Paphos: How to take a country for Jesus!

COME:

Acts 13:3-12
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

HEAR:

Cyprus is a large island off the coast of Israel and Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. The people of Cryprus date farther back than most societies. There are indications that the people of Cyprus may have been domesticating cats as pets before Egypt ever rose to power the first time. This island was a strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea and to this day holds the distinction of a highly developed society. Paphos was the capitol of Cyprus during the time of Paul and was a prominent coastal city. From this island commerce and trade could be conducted freely being so near many ancient powers. One could easily travel from Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Etc. The city was also known to have been the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Therefore this city would have been fraught with sexual perverseness.

As Paul and Barnabas were traveling through Cyprus they made their way to the capitol city of Paphos and were invited to speak to the Governor Sergius Paulus. There was, however, an enemy of the Gospel, a Jew that had turned sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (Also named Elymas The Sorcerer) who was posing as a prophet. This Elymas had the Governor in his control through magic and tricks. I have found in life that people who pose as having a calling often do have the calling but fail to do what it takes to sanctify their lives to fulfill it, so they seek the easy way out. How many are out there who have started singing in Church and could have changed the world with the Gospel in music, but turned secular and then lost their anointing to drugs or death? There is nothing quite as evil and twisted as someone set apart by God to be a prophet who has now turned to sorcery and witchcraft.

This situation reminds me of the USA, and other countries around the world, today. There are leaders being twisted by false prophets and ideals. There are leftist socialist ear twisters who are controlling those in authority through demonstrations of their abilities. It looks so hopeless on the outside. How could you ever bring change to a situation like this. This land has been controlled by Greek Myths for 1,000's of years, dedicated to a goddess of lust, and now mesmerized by a false magician. This is a dark land.

Darkness always bows to light. Even a small candle/lighter in a dark room can begin to dispel the darkness around it. So Paul begins bringing in the light into this land and it causes such a stir that the Governor wants to hear about it. Elymas sees that he is loosing his control so he tries to stir up the Governor against Paul and Barnabas. In one move Paul turns to Elymas and strikes him with the true power of God and blinds him.

The Governor becomes a believer and the seed of the Gospel is firmly planted on this Island. This seed is so strong that despite many attacks and takeovers in the following 2000 years, there is still a strong Christian influence in the Island to this day.

DO:

You take a land by taking it's leaders (or becoming it's leader) through the demonstrated Power of God and Word of God. We must begin, before anything else, to pray for the leaders of this nation. First of all pastors and the false preachers of this world. We pray first of us building those up who will be built, and binding those who refuse to cooperate with the Word of God. We then pray for other leaders, President, Cabinet, Congress, Senate, Courts, Governors, Mayors, Etc... all the way down to school district leaders.

Through our prayers, and actions, we will bring a chance for the gospel to be brought before leaders. The right person, maybe you and I, will be brought before these leaders to proclaim to them the Gospel of Jesus... and demonstrate it's power... This will be the way we take back a nation.

PRAYER:

Father... use me... here I am, send me... Help us to take this nation back, and usher in Your Kingdom before the end.

Darrell G. Wolfe





I call you empowered 2 prosper with good success!


Darrell G. Wolfe
http://n2gs.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/n2goodsuccess
http://empoweredtooprosper.blogspot.com/

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