The Place Given to the Manifestation of the Spirit in New Testament Church Gatherings

Seeing it's Sunday today, let's have a little think about the place given to the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT in New Testament church gatherings:

𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟑:𝟓
𝟓 𝐇𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡?

Amongst the 'churches of Galatia' (1:2) there were those who 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 (Strongs 'fully supplied', 'contributed') 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵.

I like the thought of that already - ministering, fully supplying, contributing, the Spirit!

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟐:𝟒
𝟒 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫:

There was a demonstration! Paul's preaching was accompanied by the 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 of the Spirit and of power.

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳," he said (I Corinthians 14:20).

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟐:𝟕
𝟕 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥.

The Spirit was 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 (Strongs 'exhibited', 'expressed') among them.

And it wasn't only for apostles - notice it says the manifestation of the Spirit was given to every man.

It was given to every man to manifest (exhibit, express), demonstrate, and minister (fully supply, contribute) the Spirit in some way, for everyone to profit.

The Spirit grants the manifestation of Himself "as He wills", Paul said. That means the Spirit has a will. There are things the Spirit wants to give and do, in our gatherings. Have you ever sensed that the Spirit was wanting to do something in a meeting?

Paul went on to mention nine manifestations of the Spirit which the Spirit Himself is willing to give to be expressed in the church for everyone's good:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟐:𝟖-𝟏𝟎
𝟖 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭;
𝟗 𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭;
𝟏𝟎 𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐒; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒:

Writing to the ‘church of God at Corinth’, Paul said they could 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 for their gatherings (I Corinthians 12:31); they could 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 to be in manifestation (14:1); they could be 𝘻𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 (verse 12); they could even 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 in particular (verse 13); and he said to 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 the expression of a particular gift during their meetings (verse 39). He commended the church in that city, saying "...𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵..." (1:7).

I like being in meetings too of which it can be said that there is no coming behind - no lack - in the move of the Holy Spirit. That’s the kind of churches we want everywhere!

I've learned this, by experience, and by the Word: we can ask God specifically for whatever we desire to see happen in a meeting - and He'll do it.

But He also waits for us to receive it and activate it. Very often I've found this: that the key to seeing the Holy Spirit move in a meeting is to make room for it deliberately.

Just like we are deliberate about allocating time for singing, and for preaching - we can also be deliberate about giving time for the manifestation of the Spirit, in our meetings. On purpose.

Speaking of the outpouring of the Spirit in the upper room, Peter said: "𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘌𝘌 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘙" (Acts 2:33).

See and hear. The outpouring of the Spirit upon a meeting, and its expression, resulted in something both seen and heard.

In order for the manifestation of the Spirit to be the focal sight and sound in a meeting, we may have to stop other sights and sounds from dominating during that part of the meeting.

Like, music. While ever music is being played from a stage or through the speakers, it competes for the congregation's focus, and often dominates. Music is good to help get us there - but once we're there, go all in with what God's doing. Then afterwards, once the Spirit has had His way upon and in and through everyone, the people will really have something to sing about! That's the time to strike the music up again.

Another thing that can get in the way, I've observed, is prayer. Prayer, like music, can help get us there - but if the Holy Spirit is already willing to do something, don't pray about it - don't even sing about it - just let Him do it! Unless of course praying is the thing He's leading the congregation to do at that moment. But often there are other things He wants to do, things we mightn't even have imagined.

Another thing that can get in the way of the move and manifestation of the Spirit, with some people, is the spiritual gift they're already familiar with. For example, someone may be used to prophesying - but if God wants to just fill a congregation with joy instead, then his or her insistence on prophesying would get in the way.

We might need to resist the urge to always be giving too much unnecessary leadership, too much other input, in the meeting, for the moment - and instead let the waves roll.

On the day of Pentecost they were all with one accord in one place, it says, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

He didn't only fill the people - but the whole house, the place, was also filled. There was an overflowing. It resulted in something seen and heard.

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together," it says.

When what was noised abroad - the sound of a band? No, the day of Pentecost - the upper room - was not a music event. The sound of praying? No, they'd been praying for ten days - but not now. It was the sight and sound of 120 people getting filled with the Spirit and speaking with tongues all at once! The move of God on a congregation! That's what the multitide saw and heard. That’s what got their attention.

Only after that had taken its course, did someone (Peter) stand up and hold the floor, and preach. When he did, it was necessary and good and very effective! And Paul did later write to churches telling them to spend time singing together. There's a time for everything. But when the Holy Spirit wanted to do something else, they let Him have His way first. They let the congregation get taken up in that first.

I’m not talking about sitting in silence—I’m talking about allowing the move and expression of the Spirit to gain momentum visibly and audibly, congregation wide, and to be the thing. I’m talking about a visitation.

“Let go—and let God!”

When we really give the Holy Spirit the room - let Him hold the floor - it's next level.

HAPPY SUNDAY!

