(Acts 13:1-3) Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to 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 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
When Barnabas and Paul reached Salamis, they met two men who were good friends. Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man who was the proconsul (governor or deputy) of the Roman senatorial province. Bar-Jesus (which translates to Elymas) was a Jew as well as a magician and false prophet...
(Acts 13:4-7) So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Sergius wanted to hear the gospel message, but Elymas tried to derail the efforts of Barnabas and Paul. Elymas not only failed but reaped the consequences of his evil behavior. And Sergius still became a believer after witnessing what happened to his friend...
(Acts 13:8-12) But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.
From this we see:
- Paul called Elymas a son of the devil because he was full of deceit and fraud and was against all righteousness, trying to destroy all efforts of the gospel (Acts 13:10)
Personal experience: you know, I'm trying to think of something that happened that's similar to the above circumstance, and the only thing that is jumping into my mind is this...
Back when I was single, I was hanging out with two people. One of them is a Christian. The other one was agnostic, but he was very curious to hear what I had to say about Jesus and the Bible.
I was astonished and disappointed when my Christian girlfriend kept interrupting and stepping between us, making it impossible to talk. I could only pray that a seed had been planted which would make him curious enough to seek out God.
Another situation like this was when I had started witnessing to a girlfriend. But there were interruptions after interruptions... first the doorbell... then the phone... and then the baby crying... Again, I could only pray that a seed had been planted.
And perhaps God allowed these interruptions because just maybe these people were only able and ready to absorb a tiny bit of information at that time??? Then either me or someone else could build on what they have already heard.
Today's takeaway: we not only need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, even if it sometimes means we keep showing love to someone while giving them a bit of time or space - - - we have to allow the Holy Spirit to work on others as well. It is not our place to convince someone to believe or to make a person feel convicted - that is the job of the Holy Spirit...
(1 Corinthians 3:1-15) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
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