"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch" (Acts 11:27). The base at Antioch had teachers, it had pastors and other gifts, but there was also a strong need for God to come and speak through the prophets' office.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
(Acts 11:28-30)

We find through the Scriptures that Agabus was a well-known, accurate prophet of God. He came to Antioch and spoke by the Spirit of a drought that was to come.

The first thing the disciples or Christians at Antioch did when they heard the Word of the Lord through the prophet was "...determine to send relief unto the brethren...."

In other words, the first thing they did was take up a missionary offering - they started sending to the world.

A base has to have a heart for the world. Not only was the base a local church, it was also a teaching center, and it was a giving center!

There is something in Acts 13 of great significance to the base. We read in Acts 13:1, "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers...."

Apparently the base in Antioch was a gathering place for ministry gifts. Verse one says these ministry gifts were in the church, which means they had a home-church or home-base from which to travel in and out.

Verse two gives us a description of the meetings they had at the church in Antioch: "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.'"

To minister to the Lord means to pray, praise, worship, and sing praises. The church in Antioch loved to praise and worship God. It was a place filled with Holy Spirit music.

As they took time to minister to the Lord, "...the Holy Spirit said...." The church in Antioch was a place where the Spirit of God was free to operate.

The Holy Spirit spoke and said, "...Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Only God can call, but He gives man the privilege of separating.

Verse three goes on to say, "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." The church in Antioch was a place of separation where they also had a strong belief in impartation through the laying on of hands by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

How do you suppose they "sent" Barnabas and Saul away? The Bible said they fasted, they prayed, and then they laid their hands on them. What else could they have done to send them? They must have unloaded finances on them!

The church in Antioch was a sending place. It was a base where people could be trained, equipped, and sent out. It was a prosperous local church, liberal enough to send Barnabas and Saul to the nations.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see the same thing in churches of the last days. Missions bases. Fire bases. These bases will be the churches of the last days.

They will be places where people are trained up and sent out: places to come back to refuel, and then be thrust out again - back to the nations to take territory - to take souls for the kingdom of God!

Places that will grow larger on the outside than they are on the inside. Places that as interested in sending people out as they are in bringing them in.

Mark Brazee Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.