There’s a common misconception about the BIBLICAL FUNCTION of TONGUES that has hidden a REAL GEM from many

 

 

There’s a common misconception about the BIBLICAL FUNCTION of TONGUES that has hidden a REAL GEM from many.

Let’s uncover it:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟐
𝟐 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝: 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦; 𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

This verse was about a person speaking in tongues, in Bible times.

Notice:

1. His tongue was 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯, not known.

It simply wasn't the case that in Bible times tongues were always known by the hearers.

Therefore:

2. He was speaking 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥 not to men.

In other words, 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 - he was praying in tongues.

"...𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮..." it says.

Tongues weren't only for the purpose of directly preaching the gospel to unbelievers.

Even in Bible times, a tongue might be 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯; and 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 in that 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 tongue was an entirely valid function of the gift of tongues.

3. He was speaking mysteries in the spirit.

As Paul said:

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙩𝙝, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯? 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰" (𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 14,15).

(And Acts 2:4 says they spake with other tongues 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.)

When we speak in an unknown tongue, our spirit is praying, even though we don't understand it. In the spirit we are speaking mysteries.

"𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘐 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭," Paul said, talking about praying privately in tongues (verse 18).

"𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴," he said (verse 5).

Speaking, praying, singing, giving thanks, blessing and praising in an unknown tongue is Biblical, it’s New Testament, authentic, effective and edifying.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴!

It's a great way to be "𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵" (Ephesians 6:18)!

Apostles

The word 'apostle' means someone who is 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.

When we think of apostleship, we usually think (and rightly so) of where they're sent 𝘵𝘰, and what they're sent to do - but the word itself also includes the meaning of being sent 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮.

(The Greek word ἀπόστολος pronounced apóstolos was composed of the prefix apó which meant 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮, and the verb stéllō 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥.)

There is a sending 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮, as well as the sending 𝘵𝘰.

There is a 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, unto.

"𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭, 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 (𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 1:1).

There was a letting go, as well as the going.

We see this in how Paul and Barnabas became apostles.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟏𝟑:𝟏-𝟒
𝟏 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬; 𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐞𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐥.
𝟐 𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.
𝟑 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.
𝟒 𝐒𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲, 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐲𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐬.

Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were at first 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘴 and/or 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 in the church that was at Antioch. They were never yet described as apostles.

Then the Holy Ghost said, "𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them".

So the church 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.

They were 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 by the Holy Ghost.

And they 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.

There was a letting go, as well as the going.

The rest of chapter 13 goes on to describe Barnabas and Paul departing to Seleucia, and from there sailing to Cyprus, preaching at Salamis, going through the island to Paphos, being loosed from Paphos and coming to Perga, departing from there and coming to a city in Pisidia, and having to leave there and arriving in Iconium.

It's only by the time we get to 14:14 - after all that traveling and new ministry, having been let go from the church at Antioch - that Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were for the first time in Acts now referred to as 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟒,𝟏𝟒
𝟒 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝: 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒.

𝟏𝟒 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒, 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐋, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭,

Had Barnabas and Paul stayed in Antioch and held onto their roles in the church there, they couldn't have fulfilled the work to which the Holy Ghost had called them. Only after there was a letting go, and their going, were they called apostles.

It was also only in the leaving and the going that Paul started to be referred to in Acts by his name Paul and no more Saul. He was stepping into what he was separated from his mother’s womb to do.

It mightn't have been easy for the Antioch church to let go of Barnabas and Paul. And it mightn't have been easy for Barnabas and Paul to go and not stay. The church at Antioch was a happening place!

But letting go of places, people, churches and ministries - as well as embracing new ventures, places, people churches and ministries - and doing so on repeat - was all part of what it meant to be an apostle.

The offices of elders, bishop, the presbytery, and deacons in the New Testament tended to be appointments to serve local churches - whereas apostles were 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.

In time Paul and Barnabas did come home to their church again, and reported all that God had done.

"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘩, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥" (Acts 14:26).

They went back to their home church from which they'd been 'recommended' (Strongs surrendered, yielded up, entrusted, transmitted) to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

They stayed for a while, then they embarked again.

The Holy Ghost calls some at times to be let go, to be sent, to depart, to go, and not stay.

"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌, 𝘈𝘗𝘖𝘚𝘛𝘓𝘌𝘚; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘴; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴" (Ephesians 4:11).

Such a calling is "...𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 (Galatians 1:1).

Have you got the 𝘨𝘰 in you?

You might need to be okay with letting go, as well as with the going.

I don't know which would be easier and which might be more difficult: the letting go, or the going.

As Paul said, speaking of the hardships apostles face:

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩: 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯" (I Corinthians 4:9).

But Jesus Christ doesn't only call, He also gives grace.

"𝘉𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦" (Romans 1:5).

It will be His grace doing the work in you, not of yourself.

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮: 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘯; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭: 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘐, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦" (I Corinthians 15:10).

You "...𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩..." you (Philippians 4:13).