Sunday’s Blessing – 03/08/2026 – 3rd Sunday of Lent – Spirit Led

Sunday’s Blessing – 03/08/2026 – 3rd Sunday of Lent – Spirit Led

Years ago I had a friendship with a worship leader in Montgomery. Gil Melendez led worship at Christian Life Church, pastored by Steve Vickers. Gil was a very caring person with a pure heart for the Lord. During one of the worship conferences they held at CLC I heard Gil discuss the worship ministry there, which included their Mission Statement: When we lift our voice in praise, the Holy Ghost will say.

This is taken from Acts 13:1-3, where the Church at Jerusalem sent out the first missionaries, Paul and Barnabas. This was a major turn of the page to the way things had always been done. Until this time, everyone was encouraged, or even required, to “come” to the place of worship (the synagogue or temple in Judaism) instead of others “going” to them to share the love of God and the message of hope, The Gospel (good news) of Jesus.

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. While 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.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

There was a very diverse group of people from all tiers of society and across many cultures. They had all gathered for one purpose: worshiping the Lord. Other translations use the word “ministering”. It means, “1. to be a public servant, 2. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (revering God while serving man).” It’s where the church gets its term “lay person”, meaning someone who does ministry but is not in an ”official” capacity, like a pastor. This is a bit humorous to me, because the writer of Acts (believed to be Luke) describes them as prophets and teachers. But as these submitted themselves to the Lord in a posture of worship, probably singing songs expressing their love to God for all He had done, the Holy Spirit broke in and gave them specific direction on what to do next.

They did not convene a committee to study the matter. They did not put off the task until they had a clearcut path for the missionaries to follow. They did not put it before a focus group to see if it would be successful. They simply did what the Spirit directed them to do. They laid hands on Paul (Saul at this point) and Barnabas and sent them off. This one simple act of obedience resulted in all of Asia hearing the gospel, as Paul and others embarked on missions which lasted the rest of their lives.

Again, what does this have to do with Lent? Actually, it has everything to do with Lent. God still speaks to His people. When we “minister” to Him (the very purpose for Lent in the first place) the Holy Spirit will say, even to us. This is not just truth for “those” people back then. It is for every Believer (follower of Jesus). And it’s not just for Lent, but every waking moment of every single day. When we keep our focus on the Lord we will hear what the Spirit is saying. What a way to live!

Now for today’s blessing:

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 (ESV)

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)