THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE
A Look At Those Who Thwart the Ministry of the Saints!
INTRODUCTION: Once again the Bible is a wonderful commentary on the practical struggles of the Christian life. Tonight we want to look at the activity of Satan, as he attempts to thwart the efforts of saints. We see this clearly in the character of a fellow named Bar-Jesus or Elymas.
Just to set the stage – here is where we are: According to Acts 13:2 the church of Antioch had commissioned Barnabas and Saul as missionaries-- Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
At hits point in time, barnabas is the leader of the two, with Paul playing the role of student. Barnabas, you will remember, is the more mature of the two in the things of Christ:
§ Barnabas was associated with the early church in Jerusalem
§ Barnabas was one who sold his land and gave the money to the church
§ Barnabas was the one who befriended Paul after his conversion
Acts 9:26-28 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
§ Barnabas was the one sent from the church to Antioch to investigate what was going on there for Jesus
Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
§ Barnabas also sought out Paul there
§ Under the ministry of Barnabas, the believers took the name Christians
Acts 13:6-8 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
I SPIRITUAL HINDRANCES TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST
A Simon Magnus
Acts 8:9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
B The Woman of Macedonia
Acts 16:16-19 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
C Bar-Jesus of Paphos
1 Referred to as Elymas
2 Name means sorcerer
3 A Renegade Jew
a Had forsaken the Law of Moses
b Exodus 22:18 "Do not allow a sorceress to live.
c Leviticus 20:27 " ’A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’ "
4 A Fine upbringing
a The name Bar-Jesus means “son of salvation”
b Had devoted parents
II THE POSITION OF BAR-JESUS
Acts 13:6-8 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
A Positioned as a prophet on the island of Paphos
Acts 13:6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
1 “Had the gift of prophecy”
2 Attended the proconsul of the island
a Influence in the Roman government of the island
b Result of Roman superstition
3 Gave Satan an opportunity to control through him
Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ’Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’"
2 Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
a All creation is God’s
b Devil acts under God’s ultimate control
c Sinful nature of man allows him extreme latitude!
B Reacts negatively to the desire of Sergius Paulus to hear Barnabas and Paul
1 The gospel gets the devil worried
2 Many times the hindrances we face are “whos”, not “whats”!
III GOD DECLARES HIS CONTROL
Acts 13:9-12 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
A God determines the leadership of Paul
1 Up to now, Barnabas has always been the leader
2 Now Paul comes to the forefront
B Paul moves by the power of the Holy Spirit
1 Understand this is the only way to EVER do anything spiritual
2 Since we are ALWAYS at battle, we should never make ANY move apart from both the prompting and empowerment of the Holy Spirit!
C Paul reveals Elymas’ sin
1 Child of the devil – follow a defeated foe
2 Deceitful and cunning
3 Twister of the truth
1 John 4:1-3 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
2 John 1:7-9 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
D Paul pronounces God’s judgment
1 Blindness
E God provides an opportunity for the gospel
1 Sincere belief
2 Amazing teaching
3 Opportunity came because Barnabas and Paul were faithful in proclamaition!
Practical thought
§ We are going to run across false teachers. The issue is not if, but when. Therefore it is necessary to do all that we can to abide in the power of the Holy Spirit.
