Read Acts 13
Jan Limiero
Acts 13:2
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.”
The fasting group in Acts was led by the Holy Spirit to send out Barnabas and Saul. They ended up in a synagogue and asked to speak a word of encouragement.
The encouragement was, “You are chosen. You were rescued from slavery. You were taken into your land. You were given what you asked for (a king). One of your kings gave seed to the King of Kings, who was also a Savior. We have a message about this salvation.”
The bad news was they missed it so badly that they crucified the One who came to save them. Paul and Barnabas explained that the crucified one was the Savior, showing the depths of His love. And True Love defeated even death.
But there was more! (Here’s the crux) We are not only forgiven of our sins but freed from everything that religion couldn’t free us from!
We weren’t supposed to be freed by religion. Religion showed us what it takes to be completely righteous. But that’s as far as religion can take us – and that was the whole point! You can’t do it on your own. You need a Savior.
That’s why the people responded so positively to Paul’s message. Many of the Jews who had only had religion to live by to that point now realized there was something beyond religion. This was such good news! There is now a whole new land of freedom!
Those freed from religion become contagious! They have the living water that good, devout, and religious people have been thirsty for.
Religion itself is not bad; it’s just not complete. Jesus came to complete it!
Completing it means we are freed from the law. That’s no longer the measure of righteousness. Thank goodness! Righteousness is now a free gift!
We can now be free from everything that religion didn’t have the power to free us from. This is super-duper good news. It’s not only the gospel of salvation but the gospel of the Kingdom. It’s not just about being saved from our sins. There is so much more! It’s about abundant life in the Kingdom!!
Remember, this came about because people were worshipping, fasting, and listening to God. That’s what we are doing this month!
Application:
What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you as you worship and fast? Where might God be sending you out, like Barnabas and Paul, to expand the good news from religion to life abundant?
