From: June 19, 2024
“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137:1 ESV).
The Jewish captives composed this melancholy song while exiled in Babylon. Having lost their homes in Judah and seeing their holy city Jerusalem with its Temple destroyed, they gathered somewhere on the shores of the Euphrates, and wept. Surely they mourned as homesick children torn away from their mother. Yet, even more so because of their sin which brought the Lord’s discipline. Their bodies were exiled to Babylon, but their hearts were continually set on Zion.
The Jews were exiled in Babylon for 70 years and the first generation surely longed for their true home. But I wonder, did the later generation born in Babylon feel the same longings? Having never seen Jerusalem, did Babylon feel like home to them?
I grew up hearing hymns about heaven being sung by my grandparents and parents. My maternal grandfather’s favorite hymn was “I’ll Meet You In The Morning,” a song that always brought tears to his eyes. Consider the words of this first verse:
“I’ll meet you in the morning by the bright riverside
When all sorrow has drifted away
I’ll be standin’ at the portals when the gates open wide
At the close of life’s long weary day.”
I wonder why we don’t sing songs about heaven the way the previous generation did? Have we become so comfortable in Babylon that we have forgotten Zion?
PRAYER: Lord, help us to set our eyes on You today, pulling our affections off of this world and putting them on You. For You are the object of our love and worship. There is weeping in this world, but not without hope. For You have given us hope in Your Son, Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. He is our home, our Jerusalem. And we set our hearts continually on Him. In His name we pray, amen.
From: June 19, 2023
‘One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way’ (Acts 13:2-3 NLT).
Imagine attending a worship service that ends not with an invitation to lunch, but with a commissioning service that puts you on the next boat going out to sea. That’s what happened with Barnabas and “Saul” (“Paul”).
O to have worship services so Spirit-filled that people immediately surrender to do what God has called them to do. May churches around the world begin to experience an Antioch revival, a church known not for its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. Antioch is called the “Cradle of Christianity,” where the Spirit called, and the people obeyed and went.
Remember dear believer, we are sent!
PRAYER: Dear Father, may we begin to see the Spirit move in the Church today as they did at Antioch. We pray for revival in our city, country and world. Spirit move. The only movement we want to follow is Yours. Revive us O God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 19, 2022
A PRAYER SERVICE THAT BECAME A COMMISSIONING SERVICE
Five key leaders in the Antioch church were fasting and praying one day when the Spirit spoke to them. The Scripture does not say how the Spirit communicated. Did all of the men or only one hear the instruction? Was it an audible voice or an internal awareness? The Scripture doesn’t report whether the men were asking for direction. In fact, it appears they were simply having a time of prayer together, as church leaders should always do. Regardless, the men heard the Spirit and obeyed.
The Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul. The order in which the five Antioch church leaders was listed placed Barnabas first and Saul last. Apparently, Barnabas was the senior leader and Saul was the new guy. Yet, the Spirit put them together to build one of the greatest missionary teams in Christian history. The Spirit chose them for “special work.” What was this special work? It was to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
So, the leaders of the Antioch church immediately laid hands on Barnabas and Saul, commissioning them for special service, and sent them out.
Where are the prayer services that become commissioning services in today’s church?
PRAYER: Dear Father, give us direction through Your Holy Spirit as You did the saints in Antioch. And strengthen us to be obedient to Your call as they were. In Jesus’ name, amen.