“A Spirit-led Call”
Acts 13:1-12
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.” [Acts 13:2]
There is no better satisfaction than knowing you are doing what you are called to do. Fulfilling the call of God on your life is one of the greatest fulfillments in this life. So many of us, however, never get to that point. We go through life struggling to even know what God has called us to do.
There are a few things to consider from the Word of God in that regard. Firstly, know that God has a call on every life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” [John 3:16]. The question is not if there is a call, but are we going to answer that call? “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matt 20:16; 22:14]
It begins with the call to salvation. The Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Pet 3:9] We are all called to salvation; to put our faith and trust in Jesus as Lord; to have intimate fellowship with our Creator through the Cross of Calvary. Have you answered the call of salvation? If you have then you’ve been chosen, chosen before the foundations of the world. [ref. Ephesians 1:4]
But it doesn’t stop there! After salvation comes sanctification, being set apart by God to be used for His glory. Yes, we are called to receive but also to serve. That’s where spiritual gifts come into play. We receive so that we can serve, serve God and others. It is the other side of the spiritual coin. So often we remain on the receiving side and never mature to serve. But it is in the serving that comes blessing because when we serve God’s call upon our lives is fulfilled. That call will take on different avenues for different people but know this; all Spirit-filled calls have this common denominator: Serving. You cannot fulfill God’s call without serving. It comes in the package of faith. Salvation life is the ignition for servant life.
And this is exactly what we see with Saul of Tarsus. Saul was radically saved on the road to Damascus. And now in Acts 13 we read of his service.
This morning, we begin the first of Paul’s three missionary journeys, which will take us to the end of Acts. We have moved from Peter to Paul. Peter has moved off the Canon of Scriptures’ focus. And Paul, through the work and revelation of the Spirit, will now take center stage.
