like” but they understood by the Spirit because they had tuned into the voice of God through fasting and prayer.
Today, we need to resurrect the significance of prayer and fasting in the church. Prayer and fasting connects us to His voice and detoxes us from the voices competing for our attention and time. The Bible says they heard the Spirit directing them and then after another extended time of fasting they laid hands on them to commission them.
I still believe that the Lord is setting this as His standard for winning the lost. He is equipping the church through the office of the prophet and teacher. Those that hear the voice of God and will teach the church to do the same. The ministers we need today are those that have laid down their lives to hear, discern, shepherd, and release to do the work of the ministry God is calling others to do.
Let’s return to the ministry of prayer and fasting and watch God speak, equip, and release with power His sons and daughters into the world.
Acts of the Apostles 13:2-3 NLT
The early church was marked by passionate prayer, devotion to the kingdom, and worldwide evangelism. However, they did have a strategy that was given to them from Christ. It’s a strategy that they watched diligently while with Him for 3 years. He would make it His daily habit to be alone with God for directives, strategy, and relational development between Father and Son.
In Acts 13 we see a group devoted to this strategy. In Acts 13:1 we read...
“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man” ), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas ), and Saul.”
Acts of the Apostles 13:1 NLT
The prophets and teachers of the church included Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. Out of this prayer room it was so evident that the voice of the Holy Spirit was calling some men to the mission field. Two in particular were being sent by the Spirit to do a work for God. ThIs wasn’t a period where people “felt like” but they understood by the Spirit because they had tuned into the voice of God through fasting and prayer.
Today, we need to resurrect the significance of prayer and fasting in the church. Prayer and fasting connects us to His voice and detoxes us from the voices competing for our attention and time. The Bible says they heard the Spirit directing them and then after another extended time of fasting they laid hands on them to commission them.
I still believe that the Lord is setting this as His standard for winning the lost. He is equipping the church through the office of the prophet and teacher. Those that hear the voice of God and will teach the church to do the same. The ministers we need today are those that have laid down their lives to hear, discern, shepherd, and release to do the work of the ministry God is calling others to do.
Let’s return to the ministry of prayer and fasting and watch God speak, equip, and release with power His sons and daughters into the world.
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