OzThoughts – Wednesday, 24th June, 2009

OzThoughts – Wednesday, 24th June, 2009

I have written before that there is a danger when we come before god we will pray “Father, please bless my plans” when we should be praying “Father, please show me your plan as I am willing to be part of it”.

It was no doubt the second prayer that the congregation in Antioch prayed as they worshipped, fasted and waited on God. God showed them his specific plan was for Barnabas and Saul and they were to be commissioned for God’s work.

They all fell into line with God’s plan and eventually Saul and Barnabas ended up in Paphos on the Isle of Cyprus where they had opportunity to witness to no less a person than the governor. God gave them power to overcome deceitful opposition from one man in such a way that the governor immediately became an enthusiastic believer.

Are we willing to let God plan everything for us?

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_069.mp3 ]

How can I better serve thee, Lord,
Thou who hast done so much for me?
Faltering and weak my labor has been;
O that my life may tell for thee!

Chorus
Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need;
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

Dull are my ears to hear thy voice,
Slow are my hands to work for thee,
Loath are my feet to conquer the steeps
That lead me to my Calvary.

Strength for my weakness, Lord, impart;
Sight for my blindness give to me;
Faith for my doubtings, Lord, I would crave,
That I may serve thee worthily.
Author: Bramwell Coles (1887-1960)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 488

Acts 13:1-12 (The Message)
1-2The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers:

Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul.

One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do."
3So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.
4-5Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.
6-7They travelled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew.
7-11The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God's Word firsthand from them. But Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer. But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said, "You bag of wind, you parody of a devil—why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you've come up against God himself, and your game is up. You're about to go blind—no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.
12When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.



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