THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD
Acts 13:2
Morning Meditations 7/3/17
The verse that we will look at today is: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
The word “ministered” (leitourgeo) means “to serve the state at one's own cost.” It is a present active participle. This means they kept on doing this. The present tense represents a continuous action. This was a practice.
The use of this word in the New Testament will help us understand its meaning. Matthew chapter 4 and verse 11 says, “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” What did the angels do? What does “ministered unto him” mean? It probably means that they comforted Him and strengthened Him. It could mean that they brought a special message to him from the Father. Angels are used many times to bring God’s messages.
Matthew chapter 8: and verse 15 says, “And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.” The word “ministered” describes the service that Peter’s wife’s mother rendered to Jesus and His disciples after Jesus healed her of a fever. She may have cooked a meal. She may have given them water. We are only told that she “ministered” unto them..
2 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 3 says, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” Here Paul is addressing believers in the Corinthian church and the word “ministered” describes his soul winning and discipleship efforts in their midst. They were the result of his ministry there.
Our text says, “As they ministered to the Lord.” It could have said “As they ministered for the Lord.” But that is not what it says. It says what they were doing was ministering to the Lord. That has always gotten my attention as I consider it. Can we minister to the Lord today? Peter’s wife’s mother did. The angels did. Let’s consider what they were doing that could be described as ministering to the Lord.
They were praying. If they were ministering to the Lord in prayer, it had to be a special kind of praying. We do not minister to the Lord when we are just there to get something. So their prayers must have been prayers of thanksgiving. David said in Psalm 116 and verse 17: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” Leviticus chapter 7 and verse 12 describes this offering: “If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.” God gives instructions concerning this offering. It had to be offered with unleavened cakes. The unleavened cakes could not symbolize any thing in their personal lives. They were sinners. Leaven is a type of sin. So the unleavened cakes represent the sinless life of Christ. They had to be mingled with oil. This represents the Holy Spirits involvement in our thanksgiving to God. The prayer of thanksgiving is our coming to God in and through Jesus with the aid of the Holy Spirit giving thanks unto God for Him. This ministers to the Lord. God is glorified by His children and ministered to when we with grateful hearts come to Him in prayer giving thanks in His name (Eph. 5:20).
It was not only a prayer of thanksgiving. It was a prayer of praise. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 19 says, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” Notice this singing is said to be “to the Lord..” How many of the songs we sing are to the Lord? Just read the songs in a song book. They are good songs and hymns but when you read the words you realize that they are addressed from us to the other believers. That’s ok. But it is not ministering to the Lord. Take for example the song In Times Like These. It goes: “In times like these you need a Saviour, In times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!” Now I think that is a great song. But when I sing it, I’m talking to you, not the Lord. And I am giving you good advice! But the song is written so that we as believers can testify to each other and admonish one another.
Take another great song: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place.” It goes like this: “My faith has found a resting place - Not in device nor creed: I trust the ever living one - His wounds for me shall plead. I need not other argument, I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me.” That song is me telling you what Jesus means to me. It is a great song but it is not ministering to the Lord.
Now look at the great hymn Rock of Ages: “Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.” That song is addressing God. It is being thankful and rehearsing what God has and is doing for the singer. It is ministering to the Lord.This song compliments God.
Now briefly, lets look at what ministering to the Lord did for them. It POSITIONED them to hear from Him. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” What a privilege for God to speak to us. We as believers want to hear from Him. We want His will to be done in our lives. Ministering to the Lord positions us to hear from Him.Most of the study in my ministry has not been to get messages to preach to others. I have felt a desperate need to fellowship with God and let Him speak to me through His Word. When I do this, I always get the message He wants for the people without a special effort to find it. It positions me to hear from Him.
Ministering to the Lord PREPARED them for service. There is nothing that will prepare me for service more than being close to Him, thanking and praising Him. These men who were ministering to the Lord were prepared for action on God’s orders. As they ministered to Him, they received His orders and took immediate action and a world wide mission program was launched. And it is the example for every New Testament Church to follow.
