Bringing the Good News
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Acts 11:21
Read John 15:1-8
We read in our text that the hand of the Lord was with them who had fled from Jerusalem. That was very important. Much work can be done in and by a congregation but the proverbial saying remains true also today: If God does not bestow His blessing it is all in vain. You can be sure that they often prayed for this. Without prayer, work in God’s Kingdom is impossible. In fact, a Christian must be a praying individual or he is not a Christian at all. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. Is that also true of you? Mission work and evangelism outreach begins with prayer at the throne of God. True witnesses of Jesus Christ receive their directives from their heavenly King with the command: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (Matt. 28:19). Great blessings were experienced in Antioch, for we read in our text that a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Was this all due to their efforts? No, the hand of the Lord was with them! Does that mean that they could just as well have been busy with other things? By no means! They were dependent upon God’s blessing, but the Lord uses means to perform His work. That is still true today. Not every member of a congregation must be sent out to a foreign land; the Lord calls some His servants to do that work. But the Lord commands every member of His Church: Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Thought: True prayer is necessary for Christians.
Psalter 71: 1,2 (based on Psalm 27) Jehovah is my light, And my salvation near; Who shall my soul afright, Or cause my heart to fear? While God my strength, my life sustains, Secure from fear my soul remains. When evil doers came To make my life their prey, They stumbled in their shame And fell in sore dismay; Though hosts make war on every side, Still fearless I in God confide.