祷告的教会
使徒行传十三1至5节
1在安提阿的教会中，有几位先知和教师，就是巴拿巴和称呼尼结的西面、古利奈人路求，与分封之王希律同养的马念，并扫罗。
2他们事奉主、禁食的时候，圣灵说：要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗，去做我召他们所做的工。
3于是禁食祷告，按手在他们头上，就打发他们去了。
4他们既被圣灵差遣，就下到西流基，从那里坐船往塞浦路斯去。
5到了撒拉米，就在犹太人各会堂里传讲神的道，也有约翰作他们的帮手。
信息分享
安提阿教会是一间祷告的教会，但值得我们留意的是，安提阿教会的信徒并非只在自己方便的时候才抽空祈祷，经文更两次提到他们「禁食」祷告，这表示他们宁愿不吃饭，为了省下更多的时间来祷告。由此可见，他们为了祷告，不惜放下自己的基本欲望和需求。
我们曾否作过禁食祷告，或是为了祷告的缘故，甘愿放下自己的一些基本需求？我们的主耶稣终日忙于满足群众的需要，以致连休息的时间也没有，然而，为了争取时间去祷告，祂便甘愿牺牲睡眠的时间，不是清早起来祷告，就是彻夜不眠地祈祷。反观我们自己或我们的教会，究竟有没有这种甘愿放下自己需要的心志，为的是要更专心祈祷？
其次，当神向安提阿教会发出明确的命令时，他们便毫不迟疑地遵从。我们不要以为，神吩咐他们去做一件轻而易举的事，神实在是要他们将最好的献给祂──祂要他们将拥有劝慰人恩赐的巴拿巴和拥有布道恩赐的保罗差派出去。失去这两位领袖人材，对安提阿教会来说无疑是一大损失。然而，他们却听从神的吩咐把两人差出去，让他们成为福音的使者，而且，在他们出发之前，还为他们禁食祷告(3节)。
你的教会渴望得到更大的祝福吗？也许，现在正是时候去学习安提阿教会所树立的榜样，甘愿放下自己的需要去热心祷告了。然后，当神吩咐你的教会奉祂的名出去服侍祂的时候，亦要学像安提阿教会那样作好准备，立即以行动来回应神的呼召。
反省：
你愿意学像安提阿教会的信徒那样热心祷告吗？
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?