Acts 13:4-12 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in “ the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which
Pastor was with the deputy of the country, Michael Martin Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Saul, soon to become, Paul was on a mission trip. We have missionaries that go all over the world teaching the Good News of the Gospel. I believe that every one of them have faced similar situations. There are those that always oppose the Gospel. They think it will erode their influence and thus their power over someone. Here Elymas, the sorcerer, had the ear of the Deputy of the country they were in. He had influence in things that the Deputy did to administer the people. He had an evil influence on him.
Saul and Barnabus were with John and they began to share the Gospel with those who would listen. The Deputy heard about it wanted to hear it for what he heard sounded good. In steps Elymas and “withstood” them. Now ther term withstood means he was against them even talking to the Deputy. Basically he was against this new Gospel for somehow he knew it made a difference in the life of those that heard it.
While I listen to Missionary Stories that they bring back from the field where they labor, I have more than once heard of a tribal witchdoctor opposing the Gospel and the missionaries who try to tell others. I wont steal their stories, but the principle is the same. Paul labeled him “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness…”. Subtility basically is a liar, mischief is causing problems, a child of the devil, and an enemy of righteousness. Enemy here means he was actively hostile towards the truth of the Gospel.
We are quite sure that the devil is the enemy of righteousness for righteousness is from God. There is no greater enemy of righteousness than Satan. His other names are found in the following verse: Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Paul dealt with one of the devils children. A child of the devil is someone who does not believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation. They actively fight against it. They try to influence everyone they know not to listen to it. They do not want them to attend church, or even talk about God. Evolution is their attempt to eliminate God. They attack the fact that God created the world around them because their father, the devil, who hates God, is trying to eliminate all mention of Him.
Friend, please listen to the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ was born of a virgin to escape the blood line of Adam the original human sinner. He grew up as a human child with all of its influences to do wrong. At 30 years old He began His ministry and for the next three and one half years He healed all types of illness. It was a tool to draw crowds to hear of God love for the people of earth. Remember, there had been 400 years of silence from Malachi to Matthew in scripture. He lived a victorious life over sin, even being tempted by the devil himself, yet without sin. He was judged of religious men and compelled the governor to crucify Jesus on a Roman cross. As He hung on that cross, all of mens sin hung there with Him. Romans tells us the wages of sin is death and Jesus paid those wages for us because of His great love for us.
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That was a good story, preacher, but what is the Good News? The good news or the gospel is all of it. The good news is because of His substitutionary death, He paid the wages of sin. But there is a catch. You must believe it and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. Are you willing to do that today? The best way you know how, ask him to cleanse you, save you and make you a child of God. Ask it in Jesus name as you finish your prayer. If you prayed that prayer, your life will change. You will want to go to church. You will want to read your Bible. And best of all, you will no longer be a child of the devil.
