David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 13:1-12

 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.

⁴ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

In our Bible Class yesterday, the leader shared a list of the things the Holy Spirit does:

• The Holy Spirit reveals God’s plan and brings us to faith in Christ granting us forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
• The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, providing aid, comfort, consolation, and assurance thus keeping us in the faith.
• The Holy Spirit is our guide reminding us of Christ’s teachings and granting understanding.
• The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and brings us to repentance.
• The Holy Spirit established and brings unity to the Church.
• The Holy Spirit creates the bonds of Christian fellowship making all believers to be one body in Christ.
• The Holy Spirit provides spiritual gifts to all believers to be used in serving, witnessing and building up the Church.
• The Holy Spirit guides our prayers and assures us that God hears and answers them.
• The Holy Spirit prays for us when we do not know what to pray for.

It’s a beautiful list that reflects the breadth of God’s grace. I love to say that God is on both sides of the equation when it comes to our salvation. He is the giver of grace, forgiveness and redemption through Jesus. We receive this gift by faith. And God is on that side as well: The Holy Spirit moves us to recognize the treasure of God’s salvation, then moves us to believe and receive the gift. God is the giver of grace and the giver of faith.

But there is a third dimension to this equation of our salvation. For the faith does not come to us apart from the message of the gospel. Someone has to tell you about Jesus. Someone has to be sent to declare the forgiveness of sins and salvation of Jesus. Paul puts it this way:

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? – Romans 10:14-15

This is where the Holy Spirit comes into the picture. We see that here. While the people in Antioch were worshiping and fasting the Holy Spirit calls them to send Saul and Barnabas on a mission to spread the Gospel message to new people in new places. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be given and that the disciples would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. We’re seeing that come to pass here.

I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit moved the church in Antioch to send Saul and Barnabas. I’m thankful, too, that the Holy Spirit moved my parents to share the Gospel message with me when I was a little child. I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit keeps me in this faith. I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit continues to send people share the Good News of Jesus and moves people to believe. I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit has moved you to read this. I pray that he works in you to believe that Jesus loves you, forgives your sins, and grants you eternal salvation.