Behind Enemy Lines
When we go on mission to spread the gospel of Jesus in the world, we are going into battle against the forces of darkness. On their first missionary journey in Acts 13:1-12, Barnabas and Saul experienced demonic opposition. In fact, all throughout their journey they encountered opposition from many different fronts. Likewise, we can expect opposition when doing the work of God under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. When launching out on a mission for God, we are engaging in spiritual warfare, thus we must be battle ready.
Engaging in spiritual warfare necessitates being prayed up in worship.
The missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas that was launched from the church in Antioch was birthed in worshiped based prayer. In Acts 13:2 we read, "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” When the leaders in the church in Antioch where seeking the face of God, the Holy Spirit separated and sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey. After the Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul in worship, the church leaders engaged in more prayer before sending them on their way. Soon after, they encountered demonic opposition.
As soldiers of Christ, we are not just called to the front lines, we have been called to go behind enemy lines with the gospel to rescue those who are bound by sin and Satan. But if we are not first prayed up, we will not be able to make a stand. In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul lists prayer as one of the essential spiritual weapons needed to wage war against the enemy. When we are prayed up, we are equipped by the Lord. Only God’s power and authority can break the strongholds of the enemy.
Satan is the god of the systems of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). He is at work, along with his demonic hosts, to keep the lost in a prison of spiritual darkness. Barnabas and Saul came against this satanic system. But before entering the mission field of battle, they waited in the presence of God. They were led by the Holy Spirit to a Roman official named Sergius Paulus who desired to hear the word of God, but were quickly opposed by a sorcerer and false prophet named Elymas (Acts 13:6-8). Doctor Luke records that this man, because of self-interest, attached himself to the Roman official. Because Elymas was probably profiting financially from his relationship with the governor, he had a lot to lose if the governor became a Christian. The governor viewed him as some kind of savior. Through his false teaching he had a strong influence in the governor’s life and used it to keep him from turning to Jesus.
We can expect similar opposition today. In 1 Timothy 4:1 Paul wrote, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons." Like the governor, there are many today who are being seduced and deceived by the teachings of demons. And like Paul, God has called us as believers to turn the lost from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. (Acts 26:18). To do so we must be personally prayed up and we must earnestly intercede for others to be set free from the snare of the devil (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Engaging in spiritual warfare calls for being filled up with the Spirit.
Notice in verse 9, "But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him…” Paul comes face to face with this false teacher who was intentionally trying to keep the governor from coming to Christ. With boldness and courage, he confronts Elymas about the deceit and evil intentions of his heart. As he did, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was not acting in pride or being led by his emotions. Paul was under the control and power of the Spirit.
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? As Jim Cymbala explained, “Think about what it means when Scripture says that someone is demon possessed. It means that demonic spirits control and animate the person. To be filled with the Spirit also means to be controlled and quickened, but by the Holy Spirit, as a result of a fresh surrender to him. And with this fresh surrender comes a fresh impartation of power from Almighty God.” (See also Acts 4:23-31)
Engaging in spiritual warfare demands that we stand up against the enemy.
When Paul discerned that Elymas was seeking to turn the governor away from the truth, he didn’t just sit idly by and let it happen. He took a stand. In verses 9-11 we read, “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.'”
Notice here that Elymas wasn’t just someone who had an erroneous doctrinal view. He was a false prophet with evil motives and was deliberately attempting to keep the governor from coming to faith in Christ. Therefore, Paul not only openly denounces Him, but with Apostolic authority he prophetically pronounces that he would be temporarily struck with blindness. Sometimes as Christians we are called to confront sin and false teaching. When confronting a believer in sin, Paul writes, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
We learn from this passage that when a brother of sister falls into sin there are times when Christians are called to come alongside them to help restore them in a spirit of meekness. Meekness is strength under control. When confronting sinners or the demonized we must also be under the authority and control of the Spirit. It’s important to emphasize that not every situation where someone is struggling with sin or doctrinal error calls for the same level of confrontation. The main lesson here is that, if we are going to do battle against the enemy, we must be equipped and ready to stand up in the name of Jesus against those who oppose the cause of Christ.
Engaging in spiritual warfare urges us to speak up for Jesus.
Paul not only stood up to Elymas—he didn’t just stare him down, he spoke up. He prophetically pronounced that he would be struck with blindness. It’s important to note here that this historical narrative is giving us a descriptive, not a prescriptive, account of what took place.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of every Christian to be ready to contend for the faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus. While demonized people are loudly and boldly teaching the doctrines of demons, too many Christians today are silent. They lack the courage and boldness to speak for Christ and proclaim the gospel. They lack courage because they are not abiding in Jesus or allowing His word to abide in them. It’s been said, believers who are intimate with Jesus are not intimidated by man. (John 15:7).
We are in a battle. And if we are going to wage war against the enemy to set captives free, we need boldness from the Spirit to stand up and speak up for Jesus. When the apostles under the threat of persecution were charged not to speak in the name of Jesus, they responded, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Where did their courage to speak for Jesus come from? In Acts 4:13 we read, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Again, those who are intimate with Jesus are not intimidated by man. They cannot but speak what they have seen and heard.
Engaging in spiritual warfare requires that we follow up with new believers.
On their first missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul travelled hundreds of miles visiting many villages and towns where they proclaimed the gospel of Christ. During their return trip to Antioch, they stopped at the places where they had led many to Christ in order to encourage and equip them in the Lord (Acts 14:21-23).
A good soldier doesn’t leave anyone behind on the battlefield. Likewise, when God gives us the opportunity to lead someone to Christ, we must see to it that no one gets left behind. We must follow up with new converts and go back for straying saints to renew and restore in the Lord.
