January 4, 2022
Prayer and Fasting Leads to Mission
Acts 13:1–3 (ESV) — 1 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. 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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
In Acts 11, the church at Antioch was growing rapidly. Many were coming to faith in Christ and were being discipled by Barnabas. It could have easily become the second mega-church in history (after Jerusalem at Pentecost in Acts 2). Barnabas recognized in Saul, who was living at the time in his hometown of Tarsus, the gifts and calling that Christ had given him. Together, they taught and cared for the people. By Acts 13, the Spirit of God was ready to take the next step in their church. While the church was praying and fasting, the Lord made a monumental shift in their thinking. Instead of only adding to their number, God wanted them to multiply by sending out their best on mission.
At Crosspoint, the Lord has been leading us to become that kind of church. For many years, our focus has primarily been on our seating capacity. The Lord has certainly blessed us and keeps entrusting to us more disciples, but for what? We believe EVERY disciple is commanded by Jesus to make disciples who live deployed as everyday missionaries wherever they are. This is our sending capacity!
Consider:
Every missionary movement starts and ends with prayer and fasting. As you seek the Lord, how desperate are you (what will you fast?) to see a multiplication movement of disciple makers be sent all across our city, nation, and world? That is the opportunity that’s been entrusted to us as Crosspoint Church.
Prayer Points:
Ask the Lord to clarify and prepare you to become a disciple maker who lives deployed as an everyday missionary - wherever you are and through whatever you do.
Acts 13:1–3 (ESV) — 1 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. 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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
In Acts 11, the church at Antioch was growing rapidly. Many were coming to faith in Christ and were being discipled by Barnabas. It could have easily become the second mega-church in history (after Jerusalem at Pentecost in Acts 2). Barnabas recognized in Saul, who was living at the time in his hometown of Tarsus, the gifts and calling that Christ had given him. Together, they taught and cared for the people. By Acts 13, the Spirit of God was ready to take the next step in their church. While the church was praying and fasting, the Lord made a monumental shift in their thinking. Instead of only adding to their number, God wanted them to multiply by sending out their best on mission.
At Crosspoint, the Lord has been leading us to become that kind of church. For many years, our focus has primarily been on our seating capacity. The Lord has certainly blessed us and keeps entrusting to us more disciples, but for what? We believe EVERY disciple is commanded by Jesus to make disciples who live deployed as everyday missionaries wherever they are. This is our sending capacity!
Consider:
Every missionary movement starts and ends with prayer and fasting. As you seek the Lord, how desperate are you (what will you fast?) to see a multiplication movement of disciple makers be sent all across our city, nation, and world? That is the opportunity that’s been entrusted to us as Crosspoint Church.
Prayer Points:
Ask the Lord to clarify and prepare you to become a disciple maker who lives deployed as an everyday missionary - wherever you are and through whatever you do.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting