LOOKING THE ENEMY IN THE EYE (The Acts of the Apostles ---- Part 12)
The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice
September 11, 2005
Trinity Fellowship
Raton, NM
PAUL IN
We’re looking at three things today:
*SAUL BECOMES KNOWN AS “PAUL.”
*SILENCING OF THE DEVIL IN BAR-JESUS
*SAVING OF THE ROMAN GOVERNOR
A NEW NAME
Saul is now called Paul. And will be from now on. Why? Because he has been set apart by God as an apostle the gentiles. The major gentile groups at this time are the Greeks and Romans. Please note that Paul is not only a Jew, but also a Roman citizen., and his given Roman name was always “Paul.”
When God sets us aside for something, he often gives us a new name
*SAUL BECOMES PAUL
*SIMON BECOMES PETER
*JESUS OF
Today, God wants us to be known by a new name: Christian.
And you say, “I already am a Christian.” Oh, really? How many of us forsake Christ’s name for the name the world gives us? “Banker; preacher; farmer; rancher; student; father; mother; son; daughter?”
How many, when the world speaks of you, thinks of you automatically as a follower of Christ Jesus? (And not only a follower, but a practitioner of the Ways of Jesus?)
LOOKING THE DEVIL IN THE EYE (V 13:9-11)
A “Follower of Jesus” knows how to face off with the enemy.
Ephesians 6 gives us the armor of God with which to face the enemy. And in Acts 13, Paul gives us an idea of how to properly wield those weapons when facing the enemy.
First of all, we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now I’m not talking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit here. But the fresh in-filling of the Holy Spirit that equips us for the task at hand.
In other words, don’t try to take the devil on without your armor.
Ephesians 5:17-18 says “do not be unwise…understand the will of the Lord…do not be drunk with wine (ie. The things of this world)…but be filled with the Spirit”
It goes on to tell us how to do this:
*SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER IN SONGS;
*MAKE MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO GOD
*GIVE THANKS ALWAYS IN ALL THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS
*SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD
The second thing we see is Paul do is look the devil straight in the eye (V9)
Sometimes we need to look the old devil straight in the eye and call a spade a spade.
Do you know that the devil is neither all seeing nor all knowing? In other words he can’t read your mind, and he can’t see through the power and light of Christ in you.
On top of all that, we have the power to blind him, through Jesus, and keep him from having power in our lives.
I think this is one of the most powerful lessons we can leave with today.
GOD SAVES PEOPLE
The third thing that happens after God has set Paul apart, changed his name, and Paul has looked the devil in the eye, is that God saves people! (V12)
People are astonished by the power of God in your life! When is the last time someone came up and expressed astonishment at what God has done for you? (If it hasn’t happened lately, you ought to be examining how you’re letting God use you)
That’s the living witness Paul talks about in Romans 12:1 when he says, “my life must be a living worship to the Lord.”
© 2005 Richard C. Trice & TriceTunes, all rights reserve
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