Spiritual Opposition

[SLIDE 1] Introduction

If you have your Bible, then I would invite you to turn to Acts 13:4-12.

Illustration

How many of you travelled for vacation during the summer? My family and I got the chance to travel during my vacation. We went to Edmonton and Kelowna. It was a wonderful time.

Prior to travelling, we were filled with excitement and enthusiasm that we get to explore a new area. However, the most aggravating thing about travelling is that you encounter setbacks.

For instance, there is a flight delay. Your flight gets cancelled. What’s worse is losing your luggage after you arrive at your destinated location. I think about pile of luggages at the Pearson Airport in Ontario.

Facing setbacks is a normal part of life. When they do happen, we need to be prepared for them. Sometimes, we can at least expect and be prepared for flight delays or cancellation because they happen. Sometimes, what we cannot be prepared for is losing your luggage and you may have no clothes for the next several days (or weeks) during your vacation OR your missions trip (that actually happened to one of the team members when I was in Poland).

What about spiritual opposition? Are you prepared to face it?

[SLIDE 2] Spiritual opposition occurs when the Christian faith is being resisted by non-Christians and perhaps spiritually immature believers.

Going on a short-term mission trip can perhaps fill you with excitement, anticipation, and maybe nervousness, but you should remember that the mission field is a battleground for what is true and false. Don’t be surprised if/when you encounter spiritual opposition and resistance.

[SLIDE 3] You must be careful of not letting your emotions, excitement, and enthusiasm cloud you from the reality of spiritual warfare. Peter said this: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Biblical Theology

As Christians, we are in a spiritual warfare. At the very beginning of Genesis, the serpent (Satan) was the 1st false prophet (if you will) who deceived Eve into eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. And Adam also took part in eating it.

[SLIDE 4] Ever since Adam and Eve were deceived by the snake (thus disobeying God), sin entered the world and humanity, which, in theology, means The Fall.

Sin manifests itself in a form of falsehood, lies, and deception. This form of sin leads to gossip, false rumours, coverups, forgery and so forth. What’s worse is that this form of sin leads to the creation and promotion of false gods/idols.

Because we live in a fallen world, both truth and falsehood reside in this world.

Since the Fall, there has been a spiritual war happening between God and Satan. There’s been an enmity between God’s people and God’s enemies.

As Christians, our duty is to engage in this spiritual battle, and to preserve and promote truth.

Context

In the story that we just read, Barnabas and Paul were proclaiming the gospel to a key figure: Sergius Paulus. However, the spiritual opposition occurs when Elymas opposed their message and tried to turn Sergius away from the faith. But, what happened before this passage?

We remember that Barnabas and Paul have been serving together at the Antioch Church for at least one year. They have been active members in this growing church until they have been appointed by the Holy Spirit for a special task. So, the Antioch Chuch was able to discern and affirm their calling, and to send them out into the mission field.

[SLIDE 5] One of the things that I want to highlight about the Apostle Paul was that God used years of experience to prepare him for ministry. Before we face a spiritual battle, we are to be prepared for ministry.

God was preparing the Apostle Paul to become a missionary, pastor, evangelist, and theologian.

According to the timeline (that I'm using), he was converted at around 34 AD, went to Antioch at around 41 AD and was sent out at around 48 AD. It seems like God may have used those years to prepare him for ministry.

This should remind us of Moses who was a shepherd, but God used his experience to shepherd His people when He called Moses at the burning bush.

While most of you are called to do secular work (i.e. lawyer, graphic designers, engineer, blue collar and etc), God could be using those working years to prepare you for the next assignment (whatever that may be).

Exposition

[SLIDE 6] So, looking at verses 4-5, here’s the 2nd lesson: Be Prepared To Go Wherever The Holy Spirit Leads.

After they were sent out by the Antioch Church, we learn about Barnabas and Saul’s itinerary.

[SLIDE 7] SHOW MAP

First, they travelled from Antioch to Selecuia.

Selecuia was the port city of Antioch located in Syria, southwest of the city of Antioch.

And from Selecuia, Barnabas and Saul sailed to an island called Cyprus.