There’s a fierce war raging in the spiritual realm. Whether you realize it or not, you’re in a spiritual battle. To fight the good fight we must be prayed up so that we can be filled up with the Spirit to stand up and speak up for Jesus behind enemy lines endeavoring to leave no one behind. Fight the good fight!
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Engaging in spiritual warfare necessitates being prayed up in worship.
The missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas that was launched from the church in Antioch was birthed in worshiped based prayer. In Acts 13:2 we read, "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” When the leaders in the church in Antioch where seeking the face of God, the Holy Spirit separated and sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey. After the Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul in worship, the church leaders engaged in more prayer before sending them on their way. Soon after, they encountered demonic opposition.
As soldiers of Christ, we are not just called to the front lines, we have been called to go behind enemy lines with the gospel to rescue those who are bound by sin and Satan. But if we are not first prayed up, we will not be able to make a stand. In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul lists prayer as one of the essential spiritual weapons needed to wage war against the enemy. When we are prayed up, we are equipped by the Lord. Only God’s power and authority can break the strongholds of the enemy.
Satan is the god of the systems of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). He is at work, along with his demonic hosts, to keep the lost in a prison of spiritual darkness. Barnabas and Saul came against this satanic system. But before entering the mission field of battle, they waited in the presence of God. They were led by the Holy Spirit to a Roman official named Sergius Paulus who desired to hear the word of God, but were quickly opposed by a sorcerer and false prophet named Elymas (Acts 13:6-8). Doctor Luke records that this man, because of self-interest, attached himself to the Roman official. Because Elymas was probably profiting financially from his relationship with the governor, he had a lot to lose if the governor became a Christian. The governor viewed him as some kind of savior. Through his false teaching he had a strong influence in the governor’s life and used it to keep him from turning to Jesus.
We can expect similar opposition today. In 1 Timothy 4:1 Paul wrote, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons." Like the governor, there are many today who are being seduced and deceived by the teachings of demons. And like Paul, God has called us as believers to turn the lost from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. (Acts 26:18). To do so we must be personally prayed up and we must earnestly intercede for others to be set free from the snare of the devil (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Engaging in spiritual warfare calls for being filled up with the Spirit.
Notice in verse 9, "But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him…” Paul comes face to face with this false teacher who was intentionally trying to keep the governor from coming to Christ. With boldness and courage, he confronts Elymas about the deceit and evil intentions of his heart. As he did, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was not acting in pride or being led by his emotions. Paul was under the control and power of the Spirit.
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? As Jim Cymbala explained, “Think about what it means when Scripture says that someone is demon possessed. It means that demonic spirits control and animate the person. To be filled with the Spirit also means to be controlled and quickened, but by the Holy Spirit, as a result of a fresh surrender to him. And with this fresh surrender comes a fresh impartation of power from Almighty God.” (See also Acts 4:23-31)
Engaging in spiritual warfare demands that we stand up against the enemy.
When Paul discerned that Elymas was seeking to turn the governor away from the truth, he didn’t just sit idly by and let it happen. He took a stand. In verses 9-11 we read, “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.'”
Notice here that Elymas wasn’t just someone who had an erroneous doctrinal view. He was a false prophet with evil motives and was deliberately attempting to keep the governor from coming to faith in Christ. Therefore, Paul not only openly denounces Him, but with Apostolic authority he prophetically pronounces that he would be temporarily struck with blindness. Sometimes as Christians we are called to confront sin and false teaching. When confronting a believer in sin, Paul writes, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
We learn from this passage that when a brother of sister falls into sin there are times when Christians are called to come alongside them to help restore them in a spirit of meekness. Meekness is strength under control. When confronting sinners or the demonized we must also be under the authority and control of the Spirit. It’s important to emphasize that not every situation where someone is struggling with sin or doctrinal error calls for the same level of confrontation. The main lesson here is that, if we are going to do battle against the enemy, we must be equipped and ready to stand up in the name of Jesus against those who oppose the cause of Christ.
Engaging in spiritual warfare urges us to speak up for Jesus.
Paul not only stood up to Elymas—he didn’t just stare him down, he spoke up. He prophetically pronounced that he would be struck with blindness. It’s important to note here that this historical narrative is giving us a descriptive, not a prescriptive, account of what took place.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of every Christian to be ready to contend for the faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus. While demonized people are loudly and boldly teaching the doctrines of demons, too many Christians today are silent. They lack the courage and boldness to speak for Christ and proclaim the gospel. They lack courage because they are not abiding in Jesus or allowing His word to abide in them. It’s been said, believers who are intimate with Jesus are not intimidated by man. (John 15:7).
We are in a battle. And if we are going to wage war against the enemy to set captives free, we need boldness from the Spirit to stand up and speak up for Jesus. When the apostles under the threat of persecution were charged not to speak in the name of Jesus, they responded, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Where did their courage to speak for Jesus come from? In Acts 4:13 we read, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Again, those who are intimate with Jesus are not intimidated by man. They cannot but speak what they have seen and heard.
Engaging in spiritual warfare requires that we follow up with new believers.
On their first missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul travelled hundreds of miles visiting many villages and towns where they proclaimed the gospel of Christ. During their return trip to Antioch, they stopped at the places where they had led many to Christ in order to encourage and equip them in the Lord (Acts 14:21-23).
A good soldier doesn’t leave anyone behind on the battlefield. Likewise, when God gives us the opportunity to lead someone to Christ, we must see to it that no one gets left behind. We must follow up with new converts and go back for straying saints to renew and restore in the Lord.
There’s a fierce war raging in the spiritual realm. Whether you realize it or not, you’re in a spiritual battle. To fight the good fight we must be prayed up so that we can be filled up with the Spirit to stand up and speak up for Jesus behind enemy lines endeavoring to leave no one behind. Fight the good fight!
In your service,
Pastor Marco