After the persecution of the Church began, God revealed another powerful pattern for the body of Christ through the church at Antioch. The first church to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, the Antioch church boldly evangelized where none had gone before. “And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number … turned and surrendered themselves to Him” (Acts 11:21 Amp).
The Antioch church had the power of the Jerusalem church but they took that power beyond their own circle of friends. They became a multicultural church that welcomed every nation, tribe, and tongue.
When the Jerusalem church heard what was happening in Antioch, it caused such a stir that they sent Barnabas to check it out. He was so delighted with what he found that he talked the apostle Paul into joining him there. They stayed and ministered in the Antioch church for a year and “instructed a large number of people” (verse 26).
As a result, it became a strong teaching center, a hub of sound doctrine. The saints were spiritually well-fed and equipped there. So much so that “in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” or little Christs (verse 26).
Since the word Christ means “Anointed One,” the nickname given to the Antioch believers indicated the power of Jesus’ anointing was in operation in their lives. They were called little Christs not just because they were all smiles and loved everybody but because they lived like Jesus lived. They talked like He talked and did the works that He did. They went about healing all that were oppressed of the Devil.
The Antioch church members duplicated the ministry of Jesus both at home and abroad. Instead of being nearsighted, they set their sights on taking the anointing to the whole world and became a pattern for us all to follow.
Scripture Reading: Acts 15:30 – 41
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Lynne Hammond Ministries
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”