Overview:
The Holy Spirit’s selection and sending of Barnabas and Paul out of Antioch at the height of that city’s revival likely didn’t make perfect sense to anyone. And yet, they were ready to say yes and go wherever the Lord would lead. In this sermon on Acts 13, Pastor Chuck Swindoll reveals how change often describes the life of obedience. You may prefer routine and comfort, but God invites you to stay open and sensitive to where He is leading. Are you ready to embrace change and go where He leads?
Message Summary:
Obedience to God often requires the courage to leave the familiar. In “Released in Order to Obey,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll examines the pivotal moment in Acts 13 when the church at Antioch—at the height of a spiritual revival—was called by the Holy Spirit to release its two best leaders, Barnabas and Saul.
This message explores the tension between human logic and divine direction. While it made little “sense” to send away the primary architects of the Antioch church’s success, the believers responded with fasting, prayer, and immediate action. Swindoll emphasizes that the life of a disciple is characterized by constant change and an “open-hand” policy toward our plans, comforts, and routines. To be used by God, we must be willing to be released from where we are comfortable in order to go where He is calling.
Message Key Facts:
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The Call of the Spirit: The command to “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul” came while the church was worshipping and fasting, highlighting the importance of spiritual sensitivity in hearing God’s voice.
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A High Cost: Antioch was a thriving, multicultural church; releasing Barnabas and Saul was a significant sacrifice for the local congregation.
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The First Mission: This event marks the official beginning of the First Missionary Journey, shifting the focus of the book of Acts from a local ministry to a global mission.
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Human Logic vs. Divine Wisdom: Swindoll notes that God’s timing rarely aligns with our desire for security and routine, but it always aligns with His greater redemptive purposes.
Message References:
Primary Scripture References
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Acts 13:1–5: The core passage describing the diverse leadership at Antioch, the Holy Spirit’s specific call, and the subsequent “laying on of hands” as the apostles were sent out.
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Acts 13:13: A brief but important mention of the challenges of the journey, including the departure of John Mark, illustrating that obedience does not guarantee a lack of hardship.
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Isaiah 55:8–9: A supporting text often used to illustrate that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our own.
Core Principles for Life
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Stay Sensitive to the Spirit: God speaks most clearly to those who are actively seeking Him through worship and spiritual disciplines like fasting.
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Be Willing to Let Go: Obedience often means “releasing” something good (a job, a home, a relationship, or a routine) to lay hold of something better that God has planned.
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The Priority of the Gospel: The growth of the global Church takes precedence over the comfort of the local church.
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Change is the Catalyst for Growth: If we refuse to change, we limit what God can do through us. A “yes” to God is a “yes” to the unknown adventures He has in store.
