Sweet Briar College, 5k
Always major in the New Testament and minor in the Old Testament. Never the reverse. The New interprets and explains the Old. God never changes. All Scripture instructs and gives us insight and perspective into God’s character, but we are flooded with revelation and the answers to ancient mysteries in the New Testament.
We are servants of the Most High. Jesus, His name above all others, instructs us, and we are to follow. If the Holy Spirit says to dedicate men, as is shown in this passage, then with fasting and prayer, we must dedicate men. And send them off with God’s blessing. It is God’s will that governs. Never our plans and our will.
Notice that Barnabas and Paul went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. Their preaching, town by town, was effective. So much so that the Governor heard about it and wanted to hear directly from them. There is an eternal impact when we preach the word of God - the Old and New Testaments. Preach it. Expect interference. Expect that scoffers, mockers, and deniers will squeal their empty lies. The Truth will be shown right by what it produces. The Holy Spirit produces what nothing else can: life eternal, changed lives, and genuine freedom from slavery to sin. “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33).
The devil uses and protects his own. He uses religious-looking and sounding men, and his objective is to prevent the Word of God from being explained so that people may be free from sin. When the Gospel is preached, people believe, and the sinister objectives of the wicked are defeated.
So, preach! In every circumstance. Do as Paul and Barnabas did here. And, like them, know that you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, have the authority from the Holy Spirit to make disciples of Jesus. We have the same God today, the Holy Spirit in us, as Paul did when he looked the sorcerer in the eye and rebuked his wicked scheme.
There are many men full of every sort of deceit and fraud. They are enemies of all that is good. They pretend to be religious to prevent people from understanding God’s love and prevent them from believing in God. Stay away from these men. But if they interfere in your preaching, trust God to rebuke them.
Notice in this passage how Paul, who himself converted by miraculous blindness and turned from zealous persecutor of Christians to evangelist, here, through the Holy Spirit, strikes Elymas blind. It’s always recognition of sin - sometimes dramatically, like with Saul and Elymas - and then repentance. We will wait patiently (until heaven) to find out the rest of Elymas’ story. But my guess is that God struck him with blindness like he did Paul as a massive sign to those who witnessed it and/or to do the impossible to an extremely hard heart. We don't know whether Paul used this miraculous power from God time and time again or if this was the only time. But this story reminds us to use our testimony. Tell others how we moved from sinner to repentant believer. God uses our experience in obedience. God is moving today. Let's be with Him!
Lord Jesus, merciful God, please move your strong hand upon people today doing what Elymas was doing. May such wicked men know the power of the Truth. May they beg God for forgiveness and repentance as Elymas was begging.
Lord Jesus, your power is life-changing. It was for the Governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, who wanted to hear the word of God. And it is for us today.
Father God, please bless those who teach about you. Amen.
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