Space for the Spirit

The church at Antioch had room for the Holy Spirit.

They cleared the clutter of productivity. In worship, there was time to hear from the Lord.

They cleared the clutter of eating. In fasting, there was hunger to give to the Lord.

They were simply there—nothing to do, nothing to eat. Only plenty of open space in the calendar to hear from the Holy Spirit.

And in the margin, the Spirit spoke:

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2)

With clear directions from the Spirit, you might think the Christians of Antioch would have wrapped up worship and started getting things done.

But they kept going. Though they had the directions, there wanted more of God.

“Then after fasting and praying …” (Acts 13:3)

First, more space.

And then, after they truly met with God, they moved:

“ … they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:3)

It was this space for the Spirit—the attentiveness to his voice and sensitivity to his leading—that fueled the fruitful ministry of Barnabas and Saul. They were “sent out by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:4), “filled with the Holy Spirit” to speak boldly (Acts 13:9), and marked by the joy of the Holy Spirit when their boldness got them kicked out of the city (Acts 13:52).

Power came out of Antioch—not because they were productive machines, jam-packing every hour to get stuff done. Their power came from the space, the availability for the Spirit, and the willingness to say “Yes” when he spoke up.

Do you have space for the Spirit? Perhaps what you think is a wise schedule is actually a noisy schedule, guided more by the cultural pace than the leading of the Spirit.

From time to time, you need time with Jesus without a timeframe. Your soul must learn to be there, with him.

Nowhere to go, nothing to do, nothing to eat.

Just space and attention and hunger, given to him.