GOD EXPECTS CHURCHES TO WORSHIP AND PRAY
(This blog is a word-for-word transcript of what I teach to the pastors in India about “What God Expects of Churches.” We have already seen God expects churches to share the gospel, reflect His grace, teach and disciple believers, help others in need and have godly leaders. This is blog 4 of 5)
- WORSHIP & PRAY Acts 13:2-3 Acts 13:2 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.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Christians in Antioch gathered to worship and pray with each other. It is important for Christians to gather with each other to learn, grow, worship and encourage each other in fellowship. In Antioch they shared money and possessions with the needy to advance the gospel. They used their spiritual gifts to minister to other believers.
Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities that God has bestowed on individuals to minister to others in the Body of Christ. So far we have seen several spiritual gifts used by individuals in the church at Antioch. There is evangelism, which helped the church to grow (Acts 11:19-21), leadership in men like Barnabas and others (Acts 11:22-24; 13:1); encouragement (Acts 11:23) and teaching by Paul, Barnabas and others (Acts 11:25-26; 13:1). By looking at the church it is evident they also had many serving gifts (service, mercy, helps, hospitality, etc.) and some special gifts as well (wisdom, knowledge, faith, prayer, etc.).
The church was a church of prayer, and God gifts some to be able to focus in prayer for long periods of time. It seems that’s what the church was doing. The early church was a praying church (Acts 1:14). They were praying in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came. Perhaps some were gifted in leading worship, for they worshipped while they prayed. Fasting helped them focus more totally on prayer. God spoke to the people through the teaching of the Word and the people spoke to God through prayer and worship (Acts 2:42). Churches today need to spend time in prayer and worship, even fasting, and listen for God to speak to them. Often pastors and people are too busy to spend much time in prayer and that is a great loss.
God responded to their openness by giving them directions (Acts 13:2). “Set apart for me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which I have called them.” God has special work for 2 of the 7 leaders at Antioch. God is the one who calls, sends and assigns His workers. We take our orders from God. God assigned Barnabas and Paul, two of their main leaders, to take the Gospel to those who have never heard. Barnabas was the leader, but as Paul grew in the faith his natural leadership abilities took over and he became the leader. Leaders must care more that the work is done than who gets the credit.
The church was willing to send 2 of their best men on a missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3). They prayed for them while they were gone and supported them. Paul and Barnabas reported back to them after the journey (Acts 14:26-28). They then sent them back again on 2 more missionary journeys which spread the church into Rome and Europe. The church at Antioch is a good example of a healthy church.
You can’t determine the health of a church by its size. Numerical growth does not mean spiritual growth. Many large churches are unhealthy and many small churches are very healthy. We don’t know the size of any of the churches mentioned in the New Testament, because that isn’t important to God. We do know that the church in each city was actually made up of many small house churches. They did not gather in one large building but met separately, as small churches. The health of a church is determined by how they: 1. Faithfully share the gospel, 2. Reflect God’s grace, 3. Teach & disciple believers, 4. Help others in need, 5. Have Godly leaders and 6. Worship and pray together. How does your church measure up against these? Where could you improve?
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Does your church worship God in a way that brings Him glory and honor?
Do you pray regularly? Does your church pray together often?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling)
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