The Church, Bonded and Gifted by God

Baptist Daily Devotional
Jul 20
2 min read

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 20 2025 | Acts 13:1

KEY VERSE:

“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.” Acts 13:1 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

The Church of God is the most interesting human organisation I have experienced. It comprises people from diverse backgrounds, varied experiences, multiple ethnicities, and differing perspectives. The disciples of Jesus Christ were a diverse group of people. The Early Church, as we see in our text today, was also a diverse group; yet, they were all woven together into one living family and empowered by the same Holy Spirit.

What makes the beauty of the Church's unity in diversity possible is that all its distinct individual components are endowed with the same Spirit, and this comes with the endowment of power and spiritual gifts for the life and ministry of the Church, both for believers and for unbelievers around them.

What is it that defines your relationship with others in the Church? Does your church membership motivation rise above the physical and societal, and reach into the powerful binding and bonding work of the Spirit? Are we giving room for the projection of the gifts of the Spirit, and are we providing room for the manifestations of God in our midst and through us?

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Resolve to know fellow believers not from a purely human perspective, but from the perspective of the spiritual family. Activate the gifts of God's Holy Spirit in you and put them to work for the common good.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, what a privilege to be part of your family, and to be lifted by your Spirit by indwelling me and gifting me. Please help me to be a blessing to those that you have connected me to. And may your Church be the united Spirit-led Church. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 201: Ecclesiastes 1-3 - Life’s Meaning and Seasons

DAILY word study: CHURCH The Greek word for "church" is ekklesia, meaning "called-out ones." It refers to those summoned out for a specific purpose.

In Acts 13:1, the church at Antioch wasn’t just a group of people. It was a Spirit-formed community marked by calling, gifting, and unity. Each person had a place, not because of social background, but because they were called out by God and equipped by the Spirit.

Reflect on this:

Don’t see the Church as a place you go. See it as the people God brings together for His purpose. You’re part of a spiritual body, gifted and sent.