The sermons in the past few weeks starting from Acts 13 have enabled us to journey in the footsteps of Jesus’ followers and witness the spread of the gospel. Jesus’ disciples were gifted, courageous, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The early church missionaries performed miracles and signs which testified to the message they preached. In spite of serious beatings and oppression, Paul and his co-workers continued their mission. What was their secret?
13:2-3 the Antioch church was worshiping the Lord and fasting when they received the vision to send out Paul and Barnabas on their first mission journey.
14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church and entrusted them to the Lord with fasting and prayers.
16:25 Paul and Silas were singing and praying while they were locked up in jail.
Their spiritual secret of prayer, full dependence on and submission to God is a big encouragement to us.
Compared to early church missionaries, we may not see that we are so gifted, courageous, or filled with the Holy Spirit in order to witness for the gospel. There is so much going on around and within us to draw our attention away from witnessing for Jesus. While praying may be one of the most challenging ministries, yet it is also quite straight forward to practice, especially when praying with other believers.
How would the Lord enable us to be witnesses for the gospel in our own Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth?
Let’s start by praying with fellow believers so we may see where and how the Lord guides us. The book of Acts is continued by ordinary people like you and me, following the guidance and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Let’s encourage each other together.
過去幾個星期，從使徒行傳第13章開始的講道使我們能跟隨耶穌門徒傳福音、作見證的腳蹤。耶穌的門徒有恩賜，有勇氣，並被聖靈充滿。早期教會宣教士施行神蹟奇事，證明他們所傳的信息。儘管受到嚴重的毆打和壓迫，保羅和他的同工仍繼續他們的使命。他們的秘訣是什麼？
13:2-3 安提阿的教會敬拜主和禁食的時候，他們收到異象、就差派保羅和巴拿巴開始他們的第一次宣教之旅。
14:23 保羅和巴拿巴在每個教會中委任長老，並在禁食和禱告中將他們交托給主。
16:25 保羅和西拉在監獄中被囚禁時，他們唱詩和禱告。
他們的屬靈秘訣是禱告，對神的完全依賴和順服。這對我們來說是一個巨大的鼓勵。
與早期教會宣教士相比，我們可能認為自己在為福音作見證上並不像他們一樣具有如此的恩賜、勇氣或被聖靈充滿。我們周圍和內心有太多事情，使我們分散注意力，無法為耶穌作見證。雖然禱告可能是其中一個最具挑戰性的服侍，但特別是在與其他信徒一同禱告時，實踐起來卻相對直接。
主如何使我們能在我們自己的耶路撒冷、猶太地、撒瑪利亞和地極為福音作見證呢？
讓我們從與其他信徒一同禱告開始，這樣我們就可以看到主引導我們的地方和方式。使徒行傳的篇章是由像你和我這樣的普通人、遵循聖靈的引導和力量而去延續的。大家一起彼此鼓勵吧。
