The evidence from the N.T. is clear. When God wants to do a new thing within the life of His church, he does it when the church is gathered together, worshipping and praying. God most consistently reveals His will to Christians when we are together. There are numerous N.T. examples. The encounters of the risen Jesus to the disciples - there are many but one worth citing is in Acts Chapter1. v 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. v 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit."  Of course God speaks to and calls individuals to serve him. But when God seeks to renew and re-envision His church, he does it when they gather together.

One of the mostly brightly shining churches of the first century is the congregation at Antioch. It got so much of church life right, from the very beginning. We learn in chapter 11v19, when other Christians were just preaching to Jews after the persecution of Stephen, the founders of this church preached to both Jew and Gentile. And a great number repented and turned to the Lord. Barnabas then joined the leadership of the church and was an encouragement to them (literally to instilled them with courage and determination.). His impact was immediate too. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. And because Barnabas was an outward looking, generous -hearted Christian, he went and found Saul and brought him to Antioch. What a great place to incubate a new Christian leader! Where Jew and Gentile are valued, where repentance is preached, where encouragement is shown. Who isn’t going to grow in a church like that?!

 I believe that is why God speaks to churches when they are gathered together, worshipping and praying. Because when we humble ourselves, we look to God, we look to the needs of others, we become ‘community’ - and that is not a human invention or a social invention for the sake of survival. Community is God’s dearest creation because it is grounded in His nature. We are to be a plurality of persons, but oneness in being. When we become community like that, God can speak to us, because God is speaking to His own.

 So God speaks to the church at Antioch through Agabus, a visitor from Jerusalem and the church is not distrustful of a visitor; they don’t get the hump because one of their members didn’t have the prophecy. Verse 29 is such a beautiful verse of Christian love in action - a community who cares - 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.

 I realise that this is an extended introduction to the subject of prayer, but if we can just raise our eyes towards heavenward and see how God longs for a community to be, to serve, to preach and to pray, then it will have been worth it.

Chapter 13 revisits the church at Antioch. Let’s hear it read out loud…….

 Luke, the write of Acts keeps this account so tantalisingly brief; yet, he is fully aware that this is a crucial event in the history of the church. Yes, the passage is about the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul for their first missionary journey. But what I want to think about is how God works his mighty purpose through a group of fallen yet redeemed Christians, because that’s what we need to know for our lives and our church. So the question that I want to consider for the next few minutes before we move into a time of prayer is...... ‘How do we ready ourselves to hear God speak?’

 Firstly, let me reiterate:  I have already said, I believe that God speaks through a church that has its attitude right. Barnabas was an encourager. Saul was an evangelist, we know little about Simeon, other than we know that he was a black African. That at least implies that the church integrated all people of all races and colours and allowed them to minister effectively. The same could be said of Lucius who was from Cyrene - now in Libya. Manaen, a Christian convert and once childhood friend of Herod completes the list. These were just a few of the leaders, but this demonstrates the diversity of the leadership.

 Secondly, a church that hears God speak listens to the teacher and the prophet. The Word and the Spirit should also go hand in hand- one illuminating the other. We need to be listening to the teaching of God’s word, but I believe that God can speak prophetically through the voice of His people today. It takes much humility time, and great wisdom to discern a prophetic voice in the midst of the church, but I believe that we should not fear exercising God’s gifts to His church, just because we may slow to hear His voice. As a minister of the word, I value the correcting word of God spoken through a man or woman who walks closely with God and who can speak the truth in love.

 And then God spoke through His Holy Spirit- when, while they were fasting and worshipping. The discipline of fasting is one that takes time to learn, and most Anglicans find it a struggle. Yet, God speaks to us in these times like these. We do not know how the Holy Spirit spoke to them. We do not specifically know the work that Barnabas and Saul were commissioned to do, though we can imply what it is through their subsequent ministry. Luke - the writer of acts is frustratingly brief. But when God spoke He didn’t leave Antioch in the comfort zone, with its dream team of teachers and prophets. He didn’t say- I’m very pleased with you, take it easy, relax, keep doing what you’re doing, everything will be fine. He called out from among their midst 2 of their key leaders - an encourager and a razor sharp teacher and evangelist. When God speaks to us, we should not expect that it will just be to pat us on the back. But it will be to challenge us, stretch us, and lead us towards sacrifice and a greater dependence upon Him. And all of this happened to the church at Antioch.

 So how did they respond? They received this word with joy and they sent Saul and Barnabas off with their blessing. This is a church that listens to God and responds with obedience. I think that it appropriate that Luke tells us in 11. 26. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. I think they demonstrate in these few verses what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. What it means to be a Christian.

 Outside of the Acts of the Apostles, we don’t hear very much about the church at Antioch. Just two mentions as Paul remembers His ministry during that time. The Bible doesn’t tell us if the church grew. But archaeology does. By the 4th century, they have found evidence for 20 church buildings in that city. However that came to be, that is evidence of growth. I believe that it is a growth built upon prayer, openness to God’s Spirit and faithfulness in discipleship. May Christ church be known for that as well.

© Jay Colwill
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