INSPIRED WITH THE PURPOSE OF GOD
"While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2 AMP).
At Antioch we find the church "worshipping the Lord and fasting." They were devoted to the Lord and to His purposes and will. Out of that atmosphere, the Holy Spirit announced His purpose and will for Barnabas and Saul--and for the church of Antioch.
When Jesus was about to finish His work of salvation, He told the disciples about the purpose of God to send His Holy Spirit to "inspire" them to be His witnesses in the world. [According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, inspire means "to infuse; to communicate divine instructions to the mind; to infuse power, vigor, courage, joy or other enlivening passion; to instill, as principles or qualities."] Early on, Jesus told the disciples "to wait for what the Father had promised," i,e., the Holy Spirit. How well God knew the hearts of those men and women! Unless they were infused with His Spirit, they would not persevere in faith, let alone in witnessing in a world that hated them.
The world's attitude toward disciples of Jesus Christ has not changed. It still hates the followers of Christ. And we have not surpassed the need for the infusion of the Holy Spirit to give us divine instruction and fill us with power, vigor, courage, love, joy, etc. It is still necessary that His principles and qualities be instilled into our hearts and lives so that we may be His witnesses. Our God does not send us out without His power in us and His authority behind us; and , that comes by His Holy Spirit's inspiration. Think about it.
"While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2 AMP).
At Antioch we find the church "worshipping the Lord and fasting." They were devoted to the Lord and to His purposes and will. Out of that atmosphere, the Holy Spirit announced His purpose and will for Barnabas and Saul--and for the church of Antioch.
When Jesus was about to finish His work of salvation, He told the disciples about the purpose of God to send His Holy Spirit to "inspire" them to be His witnesses in the world. [According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, inspire means "to infuse; to communicate divine instructions to the mind; to infuse power, vigor, courage, joy or other enlivening passion; to instill, as principles or qualities."] Early on, Jesus told the disciples "to wait for what the Father had promised," i,e., the Holy Spirit. How well God knew the hearts of those men and women! Unless they were infused with His Spirit, they would not persevere in faith, let alone in witnessing in a world that hated them.
The world's attitude toward disciples of Jesus Christ has not changed. It still hates the followers of Christ. And we have not surpassed the need for the infusion of the Holy Spirit to give us divine instruction and fill us with power, vigor, courage, love, joy, etc. It is still necessary that His principles and qualities be instilled into our hearts and lives so that we may be His witnesses. Our God does not send us out without His power in us and His authority behind us; and , that comes by His Holy Spirit's inspiration. Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
