The Order Matters: Worship, Fasting, Prayer

Most of us, as believers, have learned a familiar pattern: when problems or challenges arise, we pray first. If there is no breakthrough through prayer alone, we then add fasting and prayer.

However, when we read the account in the book of Acts, we discover a deeply instructive lesson, we notice something deeply instructive. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles in a different order. They did not begin with prayer for answers. Instead, they first worshiped the Lord, then fasted, and only then prayed.

Often, we reverse this order—we pray first, then worship, and finally fast. But Acts shows us that the order matters. Worship placed them in God’s presence, fasting brought surrender of the flesh, and prayer then flowed from alignment with the Holy Spirit. This divine order is what made such a powerful impact in their missionary work.

Context: After the Mission Was Completed

 [Acts 12:25 NIV] 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

[Acts 13:1 NIV] 1 Now 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 12:25 tells us that Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission and returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark. Their assignment was finished, but a new question now stood before them: What next? They needed God’s guidance to understand His will for the next work.

Acts 13:1 continues this account. Upon their return, Barnabas and Saul are found in the church at Antioch, joined by the local prophets and teachers—Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch.

Acts 13, therefore, is not a new story but a continuation of Acts 12. Having completed one mission, they do not move ahead on their own initiative. Instead, together with the leaders of the Antioch church, they seek the Lord corporately to discern His will for the next phase of ministry.

Worshiping the Lord and Fasting

[Acts 13:2-3 NIV] 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.

Read the verse carefully once more – “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting”

Notice the order. Worship came first, and fasting followed.

What Is Worship?

• Worship is central to the spiritual battle. Satan longs to be worshiped, and he openly demanded it even from the Lord Jesus Christ.

• In the wilderness Satan tempted Jesus to worship, As Satan Longs to be worshiped - [Matthew 4:8-9 NIV] 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

• When he failed, he did not stop. Instead, he continues to distort, distract, and obstruct true worship, especially in times when there is renewed emphasis on praise and worship among God’s people.

• True worship must always be God-centred, never man-centred.

• The first mention of worship in Scripture lays its foundation: Abraham and Isaac went to worship the Lord through a sacrificial offering. [Genesis 22:5 NIV] 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Prayer, Thanksgiving, and Worship: Understanding the Difference

Example 1

• “Save me, Lord” — Prayer

• “Thank You, Lord, for saving me” — Thanksgiving

• “Praise You, Lord, my Saviour” — Worship

Example 2

• “Heal me, Lord” — Prayer

• “Thank You, Lord, for healing me” — Thanksgiving

• “Praise You, Lord, my Healer” — Worship

• In thanksgiving, we praise God for what He does and gives.

• In worship, we praise God for who He is.

Biblical Foundations of True Worship

Worship is not just singing songs or hymns, or participating in a concert-style performance with emotional praise. There is far more to true worship.

True worship comes from the heart—it’s about aligning your heart, mind, and soul to genuinely honour and praise God. When this happens, we encounter the presence of God

In His presence, people respond in many ways: some cry tears of devotion, some speak in tongues, some lift their voices in song, and others offer heartfelt praise.

The New Testament highlights two complementary dimensions of worship:

• Worship from a heart filled with the “Scripture of God” [Colossians 3:16 NIV] 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

  • True worship comes from knowing God’s Word.

  • When the Bible fills our heart, our worship naturally pleases God.

• Worship from a heart filled with the “Spirit”  [Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV] 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • True worship happens when the Holy Spirit leads our heart.

  • It becomes real, alive, and pleasing to God.

• Holy Scriptures: Fuel for Worship

• Holy Spirit: Fire for Worship

Why Fasting, and What Does It Accomplish?

The Bible teaches that fasting is not optional for a follower of Jesus Christ. In His teachings, Jesus did not say “if you fast,” but “when you fast,” showing that fasting is expected as part of a believer’s spiritual life.

[Matthew 6:16-18 NIV] 16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

So what does fasting accomplish? While there are many benefits, the primary purpose of fasting is to bring the flesh under control. Scripture reminds us that the flesh and the Spirit are in constant conflict with each other

[Galatians 5:16-17 NIV] 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

• When we fast - we intentionally surrender our physical desires and allow the Spirit to take the lead. As we pray in the Spirit, our soul aligns with God’s will and intercedes before the Father for His help and direction.

