Purpose & Direction (8/22/23)
Acts 13
Freya
8/23/2023
Life Lesson(s)…
Throughout Acts 13, God's purpose and direction is exemplified from the beginning to end in the chapter. Purpose revealed by the Holy Spirit seen in the setting apart of Barnabas and Paul among the disciples. Then, they were directed to Cyprus to preach the Good News throughout the whole island. Even to the highest official there, who "sought to hear the word of God".
As David served the purpose of God in his own generation, so did Paul and Barnabas serve the Lord in their own generation. Barnabas and Paul showed how Jesus and all He did could free a man or imprison him for a time depending on the path that individual chose. The proconsul saw the Holy Spirit halt the evil influence of the proconsul's magician through Paul's rebuke, whereby the magician was temporarily blinded. Paul's act upon the prompting of the Holy Spirit led to the proconsul believing the Good News.
From Cyprus to Antioch, Barnabas and Paul continue to preach about Jesus and how He was the anointed one. The Holy Spirit directed them to preach to their fellow Jews and the Gentiles using the Old Testament book of Psalms (Psalm 2:7; Psalm 16:10) and the word of the Prophets (Habakkuk 1:5, Isaiah 29:14). Their preaching was meant to put conviction upon the hearts of their fellow Jews, but many became "scoffers" that would "not believe, even if one" told it to them. So, Barnabas and Paul preached first to the Jews and then shared the Good New with the Gentiles, who chose to believe and "rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord". Barnabas and Paul did as Jesus directed his disciples in accordance to Matthew 10:14-15.
Your Thoughts…
Pray, study and journal your thoughts about the following:
What do you believe your purpose and direction is from the Lord? Do you think prayer and fasting will help you understand better? Why or why not?
Ponder Barnabas' and Paul's obedience to the Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Word (Bible), do you believe obedience to God and knowledge aided them in their spreading the Good News about Jesus? Why or why not?
What are the implications of Acts 13:51 and Matthew 10:14-15? How is it applicable today?
Subscribe here:
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed[c] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
ACTS 13: 36-39 (ESV)