禱告的教會
使徒行傳十三1至5節
1在安提阿的教會中，有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴和稱呼尼結的西面、古利奈人路求，與分封之王希律同養的馬念，並掃羅。
2他們事奉主、禁食的時候，聖靈說：要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅，去做我召他們所做的工。
3於是禁食禱告，按手在他們頭上，就打發他們去了。
4他們既被聖靈差遣，就下到西流基，從那裡坐船往塞浦路斯去。
5到了撒拉米，就在猶太人各會堂裡傳講神的道，也有約翰作他們的幫手。
信息分享
安提阿教會是一間禱告的教會，但值得我們留意的是，安提阿教會的信徒並非只在自己方便的時候才抽空祈禱，經文更兩次提到他們「禁食」禱告，這表示他們寧願不吃飯，為了省下更多的時間來禱告。由此可見，他們為了禱告，不惜放下自己的基本慾望和需求。
我們曾否作過禁食禱告，或是為了禱告的緣故，甘願放下自己的一些基本需求？我們的主耶穌終日忙於滿足群眾的需要，以致連休息的時間也沒有，然而，為了爭取時間去禱告，祂便甘願犧牲睡眠的時間，不是清早起來禱告，就是徹夜不眠地祈禱。反觀我們自己或我們的教會，究竟有沒有這種甘願放下自己需要的心志，為的是要更專心祈禱？
其次，當神向安提阿教會發出明確的命令時，他們便毫不遲疑地遵從。我們不要以為，神吩咐他們去做一件輕而易舉的事，神實在是要他們將最好的獻給祂──祂要他們將擁有勸慰人恩賜的巴拿巴和擁有佈道恩賜的保羅差派出去。失去這兩位領袖人材，對安提阿教會來說無疑是一大損失。然而，他們卻聽從神的吩咐把兩人差出去，讓他們成為福音的使者，而且，在他們出發之前，還為他們禁食禱告(3節)。
你的教會渴望得到更大的祝福嗎？也許，現在正是時候去學習安提阿教會所樹立的榜樣，甘願放下自己的需要去熱心禱告了。然後，當神吩咐你的教會奉祂的名出去服侍祂的時候，亦要學像安提阿教會那樣作好準備，立即以行動來回應神的呼召。
反省：
你願意學像安提阿教會的信徒那樣熱心禱告嗎？
IS YOUR CHURCH A PRAYING CHURCH?
Acts 13: 1 - 5
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
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.”
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
Message
The church at Antioch was a praying church. But notice that they prayed not only when it was easy and convenient. Twice in these verses we read of 'fasting' which is going without food in order to spend more time in prayer. That means the sacrifice of personal appetites in order to pray.
Do we know very much of this? Our Lord was often so busy that to find the necessary time for prayer, he gave up his sleep. Do we know - does your church know - very much about that kind of sacrificial prayer?
Secondly, when God spoke to the church, they were immediately obedient. God asked for their best. He always does. He asked for Barnabas, the encourager, and Paul, the active leader in evangelism. It must have been quite a loss to the Antioch church to give up those two men. But they sent Paul and Barnabas out as their representatives and prayed for them as they went (v. 3).
Does your church stand in the need of greater blessing? Perhaps it should take a lesson from the Antioch church and spend more time in sacrificial prayer. Then if God speaks to your church, asking you to step out in his name, make sure your obedience is as ready and immediate as was theirs.
A QUESTION:
Should you personally be more like those at Antioch?