February 06, 2021: SOAP #4083:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 13:7b. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 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? 11 Now 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. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. 

OBSERVATION:  People had been talking and the proconsul wanted to hear for himself.  Elymas felt threatened and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.  But when the proconsul “saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”  

Obviously the “teaching of the Lord” was not just something a person heard, but something they could also see!   Seeing led to believing!   

APPLICATION:  My life is my ministry.  It is important what people hear, but it is also important what people see!  What is seen has a great impact on what they believe.  The sanctification provided by Jesus on the cross was instantaneous when I believed.  Now the Holy Spirit is developing sanctification in my life.    

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, as you are working in and through me, work out the ways of the world and work in the ways of heaven.  Make me more like Jesus!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

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