Listening and Responding

Ex 37-38; Psalms 19; Acts 11

“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world…The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabus and Saul.”

Acts 11:27-30

Does God still warn or prepare the Church for natural disasters or significant challenges through prophetic words today so that we can both pray and become a blessing to others?

While the famine covered the entire Roman world, the Church in Antioch chose to send relief aid to Jerusalem, the home city of the prophets whom God used to bring the prophetic Word. Their first concern in the famine was to support the Church which had blessed them spiritually.

Are we listening to the Word as we, too, experience natural disasters?

Are we available to the Holy Spirit to make us a blessing to other parts of the body of Christ through sharing either our spiritual gifts or our material gifts?

The prophets from Jerusalem probably didn’t realize that by sharing their spiritual gifts in Antioch, they had opened the door to receive material gifts in Jerusalem. We all have something to share in the global family of God.

What are we hearing the Lord say, and how are we to respond?

“Lord God, prepare me to be a blessing to others in the midst of crises, disasters, and everyday life, for your glory.”