Acts 13:2 – “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.”
Two questions pop out at me in this verse. First, how do you “minister to the Lord,” and second, “How is it the Holy Spirit told the church to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work assigned to them?”
The answer to the first question is hidden in the Greek meaning of the word “ministered.” The English equivalent is liturgy. This was not a meeting out of the ordinary. They were having a “normal” church service. And somewhere during their liturgical service to God there was a moment when the Holy Spirit “spoke.” How could that be? (second question) The answer can be found in verse 1: “Now in the church at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers…”
The church at Antioch had an active prophetic ministry that was allowed to operate during the liturgical service. This event signaled the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys, which eventually led to the preaching of the gospel to the whole world. It all started with prayer, fasting, and the prophetic ministry being released in the church to bring the word of God into the direction of the church. That’s New Testament ministry and it is sorely needed in our churches today. May the church rise to its knees in fasting and prayer and may God give the church true prophets who will speak the word of the Lord to us…and may God give the church leaders who value the prophetic voice and will let it operate to bring direction and victory to God’s people.