第十三章

1 在安提阿的教會中有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴和稱呼尼結的西面、古利奈人路求，與分封之王希律同養的馬念，並掃羅。

2 他們事奉主，禁食的時候，聖靈說：“要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅，去做我召他們所做的工。”

3 於是禁食禱告，按手在他們頭上，就打發他們去了。

 

默想

1. 在揀選、按立巴拿巴和掃羅為宣教士的過程中，敬拜、禱告和禁食缺一不可。今天一般的教會，在按立牧師、差派宣教士的典禮中，敬拜和禱告都是不可缺少的，禁食卻不常見到，為什麼呢？是否可以建議教會下一次按牧或差傳聚會中，或是在下次舉行全教會性有關將來計劃的會議時，將禁食加在聚會程序中？
2. 仔細重覆地閱讀下列定義，直到有更清楚的了解。並在本週內找機會來操練其中一項。

禁食：為了專注屬靈的事，自願禁戒某些正常的活動，最常見的例子是不進食；或是不上網，不看電視，球賽，不吃最愛的食物等。

禱告：與神對話，交流彼此的想法，討論共同合作的事情。因此，有我說，也有神說，我就安靜不語，聆聽神。

敬拜：用言語、音樂、禮儀和靜默的崇敬，來表述神的偉大和美善，並藉著這些方式進入神奇妙的榮耀中。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 13

¹In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While 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.” ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Meditation

1.        In this passage, worship, prayer and fasting are integrated into the selection and installation of Barnabas and Saul as missionaries.  Today worship and prayer are common in the ordination of pastors and installation of missionaries, but fasting is not.  Why has fasting been dropped from the preparation for these times of consecration?  How possible would it be to suggest that fasting be part of the next ordination or installation service in our church?  Or for the next church-wide meeting regarding future planning?

2.        Read carefully and repeatedly the definition of these three elements until a better understanding is gained.  Find ways to implement one of these this week.  (Source: Spiritual Formation Bible)

Fasting: The voluntary abstention from an otherwise normal function – most often eating – for the sake of intense spiritual activity. Other examples include websurfing, TV, favourite food, sports, etc .

Prayer: Interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together. Therefore, there is talking and also the silently listening.

Worship: Expressing in words, music, rituals, and silent adoration the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God, by means of which we enter the supernatural reality of the glory, of God.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.