Acts 13
I have had the unfortunate experience, like many of you, of people
coming against me because one reason or another. During my study this morning, I was encouraged by the lives of Paul and Barnabas. I am so grateful that the
Lord has revealed this to me. I have been wrestling for a few weeks and this is not be the first time I have encountered this.
In Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas have been sent out by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel.
They immediately go to the synagogues to proclaim the word of God (v.5). They were
not “pastors” per se. they were just obedient to proclaim the word. They
continued through the whole island when they came across a man that desired to
hear the word. He was a man of high stature (he was a part of the government)
and he was very intelligent (v.7). However, he had evil intentions. Many people
that desire to hear the word of God are not desiring to walk with God. The man
wanted to turn the other governors (proconsul) away from the faith. That was
his sole reason for listening.
In our society, people do not offer the reasons or intentions for
serving the Lord. They will always say it is because they love the Lord. There are
many false prophets and teachers. Now when I say false prophets or teachers- automatically we stop and think how harsh. It isn’t politically correct. As Americans
we have become to politically correct. A false prophet or teacher is anyone who
falsely claims the gift of prophecy or divine inspiration or teaches something
that contradicts the word of God. They come as sheep. They are gentle, meek, and very nice
people. They seem to love the Lord with everything in them. As Americans we
have a very difficult time with this. It is not politically correct to call them false prophets. We are labeled if we do, as not walking in “love” or mean. This makes
it very difficult for some of us to say anything.
However, Paul called the man out.
Acts 13:9-10 (ESV)
But Saul, who was
also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and
said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit
and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the
Lord?
I want to point out that Paul said the false prophet/ teacher were “making
crooked the straight paths.” Can you imagine this happening in today’s
churches? Oh my, we would have a mass exodus. We would be called unloving,
mean, and maybe even accused of having a Jezebel spirit or worse!
It doesn’t stop there. Paul and Barnabas continued and the very next
synagogue there was another incident.
Acts 13:15 (ESV)
After the reading
from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to
them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the
people, say it.”
Paul stood up and addressed the men that “feared God” (v. 16). Paul
proceeded to proclaim the gospel in versus 17-39 and then proceeded to warn
them about scoffers in verse 41. The people loved the truth, they wanted more.
Notice that the “God fearing” people wanted the truth without compromise, while
the deceitful man in the previous verses only wanted the truth in order to turn men towards him. The God fearing men BEGGED for more (v. 42)!
They were not offended; they loved the truth and had a deep desire to stay on
the straight path.
Then in verse 44 the WHOLE CITY
GATHERED!!!! They sparked revival!!!!
However, in verse 45 the leaders became jealous. Paul and Barnabas did
not do anything to them personally. They came with the gospel, a warning and
the truth unadulterated. They challenged the people! The leaders should have
been happy! I mean they were in a revival! Nope!
This is where my heart burns. It is here that the leaders began to CONTRADICT
what Paul was proclaiming. They made it personal. I have seen it happen more
than once, a leader or leaders come against someone for proclaiming the truth. Whatever
the reason is, they begin to contradict everything the person is saying, even
from the pulpit. This is shameful!
So I guess Paul just walks away and keeps the peace????? NOPE! In verse
46 Paul and Barnabas spoke BOLDLY against them. They even went as far as to say that the
leaders were not worthy of salvation!!!!! Wow, that is not politically correct!
And Paul and
Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God
be spoken first to you. Since you
thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold,
we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a
light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring
salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
This did not stop the leaders, they went even further:
Acts 13:50 (ESV)
But the Jews incited
the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred
up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their
district.
When I read this, my heart hurt for them. I have been there. The
rejection and the persecution can really affect you but if you continue
reading. They simply went on to the next synagogue and shook the dust off from
their feet, which caused them to be filled with JOY and the HOLY SPIRIT!
Acts 13:51-52
(ESV)
But they shook
off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the
disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
When you take a stand, people, leaders,
family, best friends will come against you. Yet that is when you are filled
with joy and the Holy Spirit!! God fills you! It is never easy but
always rewarding. Take a stand, no matter the cost! He is worthy!!
