Bill Duncan - Acts 13:1-5

Missions

Acts 13: 1-5

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.  When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

   Wow!  What a picture of the early Church, while their together the Holy Spirit sets apart 2 men to go, to be sent out from among them for the sole purpose of sharing how their lives were changed by an act of love that can not be repaid.  So why go out then if it's not to repay the amazing gift they have received?  They were called to this job, this way of life that the gospel of Jesus should so fill them that their every waking moment is filled with the desire to know Jesus and make Him known.

   We have just concluded our celebration of missions and heard from men and women who have accepted this call.  Hearing their stories of lives changed and people pulled out of the path of death to the path of life inspires me every year to again reevaluate and see how I can join the fight.

   Missions and the act of going will be very different in the future.  Our need to send people around the world will not be as necessary as it once was.  Not because there are not people to reach of foreign birth but because they are here all around us, you just need to look.  You are the missionary of not only the future but the now.  My prayer for Hope Church is that we begin to look at the world around us and not go but act!  Reach out with that same power that sent Paul and Barnabas out to the world in your own slice of the world.  There are people all around you on the path of death, won't you reach out?  Won't you pray?  Won't you know Him and make Him known.

   That same power, the Holy Spirit is working in you and me, won't we listen for His voice, His call and then like Paul, and Barnabas go out our door and to the people we see everyday and show the love we've been shown.

Bill Duncan lives in Norwalk, CT and has been a member of Hope Church since 1999. He serves on the worship team playing Bass.