Acts 13:1-3

This passage begins the most courageous step ever taken by any organization in the history of the world. The church is ready to go out beyond its area. It is now going to carry the gospel to the entire world. With God’s mandate to reach the world, He has given us a design on how it is to be implemented. God used the Apostle Paul from the early church to help begin this endeavor. When we look carefully, we see this design in the Bible found in Acts 13. Up to that point, the focus of action had been on Israel and that was about to change.

1. We see a church – a sending church – vs. 1 – “In the church that was at Antioch.”

God chose Paul to take His name to the Gentiles and placed him in a local fellowship of believers. This church was God’s choice to become the mission and evangelistic center of the world. The Great Commission had been given by Jesus. The disciples had left a witness in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and now it was time for a witness into the rest of the world. So, we see the importance of the local church. Paul was brought to Antioch in a ministry role for further preparation.

When you read the book of Acts, you see a church of action. You see one that was concerned with spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. We see leaders in that church – vs. 1 – “certain prophets and teachers”

These leaders are identified of which two are Barnabas and Saul. I want to emphasize church leadership here because the pastor is critical to God’s design for reaching our world. When the pastor is called by God, gifted by Him and empowered by the Holy Spirit things happen in the church – people will follow this leader. Our churches need leaders who see the world. Leaders who identify, develop, and prepare new leaders to plant more churches both here and internationally. We need Great Commission leaders.

3. We also see worship in the church – vs. 2 – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,”

The word “minister” has the idea of worship – to exalt Him and acknowledge who He is, to praise Him, to lift Him up – to minister to Him. I get the idea this was the lifestyle of that church in Antioch. Worship brings joy to the heart of God. It brings energy into the heart of the church. It introduces us to the Glory of God and leaves us passionate to see Him worshipped in all the earth. It prepares us to hear when He is ready to speak. It demonstrates to Him that we love being with Him and we are listening. It creates space for God to work in our hearts. He inhabits the praises of his people.

4. This next one is also important – we see the Holy Spirit – vs. 2 – “The Holy Ghost said…”

A former missionary to India once said, “The Spirit of God is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we must become.”

When any church loses the Spirit of the Great Commission, it surrenders its very reason for existence. This strategy for the church did not come from man; it came from the Holy Spirit. Paul and his team planned to preach in Asia. The Holy Spirit prevented them. Then they planned to go to Bithynia – the Holy Spirit would not allow them. Then God led them to Macedonia – the gospel entered Europe and you know the rest of the story. So, the question then is: How active is the Holy Spirit in your church? Are people sensitive – hearing, surrendering?

5. We see some being “set apart” – vs. 2 – “separate me….”

The measure of a successful Great Commission church is how many are going out, more than how many are attending every week. We need to provide opportunities for people to participate in missions. You must have a mission program in your church. You must teach people how to live by faith and give by faith so that others can hear of Jesus. They need to give to support your missionaries. But missions is more than just giving money. It is being personally active in evangelism and sending people to other regions.

In verse two it says: “separate me Barnabas and Saul” – the missionary. Another important part in God’s design is the person being sent out – the missionary. In Romans 10:14 – “how shall they hear without a preacher?” It is interesting to note that God chose men who were faithful in their ministry right where they were. They were not waiting to serve when they reached the fields of the world. God calls those who are faithful where they are.

6. This verse talks about a work – vs. 2 – “for the work whereunto I have called them”

The work to which God called Paul was to carry God’s name before the people of Israel and to the Gentiles according to Acts 9:15. The work to which Paul was called was church planting and the end results of his efforts were churches. Is this true about your church – are you sending, supporting, and helping others? Are you starting other churches?

7. Then we see prayer involved – vs. 3 – “And when they had fasted and prayed”

The Gentiles had their own gods and Israel had its own views of what God wanted them to do. This work would require powerful anointing. Prayer paves the way for reaching souls like nothing else. Nations of the world that have been sealed in spiritual darkness for centuries are that way for a reason – because of the work of the devil – the great adversary. So many in the world need to hear the truth of Jesus Christ. Their situation won’t change just because we talk about reaching them. They are spiritual hostages and can only be freed by the power of God through prayer. Prayer has to start with our pastors who understand its power and importance and can influence others in their churches. We must pray fervently and persistently for our current missionaries and for more missionaries to surrender to go. When was the last time you prayed for more?

8. Lastly, we see the laying on of hands – vs. 3 – “and laid their hands on them”

Today we usually see this happen at the time of ordination. The missionaries were commissioned by the church in an official meeting. When a church sends someone, it truly gives the sense of ownership of the task. The church didn’t call these men and set them apart – the Holy Spirit of God did. However, the church:

• Acknowledged the Holy Spirit’s call by the laying on of hands.
• Committed its support and prayers to the two men.
• Obeyed the Holy Spirit’s leadership in allowing them to be separated from the church in Antioch to follow God’s will.

Every church should be a sending church and experience this commissioning. It will impact your church like nothing else. It challenges others to go. It challenges people to give and to pray for one of their own.

Do you see all of these in your church? Are you following God’s Design for Missions?

-by Jon Konnerup, BBFI Mission Director