Greater is He
When the Word of God is being proclaimed through word or action, you can be assured that the enemy will make every effort to try to oppose and pervert the truth, and try to discourage the proclaimer. That’s a good reminder as to why God hasn’t called us to be loner Jedi warriors. He has wired us to be in fellowship with other believers. And most often, He sends us out in teams of two or more, just like He did His disciples in Luke 10 – so that we can encourage, exhort and uphold one another.
But even more importantly, Jesus has uniquely equipped us so that we will never stand alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us – so that by Him we are empowered to be His witnesses.(1) And John wrote to remind us: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”(2) Jesus knows who and what we will encounter. He has known it since before the beginning of time and He has given us all that we need to overcome it.
Such was the case in Paphos, one day about two thousand years ago.(3) God in His sovereignty had orchestrated that four men would encounter one another in the governor’s court in that Roman capital of Cyprus. The first was a man named Joseph, who we know better as Barnabas. God had gifted him to be an encourager and an exhorter. Barnabas had the ability to enable those around him who were down to be lifted up. However, he wasn’t dispensing a hollow hope built on a substanceless foundation. He was an ambassador of the genuine hope, assurance and encouragement that is built on the substance of the Truth of God. It was the Truth that had given him the confidence to bravely take Saul before the apostles in Jerusalem when all others feared him. It was that Truth that had enabled him to know that he was to take Saul to Antioch to disciple the new believers there. It was that Truth that gave him the courage and the boldness to stand before a demon-filled sorcerer on this particular day.
The second was a man named Saul, who we also know as Paul. He had once been a persecutor of the church, but now he was a servant of Christ and a bold proclaimer of Truth. He had studied the Scripture at the feet of some of the best Jewish Scholars, but more importantly, he had travelled throughout the wilderness of Arabia being schooled by none other than Jesus Himself. And He had the Spirit of Christ dwelling within him. He could proclaim the Truth with confidence because he knew the One from whom it had come had called him to carry it forth.
The giftedness of these two men complemented one another. The encouraging nature of Barnabas opened doors through which Paul was able to speak apostolic words of Truth. The prophetic nature of Paul provoked Barnabas to even greater understanding of the Truths of God which enabled him to be an even greater exhorter and encourager. God knew exactly what each of these two men needed and sovereignly brought them together for His purpose.
The third was a man named Bar-Jesus, who became known as Elymas. This instrument of deceit and fraud was a Jewish sorcerer. Talk about an oxymoron! The Jews were chosen and set apart by God to be His people, but this sorcerer – this dispenser of black magic – had chosen to be a servant of Satan. Apparently his assignment from the evil one was to keep the governor from ever accepting the Truth by blinding him and frustrating the attempts of Barnabas and Paul to proclaim the Truth to him. That continues to be one of Satan’s strategies today.
The fourth was a man named Sergius Paulus, the governor of Cyprus. Sergius Paulus was a seeker of Truth. He had invited Barnabas and Paul to visit him because he wanted to hear and know the Truth. The enemy did not want that to happen. He never does! Elymas distracted the governor with his magic, his lies and his interruptions. But Satan knew that he was a defeated foe – he was then, and he remains so today. As the liar that he is, he had never warned Elymas that his efforts would ultimately fail. Thus, his instrument, Elymas, was on the losing side of the battle. He may have appeared to be victorious for the moment, but his victory was to be short-lived. It always is! Satan will never prevail – no matter how dark things may look at the moment. Our Almighty God is the Sovereign Victor!
God, through His Spirit, enabled Paul to boldly confront the lies with Truth. As a result, the eyes of Sergius Paulus were opened, and the eyes of Elymas were blinded. God in His sovereignty even used the defeat of the deception of Elymas to bring Himself glory. What Satan had intended for evil, God used for His glory.(4)God still does – and He always will.
Are you encountering an “Elymas” today who is spreading lies and attempting to defeat you? Remember, “He who is in you is greater….” Has God brought a “Sergius Paulus” across your path who needs to hear God’s Truth today? Be the “Barnabas” or the “Paul” that he/she needs to hear from, and remember that “He who is in you is greater….” And He will always be … without end … until He returns.
Greater is He
I face a giant
In over my head
Help me to look up
I take a deep breath
And take the next step
Though I may be weak
I know who is with me
And greater is He living in me
Than he who is in the world
Whatever may come, His strength is enough
My heart is at peace, for greater is He
I face an ocean
The waves are raging
Help me to look up
You'll do what I can't
And I'll walk on dry land
I'll step out on the sea
'Cause I know who is with me
And greater is He living in me
Than he who is in the world
Whatever may come, His strength is enough
My heart is at peace, for greater is He
And in His name, giants will fall
And in His name, oceans will part
And in His name, there's nothing we won't overcome
This is our God, this is our God
This is our God, this is our God
And greater is He living in me
Than he who is in the world
Whatever may come, His strength is enough
My heart is at peace, for greater is He
Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Casey Brown / Blanca Callahan
Greater Is He lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Essential Music Publishing
* * * * *
(1) Acts 1:8
(2) 1 John 4:4 (ESV)
(3) Acts 13:6-12 (NLT)
Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing. Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
(4) Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20
Adapted from Until He Returns, Ch. 36
Copyright © 2020 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.
Photo by Philip Graves on Unsplash