{"id":141,"date":"2008-12-05T10:39:41","date_gmt":"2008-12-05T16:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/one-church.net\/wordpress\/?p=141"},"modified":"2008-12-05T10:39:41","modified_gmt":"2008-12-05T16:39:41","slug":"set-apart-or-set-apart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/2008\/12\/05\/set-apart-or-set-apart\/","title":{"rendered":"Set apart, or SET apart"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBarnabas and Saul Sent Off<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 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. 2 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.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 13:1-3<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where I was studying this morning for my own devotional time. I thought I\u2019d be clever (this almost never works out for me) and do a quick word study.<\/p>\n

I know that the word \u2018holy\u2019 means to be set apart, so, I thought maybe that the Holy Spirit\u2019s command to \u2018set apart\u2019 Saul and Barny (yeah, we\u2019re that tight) was a derivation of that Greek root for holy. If it was the same word, then cool, I\u2019ll look super smart someday preaching that and very insightful to boot.<\/p>\n

Problem is, it\u2019s not the same word. DRAT!<\/p>\n

Even when I used other English versions, the Greek never changed, how can this be? Apparently my clever reserves are running low.<\/p>\n

Through the veil of my disappointment of what obviously would have been a stellar preaching point if some ancient writer (stupid Luke) hadn\u2019t picked some inferior word through the power of the Holy Spirit (uh\u2026 that\u2019s right\u2026 I take it all back, my bad\u2026 GOOD WORD CHOICE LUKE!), I decided to go ahead and see what was written there.<\/p>\n

The word for \u2018set apart\u2019 is\u2026<\/p>\n

\u1f00\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03af\u03b6\u03c9 – strictly mark off by boundaries; hence (1) separate, sever, take away ; (2) as excluding from a society cut off, excommunicate, drive out ; (3) of separation for a special purpose set apart, appoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wow. Maybe that\u2019s cool, too.<\/p>\n

You see, the same strong verb used for calling somebody to special service and ministry is used for excommunicating someone who is in open, unrepentant rebellion.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s huge! Why you may ask as you read\u00a0 this drinking your coffee, or as you sneak a peak while goofing off at work, or while yelling at your friends, “Shut up, I’m reading Andy’s blog!”\u00a0 Good blog buddies, I appreciate you.<\/p>\n

Why is this a huge issue? isn’t it just vocabulary?<\/p>\n

Here’s the problem:\u00a0We think of God\u2019s calling on our life as a question, or a debatable issue at best. Let me provide you this fictitious, yet, all to real conversation:<\/p>\n

“If God called you into ministry, what would you do?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know, I think I\u2019d really have to pray about it.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I know that\u2019s such a big decision. What would your family say.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“O please, don\u2019t get me started\u2026”<\/strong>“I don’t think I’m built for that kind of stuff. People irritate me too much.”<\/em>“Amen, besides, what’s the probability that God would call us anyway. By the way, Isn’t Pastor Andy exceptionally handsome…”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hmmm\u2026(hey, I just write them as i imagine them)<\/p>\n

If I am reading this passage correctly, we aren\u2019t understanding God correctly. When God calls and sets us apart, it\u2019s not a matter of debate, discussion, or diplomacy.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a matter of action.<\/p>\n

How many times has God called us to invite a friend, give to a need, serve in a ministry, go on a mission or become the hands and feet of Jesus right where we are?<\/p>\n

But, we hesitate.<\/p>\n

Out of fear, confusion, the unknown, apathy or even holy procrastination, we answer the call of God with \u2018no\u2019 or \u2018in just a minute.\u2019<\/p>\n

By the way, both of those answers are unacceptable when they come from my children as a response to a parental command. I’ll let you draw the spiritual connection there.<\/p>\n

That same word for \u2018set apart\u2019 was not a choice for those who were disobedient. They were set apart by God because of the decisions they had made and were being put in a spiritual TIMEOUT. No debate, no delay, it just happened. Excommunicated, cast out, separated, it was not a matter of choice, it was a reality.<\/p>\n

Same word: God ‘sets apart’ those he calls to do acts of ministry. There is to be no debate, no delay, it\u2019s just supposed to happen.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what the church did in this passage here in Acts: “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”<\/p>\n

What happens when we do debate and delay? We can only assume that god\u2019s plans are not thwarted, so, His assignment (and, with it, blessing) moves on to others who will answer the call.<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s the point of all of this.<\/p>\n

When God calls, answer!<\/p>\n

If you want to delay because of fear, remember: “But now, this is what the Lord says\u2014 he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Is 43:1-3<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to say no because of confusion, remember: “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man\u2019s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ”<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Pr 16:1-3<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are hindered by the unknown, remember:\u00a0 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ”<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 7:7-8<\/span><\/p>\n

And, if the spirit of (un)holy procrastination and apathy has seized control of your mortal body (out foul demon, OUT!), remember: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ”<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Is 40:29-31<\/p>\n

There is no mistake in following your God where he leads.
\n__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

For those study nerds, here\u2019s a list a verses that uses the Greek word translated \u2018set apart\u2019 in our passage here, as it appears every time in the New Testament:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate<\/span> the wicked from the righteous
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 13:48-49<\/span><\/p>\n

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate<\/span> the people one from another as a shepherd separates<\/span> the sheep from the goats.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 25:31-32<\/span><\/p>\n

22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude<\/span> you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 6:22<\/span><\/p>\n

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart<\/span> for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 13:1-3<\/span><\/p>\n

9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took<\/span> the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 19:8-9<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart<\/span> for the gospel of God\u2014
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ro 1:1<\/span><\/p>\n

17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate<\/span>, says the Lord.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Co 6:17<\/span><\/p>\n

15 But when God, who set me apart<\/span> from birth\ufeffa\ufeff and called me by his grace, was pleased
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ga 1:15<\/span><\/p>\n

12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate<\/span> himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.
\nThe Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ga 2:12<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 13 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. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \u201cSet apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\u201d 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 13:1-3 This is where I was studying this morning for my own devotional time. I thought I\u2019d be clever (this almost never works out for me) and do a quick word study. I know that the word \u2018holy\u2019 means to be set apart, so, I thought maybe that the Holy Spirit\u2019s command to \u2018set apart\u2019 Saul and Barny (yeah, we\u2019re that tight) was a derivation of that Greek root for holy. If it is, then cool, I\u2019ll look super smart someday preaching that and very insightful to boot. Problem is, it\u2019s not the same word. DRAT! Even when I used other English versions, the Greek never changed, how can this be? Apparently my clever reserves are running low.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[10,15,17,43,52,55,56,68],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crosseyedlife.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}