Hearing God, Confronting Deception, and Walking in Spirit-Filled Authority Chad Prather

Acts 13:1-12 Teaching Outline

I. The Church That Hears God (Acts 13:1-3)

• Antioch as a Spirit-shaped, diverse leadership community

• Prophets and teachers gathered, not spectators

• Worship and fasting as the environment for clarity

• Direction flows from devotion, not strategy

• The Holy Spirit speaks with specificity

• Calling confirmed before sending

• The church confirms what the Spirit initiates

II. Hearing God in a Noisy World (Segment Two)

• God speaks in stillness, not distraction

• Worship is not preparation, it is the work

• Fasting weakens appetite to sharpen obedience

• The Spirit often speaks in community, not isolation

• Obedience sharpens discernment, delay dulls it

• Urgency is not the same as calling

• Waiting is formation, not stagnation

Intentional Steps

• Reduce noise intentionally (media, distractions)

• Rebuild Scripture-centered listening rhythms

• Practice fasting in realistic, consistent ways

• Submit discernment to trusted, godly community

• Learn to wait without panic or manipulation

III. Discerning False Spiritual Authority (Segment Three)

• Elymas as counterfeit spirituality, spiritual language without submission

• Proximity to power does not equal authority

• Deception diverts rather than denies

• False authority resists repentance

• Charisma without character

• Crooked paths presented as wisdom

• Truth exposes manipulation

Marks of False Authority

• Distorts Scripture

• Avoids repentance

• Prioritizes influence over fruit

• Cannot tolerate clarity

• Pulls people away from Christ

Intentional Steps

• Test teaching by Scripture, fruit, and posture toward Christ

• Prioritize character over charisma

• Refuse to confuse niceness with faithfulness

• Ask God for discernment and courage together

IV. Spirit-Filled Courage and Gospel Authority (Segment Four)

• Authority flows from filling, not personality

• Paul confronts with clarity, not anger

• Love protects people from deception

• Silence in the face of distortion enables harm

• Power exists to serve truth, not replace it

• Courage marks transition into calling

• Faithfulness over approval

What Spirit-Filled Courage Looks Like

• Speaking truth when silence is easier

• Refusing to reshape Scripture for comfort

• Protecting the gospel from dilution

• Standing firm without cruelty

• Walking humbly without retreat

Intentional Steps

• Pursue filling through surrender and holiness

• Identify areas of fear-driven silence

• Speak truth with clarity and humility

• Walk away from spaces that continually distort truth

V. The Goal of It All: Jesus (Redemptive Conclusion)

• Authority is not the point, Jesus is

• Discernment serves redemption

• Courage clears the way for the gospel

• Jesus makes crooked paths straight

• Jesus opens blind eyes

• Jesus redeems sinners, not performers

Response

• Turn to Jesus

• Trust in His finished work

• Receive forgiveness and new life

• Follow Him in obedience and surrender

Core Pattern of Acts 13

• Worship leads to hearing

• Hearing leads to sending

• Sending invites opposition

• Discernment exposes deception

• Courage protects the gospel

• Jesus remains the center