Acts 13

[Lou Newton]

Acts 13English Standard Version (ESV)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers,Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Notice that is was while, they were worshiping The Lord and fasting, that The Holy Spirit spoke to them. I have been in many churches and it seems that most are proclaiming what wonderful Christians they are, not how wonderful The Lord is. Most are also overfed to the point they are unhealthy with too much food. Then when The Lord does not speak to them, they make false prophecies and false acts proclaiming that the Lord spoke or did them.

Most churches have men choose the men and women that they claim are chosen to preach the gospel. When men choose ,these so called servants, there is no preaching of the gospel from The Lord. They simply speak the words they choose to speak themselves. This of course is dead preaching. Dead preaching makes dead churches.

They do not want men who follow The Holy Spirit, but instead they want men or women that follow them. Just as this error brought about the destruction of the ten tribes, and then the destruction of Judah, it is now destroying the church in the US. As the church goes, so goes the nation.

They do not trust The Holy Spirit to choose, because He would chose men that would speak for Him. They instead choose people who agree with the doctrines that they have chosen to follow. No one can serve two masters. One can not follow doctrines and also follow The Holy Spirit.

But this group in Antiock wanted The Holy Spirit to choose who preached His gospel. They had truly confessed their sinfulness and so did not trust themselves ( who were sinful men) but trusted instead The Holy Spirit, who is The Only Righteous One.

Notice even after The Holy Spirit had spoken to them, they fasted and prayed again to confirm what The Holy Spirit had spoken to them. They did not trust themselves, but instead trusted only The Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus.

Lou Newton

[Lou Newton]

I found the quote below in my email this morning:

ANOTHER 20-Year-OLD PROPHECY

Several weeks ago we published a prophetic word taken from my
1996 book, 'THE COMING GREAT REFORMATION - New Insights
into the Coming Worldwide Shaking, Reformation and Street
Revival.' Below is another prophecy taken from the same book-

"SMASHING DOWN the WALLS" - by Andrew Strom

"God is going to use this Reformation and Revival to smash down
the dividing walls that separate the Christians. Jesus has never
stopped desiring that there be only "one" undivided body. Today,
however, just amongst the Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians
alone there are so many divisions, "streams" and denominations
that it is almost impossible to count them all. Each division has
it's own `label', and in many ways they operate like competing
corporations, selling the same "product" under different labels
(with slight variations)...

God is going to smash down these `walls' in this Revival. How?
By bringing His people out from underneath all these "labels"! In
one very significant vision several years ago, a NZ prophet saw
God firing "flaming arrows" into the churches. These flaming
arrows were `on-fire' ministries, speaking the word of God. However,
the Pastors were rushing around trying to damp down the flames!
God then sent a "mighty wind" to fan the flames, and suddenly
the doors of the churches burst open and all the people flooded
out onto the streets to become one huge throng. I believe that this
is an exact picture of what is about to take place, and in many
ways it also illustrates the whole concept of "Reformation"...

Another local intercessor was also shown a vision relating to this
several years ago, while deep in prayer. The first thing she saw
was church buildings of every kind - stained glass, steeples, plain
and modern, etc. This part of the vision was in black and white.
The churches all looked abandoned - like a ghost town, with birds
nesting in them and doors and windows askew, etc. And in each
church, the intercessor saw a huge old curtain or `veil' that was
in absolute tatters.

The second part of the vision was all in colour. She saw hundreds
of Christians outdoors (with guitars, etc) fellowshipping together
in the open air. She knew that these Christians had abandoned
their church buildings and `divisions', and were now fellowshipping
freely out-of-doors. When she asked God what the huge tattered
curtain in each of the abandoned churches represented, she was
told that when Jesus was crucified, the veil/curtain in the temple
was rent, thus allowing the people free access to the `holy of
holies'. However, the churches had raised up this veil once again.
But now these structures had been abandoned, thus allowing the
common people free access to God's holy-of-holies once more.
What an astounding vision!

There can be no doubt that God desires a loving, militant "street-
level" Church today. After all, isn't that what the early church was
all about? I believe that it will become common for incredible signs,
wonders and miracles to be performed on the streets as a result
of this coming Revival. In fact, I believe that we are about to see
a demonstration of God's glory in the area of the miraculous that
will be even more powerful than the book of Acts.

Enormous love, enormous boldness and `joy unspeakable' will be
just some of the characteristics of this Revival. And everything will
be bathed in prayer. In fact this Revival is going to be BUILT on
prayer. As Charles Finney said, "Revival comes from heaven when
heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die... `The
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by
force.'" There is no substitute for faith-filled, Spirit-fired "agonizing"
prayer. Only those who are prepared and praying will be involved
in this Revival from the beginning. As history shows, great
blessing can only ever fall when the people of God learn to seek
His face with all their heart."

-Source- 'The Coming Great Reformation', 1996.

I can not say if these prophecies are from The Holy Spirit of not. But I can only hope that they are from Him.

But one thing for sure, all the doctrines of these churches, that only serve to separate them, have to be abandoned, for true revival to take place.

