• Acts 13:1-12 • Acts 13. • 1. Time and preparation. • 2. Commitment and devotion. • 3. Faith and maturity. • Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. • Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” • Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. • God uses all your experiences to develop your character to match your calling. Your calling can not keep you where your character can not sustain you. • There’s a preparation season between the calling and the commissioning. • Ecclesiastes 9:19 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. • God is the God of times, seasons and space. He’s the Sovereign Creator. • He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 • But when the fullness of the time had come... Galatians 4:4 • Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. • Fasting is a spiritual discipline. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted... (:2) Having fasted and prayed.... (:3) • Fasting prepares, purifies and positions us. • Mark 3:19 Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. • Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? • The Bridegroom is closer to us today than He was to His disciples. • Prayer and fasting is not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming. • God’s Voice vs NOT God’s Voice. • Stills NOT rushes. • Leads NOT pushes. • Reassures NOT frightens. • Clarifies NOT confuses. • Encourages NOT discourages. • Comforts NOT worries. • Convicts NOT condemns. • Forgives NOT accuses. • Humble NOT prideful. • Heals NOT harms • Reveals truth NOT questions truth. • Role of Holy Spirit - • Leads into truth. • Affirms and calls to service. • Gives hope and confidence. • Empowers. • Makes sure we get where we are supposed to be. • God who holds time and chance in His hands is the only One Who can put you in the right place at the right time. • Our very lives are a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1, Ephesians 5:1-2, Philippians 2:17) But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Philippians 2:17 NLT • Acts 13:9-10 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? • You'll never be over what God has put under you until you are under what God has put over you. • Matthew 18:18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. • Titus 2:15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. • Acts 13:38-39 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. • Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. • Acts 13:49-52 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. • Matthew 10:14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. • Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! • Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. • Acts 13:51-52 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. New Testament Christian Church CCLI : #1600893 Multitracks New Testament Christian Church (#386429)