Here is another glimpse of the church at Antioch. We saw a few days ago how they enjoyed sound Bible teaching and were active in witnessing. Now we see something of their depth of prayer and their willing obedience when God called.
今天我們會從另一個角度來認識安提阿的教會。我們已經知道，安提阿教會不單為信徒提供美好的聖經教導，而且，信徒亦熱衷於為信仰作見證。從今天查考的經文中，我們將看見安提阿的信徒如何熱心禱告，和忠於神的呼召。
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.
安提阿教會是一間禱告的教會，但值得我們留意的是，安提阿教會的信徒並非只在自己方便的時候才抽空祈禱，經文更兩次提到他們「禁食」禱告，這表示他們寧願不吃飯，為了省下更多的時間來禱告。由此可見，他們為了禱告，不惜放下自己的基本慾望和需求。
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?
我們曾否作過禁食禱告，或是為了禱告的緣故，甘願放下自己的一些基本需求？我們的主耶穌終日忙於滿足群眾的需要，以致連休息的時間也沒有，然而，為了爭取時間去禱告，祂便甘願犧牲睡眠的時間，不是清早起來禱告，就是徹夜不眠地祈禱。反觀我們自己或我們的教會，究竟有沒有這種甘願放下自己需要的心志，為的是要更專心祈禱？
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).
其次，當神向安提阿教會發出明確的命令時，他們便毫不遲疑地遵從。我們不要以為，神吩咐他們去做一件輕而易舉的事；神實在是要他們將最好的獻給祂──祂要他們將擁有勸慰人恩賜的巴拿巴，和擁有佈道恩賜的保羅差派出去。失去這兩位領袖人材，對安提阿教會來說無疑是一大損失。然而，他們卻聽從神的吩咐把兩人差出去，讓他們成為福音的使者，而且，在他們出發之前，還為他們禁食禱告(3節)。
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.
你的教會渴望得到更大的祝福嗎？也許，現在正是時候去學習安提阿教會所樹立的榜樣，甘願放下自己的需要去熱心禱告了。然後，當神吩咐你的教會奉祂的名出去服侍祂的時候，亦要學像安提阿教會那樣作好準備，立即以行動來回應神的呼召。
A QUESTION:
Should you personally be more like those at Antioch?
反省：
你願意學像安提阿教會的信徒那樣熱心禱告嗎？
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