SCRIPTURE:

Then Saul—also known as Paul—was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician and said, “You son of the Devil! You are the enemy of everything that is good. You are full of all kinds of evil tricks, and you always keep trying to turn the Lord’s truths into lies! The Lord’s hand will come down on you now; you will be blind and will not see the light of day for a time.” At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes, and he walked around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:9–11 GNT)

DEVOTIONAL:

We see in this week’s scripture verse from Acts, chapter 13, an example of God’s judgment that occurred when a false prophet and sorcerer named Bar-jesus (or Elymas) opposed Barnabas and Saul when they preached the Word of God to Sergius Paulus, the governor of Paphos. The governor, who had great influence, had asked to hear the gospel, but the sorcerer was blocking this from happening.

This false prophet was trying to stop the advancement of the gospel, but God’s vengeance removed the apostles’ adversary. God knows that satan is our true adversary, and that he uses people, especially those outside of God’s covenant, to frustrate and fight God’s servants and hinder them from carrying out His instructions.

We must remember that our enemy is never flesh and blood. Our true warfare is never with what we can see or feel. This is why vengeance only operates supernaturally by faith.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for the reminder that my enemy is not anyone in my family, on the job, or in my neighborhood or nation. I repent over blaming people for any wrongs they have done to me. I forgive them as You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Vengeance of the Lord. To order this all-important, timely book, click here.