Barnabas would know this place because he was originally from Cyprus (ACts 4:36).

Since he grew up in Cyprus, he might be more familiar with the various places than Paul.

Cyprus wasn’t an island that had no gospel proclamation. If you look back at Acts 11:19-20, it seems like there were some believers that were scattered to Cyprus due to the persecution of Saul. And they preached the gospel there, and thus God saved sinners and caused them to be born-again.

Because of that, the believers went to Antioch and preached the gospel there; thus planting the Antioch church.

So, they arrived at Salamis, which is the seaport on the Eastern Shore of Cyprus.

And the first thing they did when they arrived was going into the synagogues of the Jews and proclaimed the Word of God. This would become the pattern for these missionaries where they would first go to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. (explain more?)

Luke briefly highlights a character that assisted Barnabas and Saul: John. He’s not the Apostle John. This John also has another name, which is Mark, and he’s the cousin of Barnabas. However, Mark will later withdraw from the ministry, and Paul and Barnabas will later have a disagreement on whether to take him for their 2nd missionary journey.

[SLIDE 8] Moving forward, we need to notice something important in verse 4. The Holy Spirit was the One sending them to the mission field.

Why Barnabas and Saul went specifically to Cyprus is unclear. It is possible that Barnabas knew the place, so why not begin there. Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit is the One who led and guided them to this place.

While the church did send them out, they weren’t the goers alongside of Barnabas and Saul. However, the Holy Spirit is both the sender and the goer. He never just remain at Antioch, but also went with them to empower them to do the work of mission.

In this case, the Holy Spirit brought them over to Cyprus for a specific purpose.

What’s that specific purpose? You’ll just have to keep listening until the end of the message.

So, Luke tells us that these men travelled and gon through the whole island, from the East Coast to the West Coast of Cyprus. And they arrived at this city called Paphos, which was the seat of the Roman Proconsul.

I want to highlight something that is not mentioned from the text. Luke doesn’t tell us the results of what happened to those who heard the Word of God. So, it seems odd at least to me.

If many did come to believe in Jesus, then Luke would have made a note about it.

If people did NOT believe, then Luke would have also made a note about it.

Either way, we’re not told.

And IF…this is a big IF…nobody believed in the message that they’re preaching, then this mission would have been a failure in the eyes of the world. There might have been disappointment, discouragement, and doubts about their calling.

Perhaps for those of you who are in ministry, you may feel that way. You spent months and years serving the LORD, but you saw no fruit in your ministry.

However, let me encourage you, do not give up. Let me remind you that God is ultimately responsible for the growth and the fruit. All you’re called to do is to be faithful in serving the LORD.

You never know that there may be a lost individual that the LORD brings to you who is curious to learn more about Word.

[SLIDE 9] Then, we come to the point in the narrative in verses 6-7 where we’ll learn the 3rd lesson: BE PREPARED TO REACH OUT TO THE CURIOUS.

Here, Luke introduces us to two characters: Sergius Paulus (the proconsul of Cyprus) AND Bar-Jesus or Elymas (same person).

We’ll focus on the proconsul…and then talk about Elymas later.

Sergius was a Roman Gentile. Luke describes him well with this quality: a man of intelligence, which means that he can understand and learn new information.

Hence, when learning that Barnabas and Paul were spreading the word of God throughout the island, he was curious and summoned them before his presence. And notice at the end of 7, “he SOUGHT to hear the word of God.”

Meaning…he had the desire to hear the Word of God.

So, I wonder: Does this describe who YOU are? A man or a woman who seeks to hear the word of God this morning and also desire to obey it?

And perhaps you’re a guest or visitor this morning. I don’t know your spiritual condition, but have you come to seek the word of God?

If so, then God brought you at the right place, because my job as a pastor is to preach the word of God because that’s how we hear the voice of God.

[SLIDE 10] However, we come to the conflict in this narrative in verses 8-11a. Here’s the 4th lesson: Be Prepared To Face Spiritual Opposition.

The question in ministry and the Christian life is not, “if opposition will happen to me, but WHEN will opposition happen to me.”