These doctrines are only laws, and most are the laws of men, not of God. BUT the letter of the law brings death, only The Spirit of the law brings life. The Spirit of the law is His Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3English Standard Version (ESV)

Ministers of the New Covenant

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Romans 8English Standard Version (ESV)

Life in the Spirit

8There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law,weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Note: If we do not have His Holy Spirit living in us, we are still dead to the spirit and follow the only thing that has natural life, which is our flesh. But the flesh can not please God. The flesh can only try to follow God's laws. But this is the way of death, for no man can follow God's laws. If men could do so, Jesus did not have to die.

But those who have His Holy Spirit living in them AND follow His Holy Spirit are the sons of God. This is the only way to LIFE. All other paths lead to death. Following His Holy Spirit leads to eternal life.

Lou Newton

[Baruch]

There is much in here, Lou. This speaks to me. It seems clearer and clearer to me that doctrine divides us, and the Holy Spirit joins us. Church buildings were meant to be a good thing, but they have become strongholds for bad as well.

We are told to love each other whom we can see, in order to love God whom we cannot see. The Holy Spirit makes this possible.

If doctrine distances us from each other, then does it also distance us from God? And what spirit fuels this?

Caveat: I do not mean to imply that all doctrine is bad, but those that divide the one body. And I do not suggest that unity (ecumenism) under bad doctrine is good, either.

[Lou Newton]

There is much in here, Lou. This speaks to me. It seems clearer and clearer to me that doctrine divides us, and the Holy Spirit joins us. Church buildings were meant to be a good thing, but they have become strongholds for bad as well.

We are told to love each other whom we can see, in order to love God whom we cannot see. The Holy Spirit makes this possible.

If doctrine distances us from each other, then does it also distance us from God? And what spirit fuels this?

Caveat: I do not mean to imply that all doctrine is bad, but those that divide the one body. And I do not suggest that unity (ecumenism) under bad doctrine is good, either.

Thanks for the very good comments Barry.

I am thankful that you can hear what The Holy Spirit is speaking to us in the above scriptures. You are certainly correct, there is a lot there.

Amen, true unity is NOT for all to believe the same doctrine. True unity is for all to trust The Lord Jesus to save them and also trust in nothing else. Unity is when we all follow His Holy Spirit.

If one reads with care, they will notice that in the gospels Jesus warns us over and over not to follow the traditions of men, but to trust in God.

Lou

[Lou Newton]

Acts 13English Standard Version (ESV)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers,Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


Lou Newton

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

We see that these two were sent out by the Holy Spirit and NOT by any man, or group of men. When men send out men, God is not encouraged to act. No move of God is started by men. But instead God encourages men to follow Him. God does NOT follow men.

1 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Notice they did NOT proclaim what they thought important, BUT they preached The Word of God. Now the Holy Scriptures tell us that The Word of God is the person of The Lord Jesus, and not only The Book, which is part of the creation. The Word of God is The Creator.

John 1English Standard Version (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Revelation 19:12-14English Standard Version (ESV)

12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

No ink on paper can contain the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures are a written record of the words He spoke. BUT when mere men speak them with their impure motives to gather other men after themselves, the words are not from Him at all. But instead are mere words from mere men.

But when The Creator sends men out and then speaks through them when they surrender to Him; then the Words are The Word of God and from The Word of God.

The Creator was speaking through these two men and just as when Jesus spoke to the people they gathered to listen because He spoke with authority, they also gathered to listen here because He spoke with authority.

There is simply a vast difference between men speaking and The Creator of everything that exists speaking.

It is COMMON to hear men speak; like gravel is common.

It is rare to hear The Creator speak; like diamonds are rare.

I have been in many churches in my lifetime and it is common to hear men speak in them. There is no real life in their words.

I have heard The Word of God speak in a church rarely. There is life in those words, because The Life is speaking them.

Jesus is The Life. There is no life outside of Jesus. No mere man can bring forth real life.

Lou Newton

[Lou Newton]

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

We see that these two were sent out by the Holy Spirit and NOT by any man, or group of men. When men send out men, God is not encouraged to act. No move of God is started by men. But instead God encourages men to follow Him. God does NOT follow men.

1 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Notice they did NOT proclaim what they thought important, BUT they preached The Word of God. Now the Holy Scriptures tell us that The Word of God is the person of The Lord Jesus, and not only The Book, which is part of the creation. The Word of God is The Creator.

John 1English Standard Version (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Revelation 19:12-14English Standard Version (ESV)

12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

No ink on paper can contain the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures are a written record of the words He spoke. BUT when mere men speak them with their impure motives to gather other men after themselves, the words are not from Him at all. But instead are mere words from mere men.

But when The Creator sends men out and then speaks through them when they surrender to Him; then the Words are The Word of God and from The Word of God.

The Creator was speaking through these two men and just as when Jesus spoke to the people they gathered to listen because He spoke with authority, they also gathered to listen here because He spoke with authority.

There is simply a vast difference between men speaking and The Creator of everything that exists speaking.

It is COMMON to hear men speak; like gravel is common.

It is rare to hear The Creator speak; like diamonds are rare.

I have been in many churches in my lifetime and it is common to hear men speak in them. There is no real life in their words.

I have heard The Word of God speak in a church rarely. There is life in those words, because The Life is speaking them.

Jesus is The Life. There is no life outside of Jesus. No mere man can bring forth real life.

Lou Newton

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