Devotional

THE MEETING IN ACTS 13:1-3

January 22, 2021 · Lanre Oyeleke · 2 views

Acts 13:2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” NLT

In Acts 13, we were told about certain prophets and teachers who were ministering to the Lord. In the process, the Holy Spirit said: “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them”. I want you to note something in this text. The verb 'call' was in past tense- called. This implied that Paul and Barnabas had received the call into ministry before that very meeting. The prophetic utterance in that gathering was only a confirmation of what Paul and Barnabas knew before the meeting.

There are believers who took major decisions because they heard "thus saith the Lord" from a prophet or another believer. Often, such decisions are major decisions involving life and their future, yet, they failed to check the veracity of such prophetic utterances/ revelations with the Holy Spirit. That's a departure from the new testament practice.

As a new testament believer, your guide is the Holy Spirit not a prophet. Prophets shouldn't play the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. Their duty is to confirm what the Spirit has told you. That's why you must have deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Even if a prophet/ believer is bringing a new revelation to you, learn to ask the Holy Spirit to confirm it to you. Never take a major step in life and ministry on the basis of what you were told until you've heard God yourself.

Action point

Father, I thank you for giving me your Spirit. I receive the grace to hear from you and not be misled in Jesus name.

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