Joyful Moments in Christ

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. – Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

Acts 13:1-3 offers valuable insights into how we can support missionaries in our churches. In these verses, we see the Holy Spirit calling Paul and Barnabas to missionary work. Without hesitation, the prophets, teachers, and other believers in the Antioch church fasted, prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them off on a journey that would have a profound impact on the world.

Imagine if the church had responded differently. What if they had discouraged Paul and Barnabas, convincing them to stay in Antioch? Would they have had the courage to go? Though we can’t answer these questions, we can be sure that following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is always the best course.

As we send out missionaries from our own churches, how do we support them? Are we providing enough prayer and encouragement? Do we focus more on the risks and dangers, potentially discouraging them? And after they leave, do we continue to remember them in prayer, or do we forget?

While the account in Acts doesn’t explicitly state how the Antioch church supported Paul and Barnabas during their absence, it’s likely that many prayers were lifted up for them. When the missionaries returned, they gathered with the church to share all that God had done, including how the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas spent significant time with the believers who had sent them off, no doubt strengthening their bond and encouraging the church.

The people of Antioch were surely encouraged to see the results of their prayers. How can we, in our own churches, offer the same support to our missionaries?

It is important to remember that Paul and Barnabas faced many hardships on their journey. Even though they were called by God, their path was far from easy. In Lystra, Paul was dragged out of the city and stoned! Fortunately, he did not allow this to deter him from his mission.

Many other missionaries have experienced similar challenges. For instance, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot were missionaries to the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador. Tragically, Jim and four others were killed by the tribe. Despite this, Elisabeth’s commitment to her mission remained strong.

While she did spend some time in serious conversation with God about why he would let something like this happen, her love and dedication to the people allowed her to return and live among the people who had killed her husband. Eventually, she was successful in bringing the Gospel message to them! What joy! How many prayers sustained her during that time? Could she have accomplished the same without the prayer support?

If you are a Christian, find out which missionaries your church supports. Choose one to pray for regularly. Like Paul and Jim, they may face difficult challenges, but your prayers could bear incredible fruit and bring great joy!

For more on the Elliots’ story, consider reading Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the role of fasting and prayer in the early church’s decision-making challenge the way we approach significant decisions today?
2. What can we learn from the immediate obedience of the Antioch church to the Holy Spirit’s call? How might hesitation impact our ability to respond to God’s direction?
3. The church in Antioch laid hands on Barnabas and Saul before sending them off. What is the significance of this act, and how might we incorporate similar practices in supporting missionaries today?
4. In what ways do we focus on supporting missionaries during their time away, and how can we be more intentional in lifting them up through prayer and encouragement?
5. What do you think would have been different if the church had discouraged Barnabas and Saul from going? How do we ensure we are encouraging others to follow God’s call, even when it involves risk?
6. When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, they shared all that God had done on their journey. How can we create spaces in our churches to hear from missionaries and celebrate the fruit of their work?
7. Reflect on the hardships faced by missionaries, like Paul and Barnabas or Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. How can the church provide ongoing support to those serving in difficult and dangerous areas today?

Reflective Prayer

Use Acts 13:1-3 to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication

• Adoration: Praise God. Do these verses bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
• Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does these verses bring any specific sins to mind?
• Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from these verses inspire gratitude?
• Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from these verses inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.