Listen to the Spirit

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT

Acts 11:27-30

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

NIV

Not sure exactly what life lesson we can garner from this account of the activities going on in Antioch. Not sure what this Agabus fellow has to do with anything. Why did some of the prophets come down from Jerusalem in the first place? Were these prophets like those of the Old Testament? According to Paul’s letter to those in Ephesus we see that the office of prophet was one of the gifts to the church. Clearly there were Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists Pastors, and Teachers. These men were part of the early church and had a profound influence on the growth of this early church, so it would not be unusual for some of them to visit this part of the assembly considering all the new believers that have joined the church. So what is going on here? It seems after Agabus stands up and through the Spirit predicts a severe famine. From history we learn that there was a famine in the Roman empire at that time, but from this account it would appear it did not spread as far as Antioch as if it did there would be some reason for those believers to store up some provisions for their own benefit rather than simply the account of them gathering supplies and sending them off to those believers affected by the famine. Now they could have had such a large abundance they could afford to send a portion of it and still have plenty for themselves, but then the teaching about giving out of our abundance or wealth when Jesus watched the widow put in her two small copper coins, shows us this giving only a portion of our wealth is not such a good thing. So because this is an account of how the believers in Antioch gave to the believers in Judea it must have not been from their wealth, or abundance of provisions, but out of a divinely inspired act of compassion and mercy. We should note that each believer gave according to his ability. Some could give more than others but the point is, that did not matter for each gave something. We have to believe there was no envy or jealously involved or boasting by those who were able to give more. There may not even have been any accounting of who gave what, so there could be some sort of recognition for those who gave a lot, or so they could get a tax credit, or whatever. It was just that every believer gave something toward the need of those in Judea. We could learn that lesson. We could learn to give to others when there is a need presented such as when Agabus spoke about the famine.  That is a little different than simply giving to the church to pay bills. This is actually giving to brothers in need. A special offering for a special situation. Not sure if we do that today. But then that would require the moving of the Spirit in bringing the need. It is all about being sensitive to the Spirit. When he inspired Agabus to speak of the need the people responded. When we here the Spirit speak about a need we should respond as well.  We would do well not to confuse the need of men, with the inspiration of the Spirit. Men can drain others resources for their own benefit, but the Spirit inspires men to share with others when they are in need. We need to listen to the Spirit.