When you are doing the work of God, when you are desiring to live a holy and godly life, you will face spiritual opposition…we just don’t know when, but we must be on guard and prepared when that happens.

Looking at the story, it didn’t seem to take too long for Barnabas and Saul to face an opposition after they began their work missionaries. Now, we’re introduced to the 2nd character in this mighty clash.

Elymas was a magician, a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. And the name “Bar-Jesus” means son of Jesus or son of salvation.

After Sergius Paulus sought to hear the word of God from the missionaries, Elymas opposed the missionaries, seeking to turn the proconsul AWAY from the faith.

The role of false prophets is to mislead and turn people away from the truth. Not only do they mislead, but they opposed true believers from proclaiming the truth.

False prophets in the Old Testament did exactly just that. I wonder…have you read the book of Jeremiah lately? What about the life of Elijah?

Sometimes, oppositions to the Christian faith can be physical. Sometimes, this opposition can be a way to challenge Christian message with a false message. Sometimes, it can be both.

2 Timothy 3:8 gives us a commentary of Exodus when two of the magicians opposed Moses: “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:14-15 tells us what it seems to be a physical assault on the Apostle Paul by his opponent: “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.”

Now, why would Elymas not want the proconsul to hear the word of God?

Well, he was a magician who deceived the Sergius with his magic art (perhaps he did it for the money and reputation). There were many like him in the ancient world who would pretend to have magic, spiritual insight, and fortune telling in order to gain positions of power.

Because he was a magician, he was able to stand beside a Roman Official.

And now, his position and status were threatened if Sergius became a follower of Christ. He would lost all monetary gain. He would lose his reputation.

But it is not just that he would lose monetary gain and lose his reputation that he opposed the missionaries. Essentially, Elymas was doing what Satan did at the Garden of Eden. He was doing the work of the devil by deceiving and tricking people from knowing the truth.

As a Jewish man, he should have known that the LORD forbids such practice in the Old Testament, but he rejected it and became a pagan.

[SLIDE 11] Now, how would you have react and responded to spiritual opposition?

Perhaps you have experienced something like this in your life. You have an opportunity to reach out to a friend who’s genuinely interested about Jesus and the Bible, but another friend comes and tries to stir the curious individual away from the conversation and wants to talk about something else.

And perhaps you felt like you lost that great opportunity. Or perhaps you just allow that conversation to continue on its rabbit trail and hope to connect that back to the important conversation, but that didn’t happen.

Now, it may have been EASY and CONVENIENT for Barnabas and Saul to just let proconsul go because they didn’t want to get into a conflict or a confrontation with Elymas. He was in a position of power.

However, Paul was willing to do what Jude 23 says, “save others by snatching them out of the fire.”

[SLIDE 12] The text tells us that the Holy Spirit empowered Paul in a powerful way, NOT to walk away, but to CONFRONT Elymas with these rather indicting words found in verses 10-11a, and to pronounce judgment upon this Jewish false prophet.

Elymas was far from being Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus or son of salvation). Instead, Paul calls him the son of the devil because he’s opposing the work of God.

Elymas was an enemy of all righteousness. He’s not a righteous prophet that spoke about true justice and righteousness, like Elijah, Jeremiah, and etc. He’s a false prophet who twisted that which is right and wrong.

Elymas was full of all deceit and villainy.

Essentially, he was a con-artist.

He used unethical work to have personal gains through clever or tricky means.

Finally, Paul asks him a question: “Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”

Elymas was Jewish. When he heard this question, it should remind him some texts from the Old Testament regarding the straight paths of the LORD, but he made them crooked.

This simply means resisting the truth by twisting and perversing it. False prophets in the Old Testament twisted morality by calling good evil and evil good.

No different today in our cultural landscape when some politicians and society have twisted and perverted God’s design of marriage, gender, and sexuality, and have a twisted idea of when it’s appropriate to murder an innocent baby in the womb.

This is undoubtly what false teachers do nowadays.

When you read these verses, they just sound extremely harsh and candid to our Canadian mindset, because we’re generally known for being “nice” to each other.

But, these rather harsh words are not new. That’s what the characters of the BIble said to those who are leading people astray from God.

