"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. 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." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:1-3)
Acts 13:1-3 gives to us a picture of how God wants to move in the church. At this time we know that God had already called Paul to salvation and that the early church was facing tremendous opposition.
Still, God was there. He wasn't content to merely watch His people from a distance; He was hands-on in the church's dealings and that's what we are going to look at in this article.
What can we learn from the time God called Paul and Barnabas? Here are a few things:
1) God knows what He wants to do
In Jeremiah 29:11 we read that God has a plan for all of us. The verse reads:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Well, at this time the early church had already suffered some persecution. In Acts 12 we read how Herod persecuted the church, how Peter became imprisoned and eventually freed, and how God judged Herod. These were trying times for the church.
Still, God knew what He wanted to do. And so in Acts 13:1-3 we read that while certain prophets and teachers, including Barnabas and Paul (then named Saul) were fasting in Antioch, God would tell the church to separate them unto Him for His purposes.
The church may be tested and tried, even persecuted and pummeled, but God knows what He plans to do.
2) God will use you regardless of your history
In Acts 13:1-3 we read that Paul was part of the group of prophets and teachers. In Acts 8, we read he was the terrible persecutor of the church. He terribly persecuted the church to the point that when he got saved, the church continued to fear him (see Acts 9:26).
God, however, didn't seem to mind that. Christ personally faced him while he was on his way to persecute more Christians (see Acts 9:1-5). Paul wanted to harass more believers in Christ; Christ wanted him to believe in Him.
God wants to use us regardless of our past. Sure, we were sinners before Christ saved us, but after we repent and get saved we're made into a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). And now that we're saved, all that God wants us to focus on is His will (see Isaiah 43:18-19; Philippians 3:13-14).
3) God is the one who calls people to ministry
Acts 13:1-3 also gives us proof that He is the one who calls people to ministry. This truth should be a standard by which all ministers stand.
God is the one who calls a person to salvation, to Christ-likeness, and to full-time or part-time church ministry. Any person who thinks they're saved without Christ's atonement is wrong; any person who makes his own definition of Christianity is wrong...
...and any person who says he or she is called to some kind of ministry without God's calling is terribly wrong.
When God calls a person to ministry, He will make it clear. The person called will know it, and others will also know it so as to confirm or recognize God's call upon him.
Sure, some who are truly called will face opposition (even from his own peers). It may even be that God has truly called them, but no one will support them (see Acts 21:1-13). Still, they are called.
On the other hand, there are some who present themselves as being called and yet are not. They use the name of the Lord and the Lord's ministry for their own selfish gain. They will soon be found out.
