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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Acts 13 we read that Saul and Barnabas travelled across Cyprus to Paphos, where they are invited into the governor's palace, and Sergius Paulus, a wise man, desired to hear The Word of God.
What a door of opportunity - but they also ran straight into trouble. The two often go together.
A sorcerer - a spiritualist - a false prophet - a renegade Jew - called Elymas - had the opportunity of obeying God. He knew something of the Word of God, but he opposes the men of God, and tries to obstruct Barnabas and Saul.
He wants to keep the preachers away from the governor. He doesn't want Sergius Paulus to hear about Jesus - the Saviour and Messiah and Lord. He doesn't want his master to come to faith in Jesus Christ. Elymas had dabbled in the occult and that is why he is against The Word of God.
We are warned to have nothing to do with such things. Do not dabble in the occult.
These are dangerous activities and we are not to touch them, and they keep you away from Jesus. If we have become involved at any time, the only way to freedom and liberty is to repent and confess it as sin, and be washed in the blood of Jesus from the contamination and pollution. This is highly serious.
Elymas opposes Barnabas and Saul. When you do not know what might happen, do you see why it is so important to be with a colleague in Christ? Do you see why it is so vital to be part of a team?
Saul is not the kind of man to give up at the first hurdle. He knew how the enemy had tried to sidetrack Jesus, and divert Jesus Christ from His main ministry. So, Saul confronts Elymas. There are times and occasion in our ministries when we have to face conflict and confront sin in whatever form sin may appear. Be prepared, ready and spiritually equipped.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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