Scripture: Acts 13 v 5-12
Whenever you are doing something effective for the Lord,
the enemy sends in his opposition. The more effective you are the more powerful
will be the attack.
If you are in the ministry and do not know what it means
to be attacked by Satan through various good and bad people, perhaps you should
become more spiritually aggressive. If you are not disturbing the enemy nothing
much is happening on your patch.
Paul was so formidable that an evil sorcerer was
necessary to confront him and interfere in his ministry. Paul was making a good
impression on the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, who wanted to hear the
gospel.
Elymas was a Jewish false prophet, who was involved in
sorcery. His surname was Bar-jesus. Those who have read "Bondage in our
Names" will see that this sorcerer had two negatives in his name. Elymas
means Sorcerer and Bar-jesus indicates a barrier to Jesus.
He used his evil powers to withstand Paul and Barnabas
and to try to turn the deputy away from the faith. This man had no idea who he
was messing with!!
Those words - then Paul filled with the Holy Ghost put
his eyes on him! O what a look that must have been. And the words that poured
from his mouth were withering, "O full of all subtilty (evil) and
mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou
not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord."
Paul also punished him with blindness for a while to show
him the error of his ways. The deputy got saved being astonished at the
doctrine of the Lord. He saw the difference between right and wrong doctrines
and practices manifested before his eyes. He saw the power of God and the
authority of Paul to completely overwhelm a warlock and render him
powerless.
Our God is mighty and will always demonstrate His might
to the forces of satan. It is the way confidence in God is built up. We need to
see this power in action today. We need to have this same authority because
Jesus died to give it to us.
He defeated Satan and all his demons by His resurrection.
He stripped them of all weapons leaving them only able to bluff and con and lie
to us. We must learn to know how they con us because when we listen to them and
agree with them, we suffer for it.
They know how to attack with symptoms of illness. Do you
know how to resist those symptoms and deny the enemy victory over you and your
family?
You say you believe in Jesus for salvation so you go to
heaven when you die. That is true but pitiful. Jesus broke every curse, every
sickness, every sin, every poverty, every demon, every plan of the enemy for
everyone for ever. Do you believe that? Do you act on that? Do you stand
against the wiles of Satan with your armour on? Do you resist him and have the
victory?
Fight the good fight, fellow Christian. Live the life of
a believer in overcoming power over all the works of the enemy. Break the
devil's heart daily by unshakeable faith.
Prayer: O Mighty Father. There is none that can overcome
Your children if they walk in Your light, faith and power. Let us know our
authority so the enemy trembles to cross us. In Jesus' name. Amen.