Intro: I would like to ask a question this morning. How are we at listening? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Listening implies that we pay attention, concentrate, understand, and obey. Truth be know, many times we are not good listeners or even hearers. The average attention span these days is about 15 seconds. That is a sad statistic.  In this passage, Dr. Luke gives us two more marks of and effective church: Obedience and embracing the Word of God. Remember, the first two are a praying church, and a church given to discipleship. So, I invite you to unpack this passage with me this morning and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us and change us from the inside out. Marks 3 & 4 Be an Obedient Church  and Embraced the Word of God  Acts 13:6-12 Part 3Barnabas, Paul, set apart by the Holy SpiritThey were worshiping and fastingThe Spirit Holy Spirit spoke for a specific purposeThe Spirit told the congregation and leadership to set aside Barnabas and Paul for a particular workAfter they prayed and fasted, the church laid hands on them and send them offThey were sent anointed and empowered with the Holy SpiritThe church and Paul and Barnabas were obedient to the Word and the SpiritThey went to CyprusThis was the home of BarnabasThey arrived at Salamis and proclaimed the Word of God in the Jewish synagoguesThey were mentoring John MarkThey embraced and proclaimed the Word of GodThey traveled 90 miles to Paphos at the west end of the islandThey encountered oppositionThey encountered a sorcerer and false prophet, Bar-Jesus The Governor was Sergius Paulus who sent for Barnabas and Paul to hear the Word of GodBar-Jesus tried to turn the governor away from the faithPaul embraced the Word of God and spoke the truthPaul, filled with the Holy SpiritGod will have the final word e.g. God will judge deceit and liesThe governor trusts Christ and is amazed at the teaching about the LordSin/graceHoliness/sin’s judgment Amazing loveClosing: Occasionally, because of damage in my inner ears, I go for hearing tests. With each successive test, I hear the words from the audiologist that my hearing is getting a little bit worse. And, no, it is no because of age.