MY CHURCH - A SENDING CHURCH

 

As we meditate on the our daily scripture today — let us reflect on the first 3 verses.

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3

The Church of antioch was the first church to send missionaries — and this book gave us the guidelines on how to send missionaries:

- they ministered to the Lord (worship) and they received the instruction to separate the missionaries (the calling to Go) (v2)

- The whole church fasted and prayed before sending them (v3)

- Then they laid hands on them and anointed them and sent them (They commissioned them) (v3)

 When JCRC was called to send missionaries we were also ministering to the Lord — we were under prayer when we heard the Holy Spirit to prepare missionaries — 

 We had no idea how to get all the resources (we needed 150SR for all the expenses) and the Holy Spirit told us to fast and pray as a church. So we did 21 day Daniel Fasting — it was hard and struggle but the Lord sustained us and he provided everything -financial, spiritual and physical preparation of the missionaries and the whole church.

** All the churches commissioned their missionaries before their departure and sent them off as they intercede for them for the whole journey.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for teaching us what to do when they called us.. it was our first time but the Holy Spirit gave us everything - indeed the Holy SPirit who is with us is the same spirit as before.. it was Him also who who guided the church of Antioch. 

Lord, you indeed, JCRC is yours, because everything that we do is always according to your plan — it is only now that when we keep reading your word that you are confirming us that we are doing what you want us to do and that things are all aligned to the scripture. 

Thank you Lord for the wisdom that you always give us in order for us to walk with the Scripture - though most of the time we walked with the Scripture first before we realized and you showed us that what we did is in the Scripture..

Thank you and keep using us Lord. Amen.