31. The Sorcerer

Random Question

If you could solve one major world problem immediately, what would it be?

Announcements

Middle School Activity

Info: The middle schoolers will gather at the church for fellowship, games, and a devotional.

Date & Time: May 29th, 6–9 p.m.

Location: Church

High School Pool

Date & Time: Sunday, June 7th, 3:15pm (after the potluck and afternoon service)

Drop off & Pick up: We'll begin at the Roach's house around 3:15pm and wrap things up around 7:30pm.

What to wear: Since this is a mixed activity in a pool, I ask that guys and girls wear a t-shirt to go along with their swimsuit bottoms when swimming.

Combined Windcrest Activity

Date & Time: June 12th, 6-9 P.M.

Drop off & Pick up:  We will ride the church bus to and from the camp.

Vs. 25

Acts 12:25 NKJV

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

Major turning point in the book of Acts...

Focus shift from Jews (Peter) to the Gentiles (Paul)

Vs. 1

Acts 13:1 NKJV

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Then comes vs. 1, Paul is here in Antioch, preparing for his first missionary journey across the Middle East.

Who do we find present with Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark? (Prophets and teachers)

Role of prophet...

Foretelling

Forthtelling

You can’t really separate prophets from teachers, they did both as they procclaimed the Word.

We’ve got some really interesting people named in the rest of the verse, who do we see?

Barnabas

Simeon who was called Niger: “dark-complexioned”, probably from Africa. Some think this is Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross

Lucius of Cyrene

Manaen

What’s different with this guy? (Brought up with Herod)

What does that tell us about the guy? (importance...)

Saul

Vs. 2-3

They served the Lord, were fasting and in prayer,

Then, what happens? (Holy Spirit speaks)

Acts 13:2 NKJV

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

This verse is special because of the calling they receive to preach to the Gentiles.

What way did God show them they were called to serve? (Spoke to them directly)

Is this always how God calls people to ministry? Is it always this heavenly voice? How else might He call people to ministry?

Do you know anyone who was called by God to ministry? How’d it happen?

For some people (Very few), God made it so clear to them, He just spoke to them. But God also works through our desires.

Psalm 37:4–5 NKJV

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

My ministry testimony...

- If you can tell yourself, “Man, I could see myself being a Pastor!” “I want to go share the Gospel abroad!” Maybe God is calling you to the ministry! If you’ve got that desire for ministry, and the local church confirms your gifts and your character, I’d have a hard time thinking the Lord is not leading you to the ministry.

God rarely calls us in miraculous ways...

- Cheerios writing, “Go to China”

The chruch in Antioch recognized God’s call on Paul and Barnabas’ life, so they lay their hands on them and send them along.

Who really sent them along (vs. 4)? (The Holy Spirit)

Vs. 4-5

Acts 13:4 NKJV

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Cyprus

- Island off the coast of Syria (approx. 150 mi. long, 40 mi. wide)

- Birthplace of the god Zeus (according to Greek mythology)

- Large Jewish population

Now within Cyprus, they get to a city in vs. 5, what’s the name of that city? (Salamis)

What a name! I want to live there.

Acts 13:5 NKJV

5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

Once they arrive in Salamis, we see two interesting things about Paul’s ministry, can you spot them?

Preached to the Jews in the synagogues first. Paul’s missions pattern in each city...

What role did John (Mark) have in their team? (their assistant)

The word literally means he was their “servant, their subordinate”

Does this make John Mark less valuable? (Absolutely not)

As their assistant, it seems like Mark’s job was to take care of the regular chores and jobs so that Paul and Barnabas could focus on the ministry.

I picture him like an intern or task force

- What’s your job when you’re in task force?

Does it feel like you’re kind of on the sidelines? How does your job help in the grand scheme of things? (Camp runs smoothly so that the kids and counselors can focus on the Word)

So, are we useless when we’re doing normal tasks? (Not at all!)

Although his role may have been smaller than Paul and Barnabas, he was immensely useful for the ministry. The work he did allowed Paul and Barnabas to invest more of their time into soul winning and church planting.

Vs. 6-7

Then we run into an interesting man in verse 6,

Acts 13:6 NKJV

6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Bar-Jesus = Son of Jesus, son of the Savior.

What do we know about Bar-Jesus based on this verse?

