Are you ready to answer the call to mission?
God speaks to people through a variety of means, says Jack Skett
Every night when I put my six-year-old son to bed, we read a story together. Recently he’s been asking me to read him stories from the Bible. He wanted to know what happened to Jesus’s friends after the resurrection, so I’ve been reading to him from the book of Acts about Paul’s missionary journeys.
It all begins with something very simple: believers gathered together for prayer and worship.
“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called ‘the black man’), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.’ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way,” Acts 13:1-3.
We don’t get any sense from the text that these men had gathered together for any specific purpose other than to worship and fast. Sometimes it’s as we continue to engage in the regular patterns and practices of our faith that God steps in close and does something unexpected.
As they were worshipping and fasting, God spoke and set apart Barnabas and Saul for a special task. They continued to pray and then commissioned Barnabas and Saul to go according to what the Lord had said. As we read on in Acts 13 and beyond, Barnabas and Saul go on their first missionary journey, which takes them on a loop through Cyprus and Pamphylia to Derbe in the province of Galatia and then back again. Along the way they preach the gospel, baptise new believers, and face opposition from religious leaders.
All of this comes from a meeting of fellow believers who wanted to worship the Lord and fast together.
What if something like this happened in our prayer meetings, our church session meetings, our small group meetings?
The call to mission is often very particular to the individual. God speaks to people through a variety of different means and calls them to go to the nations or to a specific nation. They will naturally seek guidance on the call from others in the faith as they discern the voice of God. But how often do we expect such a call from God? As we gather together in our church communities and join in spiritual practices as a family, do we expect that God might have a commission for some in those gatherings?
For Barnabas and Saul, this moment was a culmination of what God had previously spoken over their lives – especially for Saul whom God had called his ‘chosen instrument’ (Acts 9:15). The Holy Spirit indicated that the time had come, and their brothers who were standing with them confirmed it by laying on hands and commissioning them.
What might God want to do in your church community as you gather together to worship, fast and pray?
Jack Skett is Comms and Content Creator at Elim Missions
New head for Elim Missions
Marty Davison has been appointed as the new International Missions Director for Elim. He will take up the role this month. Marty served as a missionary in Brazil but has more recently pastored Gateway Elim Church in Yate, Bristol.
“God has put a burning passion within me for missions,” said Marty. “I feel very honoured to serve as International Missions Director and look forward to working with Elim Missions as we partner together to advance God’s kingdom.”
“Please join us in praying for Marty and Rebeca and their family,” said General Superintendent Mark Pugh.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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