What is God's protocol? It can be summed up in one word: submission. Let's take a brief look at Acts 13:2-3.
Submission to God's authority. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting..." (v.2a). The community gathered together to proclaim the sovreignty, power, and rule of God in their lives as a corporate entity.
Submission to earthly authorities that God ordains. "... the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (v.2b). The Spirit of the Lord was present in a room full of leaders: the first verse of Acts 13 mentions five by name. God's specific calling of two of the five is a clear indicator of His choice, His right to choose, and His expectation that the community would submit to His choice by allowing Saul and Barnabas to minister in a new capacity.
Submission to the community of faith. "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (v.3). As Pastor Sam mentioned in his sermon, here we see repeated the idea of the laying on of hands as a public confirmation of what the Spirit of God had already set into place. It is an indication of the community standing in agreement with the word of God by His Spirit, uniquely demonstrated by this physical activity in response to spiritual activity.
Tomorrow we'll continue with a look at some more examples of the laying on of hands in relation to ordination.
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