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SENT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH (ACTS 13:1-5)

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “Sent by the Spirit and the Church. Sent by the Holy Spirit and the Church means that we experience the call of God through the Holy Spirit working through the structures of the church. We shall meditate on the fact that the Church will be able to call or send people chosen by the Holy Spirit if it genuinely worships, fasts and prays. In other words, through fellowship, worship, fasting and prayer we experience the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through the Church and servants are chosen for His mission.

Dear friend in the Lord, God is with us through the power of the Holy Spirit and anytime we fellowship, worship, fast and pray as a church, we invite Him to manifest His presence or glory in our midst and to direct the path of the Church. Saul, also known as Paul, and Barnabas were chosen by the Holy Spirit to embark on a missionary journey of preaching the Good News. Luke reported that “While they were worshipping 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 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3). Fellowship, prayer and fasting create an enabling environment for believers to experience or encounter the Holy Spirit and be sent on God’s mission. Fellowship, prayer and fasting change our gathering from a human-centred gathering to a God-centred or Holy Spirit-filled gathering. It is, for this reason, Jesus assures us that “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ( Matthew 18:20). We shall also recollect that God was with the disciples and they experienced the outpour of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4). These people were obviously fellowshiping, praying or seeking the face of God and there was an enabling environment created for them to experience the power of the Holy Spirit or the presence of God in their lives. Jesus has promised us that “…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). It means that if we continue to fellowship, worship, pray, fast and remain obedient to His Word, we shall continue to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In other words, to be sent by the Holy Spirit and the Church, we must not be mere churchgoers but committed or faithful members of the church who “must worship God in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

The Church has no power to send or appoint servants unless it has been empowered by the Holy Spirit through Bible Study worship, fasting and prayer. Jesus promised us when He said ““I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:18-19,25-26). This promise is always being fulfilled when we develop the habit of fellowship, worship, Bible study, fasting and prayer.

Beloved in the Lord, God is always with us and we shall continue to experience His presence through the Holy Spirit when we fast and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We are being invited to take seriously our worship and prayer lives everywhere we find ourselves as a Church and as believers. We can not see God but we experience Him through a life of worship, fasting and prayer. Let us rejuvenate our worship, Bible study, fasting and prayer life today so that we shall continue to have a fulfilling relationship and encounter with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Sent by the Holy Spirit and the Church” We have learnt that the Church will be able to call or send people chosen by the Holy Spirit if it genuinely worships, fasts and prays. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to eschew laziness and apathy and to live a life of worship through Bible study, fasting and prayer.
2. Let us pray for revival and awakening in our spiritual lives so that we shall have an enriching spiritual influence in the lives of other believers whenever we meet to fast and pray.
3. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to use us for God’s glory.

Thank You, God, for being with us always. We acknowledge the fact that without You we are nothing and powerless, therefore, we ask in total humility to be empowered to cultivate and maintain the habit of fellowship, prayer, fasting and love for the study of Your Word so that we shall continue to experience Your glory in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.