OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-SUNDAY-07/02/2016-COMMISSIONED
BY THE HOLY GHOST -BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
Memorise
As they ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separated me, Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called
them. Acts 13:2
Acts 13:1-4,
1 Now there
were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as
Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,
the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid
their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,
departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
KJV
MESSAGE
Fasting is a biblical practice
whose interpretation in the Old Testament was slightly different from what it was in the
New Testament. In the Old Testament, in addition to being a means of prayer and
supplication, fasting is also synonymous with mourning, shame and lamentation.
The practice typically took place when a crisis or other significant event
became more important than eating. However, the New Testament presents fasting
purely as a means of prayer and supplication of mourning, shame or lamentation.
As a matter of fact, Jesus taught us to fast without giving neighbors any
clues, which means we should look clean and happy as always while fasting.
“Moreover
when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto
you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head,
and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father
which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly.”
Matthew
6:16-18
The above passage forms the basis and model
for fasting in the New Testament Church. Fasting is therefore a means of
seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention in human affairs. It is
such a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare that Jesus His disciples that some
level of miracles may not be possible without adding fasting to our prayers.
That is probably the reason why the apostles of Jesus Christ took fasting and
prayer seriously after the physical departure of our Lord Jesus Christ. Right
from Chapter one of the book of Acts, fasting began to feature in the
activities of the disciples, and each time, God responded with great miracles,
signs and wonders.
Fasting was especially used by the apostles whenever
they wanted God to commission them or needed special instruction or direction.
Obviously, the apostles of old and the church at Antioch spent quality time in
worship, fasting and prayer, earnestly seeking the Lord’s will as they opened
themselves to divine direction. Their effort was honoured by God through the
power of the Holy Ghost as they received answers to their request by physical
manifestation of the power of God in their midst. The apostles would not have
been able to do much without the commissioning power of the Spirit of God.
Prayer Point
Sweet Holy Spirit, please don’t let me do anything without your direction
and commission in the name of Jesus
Bible in one year
Mark 3:13-5:20, Job 17:6-18:4
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