• Fasting controls the spirit and when we pray in the spirit the soul also intercedes before the Father for His help and direction.

• When we worship and fast - we control our Body to surrender to God to say, not my will father, thy will be done.

• Why Fast when worshiping him - this way we give no room for the flesh to praise ourselves, but only praise God for who HE IS

Outcome of Worship and Fasting

As the leaders in the church at Antioch worshiped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit spoke with clarity:

Acts 13:2 (b) the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

[Acts 13:1 NIV] 1 Now 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 tells us that five prophets and teachers were present, united in worship and fasting:

• Barnabas

• Simeon called Niger

• Lucius of Cyrene

• Manaen, who had grown up with Herod the tetrarch

• Saul

Out of these five faithful worshipers, the Holy Spirit set apart two—Barnabas and Saul—for a specific mission. The remaining three were not excluded; rather, their role was vital. Through their shared worship, fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands, they strengthened, affirmed, and sent those whom God had chosen.

Fasting and Praying

[Acts 13:3 NIV] 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

At this point, we notice something important—the order shifts. Earlier, we saw worship followed by fasting. Now, after the Holy Spirit has spoken, the believers fast first and then pray. Fasting prepares the heart, and prayer releases obedience.

Facing an unknown journey, Barnabas and Saul had every reason to feel anxious. They did not yet know where they would go or what they would encounter. Yet Scripture reminds us not to live in anxiety:

[Philippians 4:6-7 NIV] 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In moments of uncertainty, Paul later teaches us to respond in two ways:

• Prayer and petition — bringing our specific requests before God

• Thanksgiving — praying with faith, trusting that God has already gone ahead of us

The result of such prayer is clear: God’s peace guards both the heart and the mind. (Read Philippians 4:7) When our thoughts are anchored in what is true, noble, right, pure, and praiseworthy, fear loses its grip, and faith takes its place.

Obedience That Followed Prayer

After fasting and praying, the church did not delay. They laid hands on Barnabas and Saul, blessed them, and sent them out.

[Acts 13:4-6 NIV] 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. 6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

Led by the Holy Spirit, they travelled from Seleucia to Cyprus, arriving at Salamis and proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues. Their journey covered nearly 130–150 miles by sea—a demanding voyage that could take several days. They continued across the entire island until they reached Paphos.

There, they encountered opposition—not from an unbelieving crowd, but from a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

Why Paul’s Ministry Succeeded

If many of us were in Paul’s place, we might question God: “After all this fasting, prayer, and obedience, why lead us to opposition?” Yet this encounter was not an obstacle—it was a divine appointment.

Bar-Jesus was closely connected to the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a Roman governor.

God opened a door at the highest level of influence. The proconsul himself desired to hear the word of God, even as opposition arose to stop it.

[Acts 13:9-10 NIV] 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

Paul did not react in the flesh. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he confronted the deception with spiritual authority. Darkness fell on the sorcerer, revealing the truth of his works, while light broke through for the proconsul.

Note: Elymas and Bar-Jesus refer to the same person—Bar-Jesus was his name, and Elymas, meaning “sorcerer,” highlights his role as a false prophet opposing God’s work.

Opposition came—but the Holy Spirit guided every step. The apostles did not act on their own wisdom or emotions. Because their journey began with worship, fasting, and prayer, they walked in divine authority, discernment, and victory. They boldly proclaimed God’s Word, confronted opposition from the sorcerer Elymas, and saw the proconsul Sergius Paulus come to faith.

[Acts 13:12 NIV] 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Closing Summary

The story of Acts 13 shows us that the order of spiritual disciplines matters. Worship brings us into God’s presence, fasting surrenders the flesh to the Spirit, and prayer releases obedience and faith. When the church followed this order, the Holy Spirit clearly guided Barnabas and Paul, empowered them to confront opposition, and opened doors for the Gospel—even at the highest levels of influence. Their example reminds us that when we align our hearts with God through worship, fasting, and prayer, He directs, strengthens, and blesses our mission.