Sunday, March 25, 2012 - Acts 13:4-12

[Tek7]

Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Then Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer and said, “You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Acts 13:4-12, HCSB

The Sunday school class my wife and I attend started reading through the New Testament in February with the goal of reading the entire NT in 90 days. I was struck by the difference the Holy Spirit made in the lives of men formerly confused, slow to understand, prone to quarreling, and timid.

I am again struck by the confidence and the power of the leaders of the early church. While they did not respond with violence, they stood firm against those who threatened the spread of the Gospel, disregarding concern for their own personal safety and well-being. God's power was evident in their lives in amazing ways.

I'm skeptical of people who chase after miracles and "religious experiences," but I do not doubt that God still does miracles. I believe that He still shows evidence of His truth through those selflessly devoted to His service.

Let us take hope in the might of our God as displayed in the history of the early church. Let us not chase after miracles, but let us not dismiss their reality, either. We should instead study and discipline ourselves to be prepared to share the message of the Gospel boldly and expecting radical change to follow. It may not take the same form as miracles recorded in early church history, but such dedication, if motivated by a love of God and His Word, will still yield great results.

 

[Abba San]

Let us take hope in the might of our God as displayed in the history of the early church. Let us not chase after miracles, but let us not dismiss their reality, either.

Amen, and again, Amen. Thanks