Elymas the Sorcerer

Scripture: Acts 13 v 6 - 8: "And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
 7  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
 8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith."


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 a man of God 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. (Prophetic Fire blog Bondage in our Names bit.ly/2QUepAo.)

He used his evil powers to withstand Paul and Barnabas and to try to turn the deputy away from the faith.   He was definitely a barrier to the truth about Jesus.  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 Paul's 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.  Just as Eve was deceived in Eden by what sounded like good ideas, so do we fall for the words whispered by that oily tongue.

The demons 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?  Try telling your symptoms to return to sender!  Refuse to accept this illness because Jesus conquered it on the Cross and gave you power over it.

Instead of heading for tablets, doctors and thermometers, put your faith in God and trust the Word that says by the stripes (whiplashes) on the back of Jesus we are healed.  Stand firm as the symptoms increase.  This is Satan trying your faith.  Your body is the battleground, your faith is the ammunition Jesus needs to see that illness go from you.

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?

In one of many personal encounters with Satan, the son of a Satanist I was praying deliverance for arrived at my open door and announced that he was a 3000 year old demon come to kill me.  His eyes and facial expression were frightening.  His partner was sitting near me absolutely terrified.

I said to this demon that the Blood of Jesus covered my doorway, and I had on the full armour of God and that I was protected by the Rock of Ages, but if he could get through that he was welcome to kill me.  He took three steps towards me and collapsed.  Then got up and ran away.  We found him asleep in his car, brought him inside and cast that demon out of him.

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 your unshakeable faith.  We are living in Acts 29, a continuation of the Book of Acts, 2000 years on.  Break free of watered down doctrine and do the acts of a true believer.

Prayer: Heavenly 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.