Did you know that Jesus also used very sharp words? You know…the Jesus that our North American society paints as gentle and loving? Let me quote to you some of Jesus’ severe sayings:

[SLIDE 13] Matthew 18:5-6 “5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

[SLIDE 14] Matthew 23:25-27 “25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Is Jesus gentle and loving? Yes, He is, but He is also a holy, righteous, and wrathful God, yet without sin. When you read the gospels, He especially took issues with the religious leaders who are legalists and self-righteous hypocrites.

[SLIDE 15] John the Baptist also used strong indicting words against the Pharisee.

Matthew 3:7 (ESV)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

[SLIDE 16] If you remember Acts 8:20-23, Peter spoke these words to Simon who was a magician when Simon thought he could get the power of the Holy Spirit with money.

Acts 8:20-23 “20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.””

Also, have you read the prophets of the Old Testament lately, especially the book of Ezekiel? God spoke through them and used indicting words against Israel and Judah that would make 21st century Christians squirm when reading them.

[SLIDE 17] Now, a disclaimer: The text is not telling you to go out and be obnoxious. You must remember the context and the audience that these statements were addressed to. These strong and indicting words are generally reserved for false prophets, false teachers, heretics, charlatans, and frauds (those who twist God’s Word for materialistic gain).

So, please don’t go around evangelizing to people like that. Don’t respond like that to a friend who’s trying to stir the spiritual conversation that you’re having with another friend.

You could gently say, “Hey, I’m having an important conversation with him/her right now. You’re more than welcome to join the discussion.”

However, there may be an occasion when you should speak up and perhaps respond strongly against those who try to keep others from the truth. This requires wisdom and spiritual maturity to discern when to make that call.

Not everyone who holds wrong teachings is a false prophet. Not all errors need strong confrontation. Sometimes, a person in error just needs gentle guidance and time in order to come to the knowledge of the truth.

However, some errors are more serious than others. A false prophet is someone who deliberately deceives others. It’s a very serious error and teaching that keeps a person from believing in Jesus Christ for salvation.

And when you’re filled and empowered of the Holy Spirit, I think He will give the words that you need to speak at that moment.

[SLIDE 18] Now, we’ll return to the narrative and come to our final lesson: Be Prepared To Leave The Result Up To God.

Now, the final thing that Paul says to Elymas was a pronouncement of judgement.

It wasn’t Paul who cursed Elymas with blindness. He was simply announcing to him that God is about to make him blind…only temporarily. He may have regained his sight later in the future.

However, it was through the blinding of Elymas that gave a great impression on Sergius Paulus. Perhaps, he never saw a miracle like that in his life in contrast to the trickery of the magician.

So, he believed and was amazed. However, he believed not because God blinded Elymas, but at the teaching of the Lord at the end of verse 12. Barnbas and Saul spent time teaching Paulus the word of God and helping him understand it. And that drew him to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

He believed in His death, burial and resurrection that can save him from his sin and the wrath of God.

And the miracle substantiated that claim.

Now, this last part of the narrative is important for us to understand the specific purpose for why they went to Cyprus. (Remember that I mentioned this earlier)...

[SLIDE 19] John Stott argues, “Luke surely intends us to view Sergius Paulus as the first totally Gentile convert, who had no religious background in Judaism.”

Consider the fact that it was the Holy Spirit that sent them and directed them to Cyprus and eventually to this man, Sergius Paulus. And the Holy Spirit filled Paul with courage and boldness to confront Elymas so that Sergius can know the truth.

What’s so amazing is that God wants this man - a Roman Gentile who was in a position of power - to be in His kingdom, even if it means getting the missionaries to sail across the sea from Salamis to Cyprus to get to him.

And God will do whatever it takes to get him into the kingdom no matter what Satanic opposition that His people will face. The gates of hell shall not prevail against His soverseign work.

And perhaps this morning, there might be some of you in this sanctuary, like Sergius Paulus, who don’t know Christ. If you’re like him, then you can summon me before your presence and seek to hear the Word of God after the service.

Application

As I slowly wrap up the sermon, what is one thing you could possibly take from this text into your own lives as believers? I want to briefly take you to another passage that is closely connected to Acts 13.

