Friday 13th June Acts 13.1-12

Qn. 1, 3

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Ser apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (2): The early believers had the culture of praying with fasting. As the church of Antioch was praying with fasting, they had a revelation that Saul and Barnabas had be called to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Here are some reasons for people to pray with fasting: 1) Worshipping God (Luke 2.37); 2) Repentance of sins (Neh. 9.1-2); 3) Seeking the power to overcome evil spirits (Mt. 17.21). Do you ever take some time to pray with fasting? But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith (8): Satan is never happy to see people getting saved, here he used the magician, but he didn’t succeed anyway, because Paul filled with the Holy Spirit thwarted his plans (9-10). Nowadays, the church is full of false teachers who twist the word of God. Consider: Christians are encouraged to equip themselves with more of the word of God, and be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to bring more people to Christ (1 Cor. 3.16-17). Song 62 (Salvation).