Sorcerer

Does that mean he had green skin and rode a broom? What was that sorcery like? (Cultish, supersticious ritual man)

Modern day witches: Tarot cards, rituals, etc.

False prophet

What makes someone a false prophet? (A false prophecy. Also, someone who deliberately leads people astray from faith in the true Gospel)

But what’s one last thing about him that seems kind of baffling?

Jew

What did the law command people to do to sorcerers?

Death, Exodus 22:18

Exodus 22:18 NKJV

18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

So, can we say he was a dedicated Jew? (He let things slide under the cracks, it was rare to see a Jew into sorcery)

Now, verse 7, Acts 13:7

Acts 13:7 NKJV

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

He’s with Sergius Paulus...

Can someone with a study Bible tell me who Sergius was? (Ruler of a Roman province under the control over the Roman state)

Susan Holt...

Sergius is an extremely important man, and Bar-Jesus (Elymas) had him in his grasp.

If you’re a magician wanting lots of attention and big bucks, who do you want on your side? (The powerful, the rich… Sergius!)

But what do we see happening with Sergius (end of vs. 7)? (Sought to hear God’s Word)

It’s a little surprising to me that someone powerful and prestigius like Sergius wants to hear God’s Word.

Why might that be surprising? (The rich/powerful are generally self-sufficient)

Sometimes we get caught off guard when people are receptive to the Gospel. You get to talking with them, and they keep asking questions. And you think, “Wait, you WANT to talk about the Bible?” Here’s a good reminder, let’s not write everyone off from gospel witness, some people genuinely want to know more!

Vs. 8

This is where things get heated...

Acts 13:8 NKJV

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

“withstood” = To oppose, to resist someone and even be hostile against them.

He opposes the witness of Paul and Barnabas...

Why would it be in his best interest to oppose them? (Lose noteriety and money)

So, he opposes them. Not only that, but he seeks to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Any of you read the Pilgrims Progress?

- Mr. Wordly Wiseman (steer Christian away)

Whenever we go out with the Gospel to the world, we ought to expect the Devil to be right behind us, looking for every chance to stop us.

Parable of the Sower

- Seed thrown on ground

- What happens to some of the seeds right after they are sown? (Bird comes to snatch them away, no chance for them to take root)

This is exactly what Satan is doing through Elymas; Sergius was receptive, so Elymas pursues him.

Vs. 9

Acts 13:9 NKJV

9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Can you picture that look from Paul? (I don’t want to be on the wrong end of that one!!)

The dad stare...

Vs. 10

Acts 13:10 NKJV

10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Phew!! Those are some bold words!

Does this seem harsh to any of you?

But what’s on the line here? (An eternal soul)

Jesus takes matters like these very seriously. Matthew 18:6

Matthew 18:6 NKJV

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

What does Paul accuse Elymas of?

Full of all deceit and fraud

Deceit = Crafty lying

Sauron from rings of power...

What’s fraud? (Here it’s speaking of lying without any limits. Doesn’t matter how immoral it is, you lie anyway.)

Telling a girl at a lemonade stand you don’t have cash (you know too well you’ve got 20$ in your pocket)

Then he calls him “son of the devil”

Remember what “Bar-Jesus” means? (Son of Jesus/son of the Savior)

“You say you’re the son onf the Savior, you’re the son of the Devil!”

“You’re an enemy of all righteousness, and you pervert God’s clear ways of slavation.”

Did you notivce how he doesn’t hold back any punches?

What do we tend to do with confrontation (Avoid at all costs)

- Be nice

- Find things in common

But is that Paul’s intention here? (Absolutely not. A soul was at risk, and he was not going to lose it to some deceiver.)

Vs. 11

So, as a punishment for his sin, Paul says this in vs. 11

Acts 13:11 NKJV

11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Serious stuff, and Paul knew all too well what this blindness was like!

Vs. 12

What happens in response to this in vs. 12? (Sergius gets saved)

Acts 13:12 NKJV

12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

There’s an important distinction to make though, what actually led him to believe in the Lord? (the teaching of the Lord)

Miracles are a help, but they will not lead me to a saving faith in Christ.

Application

What can we learn from this passage?

In opposition, you are not alone (vs. 9)

Opposition does not mean your are outside God’s will, sometimes it confirms you ARE in His will.

Ministry is a warzone, let’s gear up and be ready to fight.