[SLIDE 20] In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul speaks of his spiritual warfare that he and others faced in the Corinthian church.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

The strongholds that Paul was referring to were lies, falsehood, errors, wrong thinking and sinful behaviours that non-Christians (and even Christians) have built to protect their hearts and minds (thinkings) from adhering to the knowledge of God and obeying Christ.

And these strongholds are generally built by the values and ideologies of the culture, education, and government over years. This sort of thinking is opposed to God’s truth.

It’s a kind of thinking that is not JUST the complete opposite of truth, which would be falsehood. It’s the kind of thinking that is...half-truth and half lies. It is a kind of thinking that is ALMOST right, but not completely right.

Satan loves to deceive people with half-truth.

When you want to strike a spiritual conversation with non-believers, remember that folks have built strongholds in their lives for years.

And we have the weapons to destroy these strongholds, arguments, and lofty opinion, but it is not a physical weapon, but spiritual weapons, such as prayer, the Word of God, faith in the LORD, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

[SLIDE 21] Conclusion

Leading people to Christ is not a mere academic exercise or a sales pitch. It is a spiritual warfare. It is going an allout war against the forces of Satan, demon, and hell because truth is constantly being twisted and perversed by the devil and his representatives (sons and daughters of the devil).

If you get into a debate / argument with a non-believer about Christianity, then keep in mind that you’re in a spiritual warfare.

If you’re counselling someone struggling with depression, anxiety, sin, and etc, then keep in mind that you’re in a spiritual warfare.

If you’re teaching an age group, then keep in mind that you’re in a spiritual warfare.

We should take spiritual warfare seriously because souls are at stake. Again, that doesn’t mean we become crude and rude, but we are to speak the truth in love because the most loving thing we can do is to lead people to Christ and into spiritual maturity.

We read the verses during the service, but Ephesians 6:12 is a good reminder that your battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Is this something that you take seriously? Are you standing firm? Are you on guard? Are you sober-minded? Are you being watchful?

Or have you let your guards down? Have you forgotten that you’re in a warfare? Have you walking naked (so to speak) and have forgotten to put on your whole armour of God?

Have you just let the “spiritual lion” of society just devour you without knowing?

If that’s you, then turn back from that mindset, RETURN TO YOUR POST, and renew your commitment to the LORD this morning as a soldier of Christ.

Here's an applicational question that may be appropriate for the lifestarter:

Teacher: Explain the meaning of spiritual opposition in your own words.

Opening Question: When was the last time you experienced spiritual opposition to your Christian faith? How did you personally respond?

Question #1:

Question #2: Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Strongholds in this context are wrong thoughts and perceptions, contradicting the true knowledge of God and the nature of God. These strongholds are expressed in arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Can you identify what strongholds people at school and/or work have built up?

Question #3: Paul identifies the weapons (plural) of our warfare are divine powers that can destroy strongholds. What are these weapons that we have in our arsenal?

Bold Question: If you feel comfortable, share with the group some of the strongholds that you are building up that you know are not pleasing to God.

As you are reading this story, we can read this story and know that the Spirit was with these men and leading them, but is this still true in our Christian life? (EXPLAIN MORE??)

You desire to live the life that is pleasing to God. You want to go wherever the Spirit leads, but you don’t know how to go about it. How does one know where the Spirit is leading?

That knowledge is not based on feelings, emotions, impulses and deep-seated affections. They can lead you astray apart from the Word of God. The Bible is the God’s Word that can illuminate your path. God’s Word will help you discern whether you’re being led by the Holy Spirit.

Here’s the truth though: You cannot live the Christian life apart from the Holy Spirit. You cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit apart from the Holy Spirit. Paul instructs Christians that we are not to be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of sinful flesh.

As we saturate ourselves with Word of God, we will walk more closely with the Spirit.

When that happens, I think God has given believers freedom and wisdom to make everyday decisions where no moral laws are broken and where those decisions do not conflict with His Word.

Luke doesn’t tell us that the Holy Spirit spoke to them audibly to go to Cyprus.