“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: … 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:6-10
Much of the opposition early Christians faced was from “religious”, but unrighteous people. However, in Acts the early church started facing conflict from those that clearly opposed biblical teaching of any kind.
One such enemy was Barjesus. His name meant “son of Jesus” or “son of Joshua”. However, he used the name Elymas, which meant “wizard.” Being that this sorcerer was a Jew (vs. 6), he probably had some type of biblical training in his past. If he did, he knew that sorcery was sinful (I Sam. 15:23, II Chron. 33:6); yet he pursued that wickedness even though he knew God hated it. To make matters worse, this male witch tried diligently to keep someone from being saved (Acts 13:6-7).
Many have been exposed to what God says is right or wrong. They have learned His ways from good preaching, Christian education, Bible reading, or a godly upbringing; yet somewhere in their lives they have made the decision to ignore everything they have heard and live the way they wanted. They have chosen to live their lives contrary to God’s command, as did Barjesus.
I have asked myself again and again, “How can these people, that definitely have learned God’s way, live the way they are living now?” In this account, the sorcerer was not a child of God, as he was called “… thou child of the devil, thou enemy of righteousness…” (Acts 13:10). For some that live ungodly lives, that may be the explanation; they were not saved to begin with.
For others, they may have been saved, but sin has a powerful hold on them. Sin’s control can completely change how a person thinks and behaves. Romans Chapter 1 describes people like this. The people described in that chapter “knew God” (Romans 1:21) but they “… became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” The rest of the chapter details that sad list of sins they had gotten involved with.
Why do people act ungodly? Some are unsaved. Others live a lifestyle contrary to God’s commandments because they may not even know what His commands are or may not even consider obeying anything other than their own desires. For others that should know better, it may because they have purposely decided to ignore what they have learned, and live their own way. Rebellion of this type is usually rooted in a controlling sin. For whatever reason, one’s lifestyle usually revolves around one’s own decision. The decision God desires for each one of us should be similar to the choice Joshua made, “… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15. Whom have you chosen to obey?
“You cannot run away from a weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand.” — Robert Louis Stevenson
otme 7/18/2016
Thank you Bro. Bill for this. Doug and Bob, I too have an adult child who has made poor choices. It breaks my heart and I question why, but I know why. Yes, Star, we need to be praying fervently and always.
People from all faiths have this issue like for example the Amish allow their children when they are of age [ 16 to 18? ] go out in the world and live in it for six months to a year to let them decide if they want to stay in the fold or chose the worldly ways . From what I have read most decide they prefer to stay with the fold .
Okay there are a lot of us who have had a good Christian up bringing , yes myself included , so maybe lived a sheltered life and maybe we like the Amish kids want to taste the world so have done so . Some of us come back to the fold others do not . Then there are children raised in a Christian family parents are pastors [ either one or both ] and are abused sexually by them so those grow up and think if this is the Christian life they don’t want it . Then some struggle all their lives to forgive and to stay with Jesus .
In the world there are so many tempting things and sciencests even portray sex all this is slammed in our face most of our life as well as material things and even today it is so much more that even though some who are saved are conditioned [ or should I say brain washed by the masses ?] to think it is okay .
After Adam and Eve we are to till the land , weed it and plant food to eat as Father does not hand it to us on a silver plater but look how so many people have changed the food is not clean any more unless one plants organic so much is added to it and things are sprayed in the air and all this changes our dna so now some think they are men others think they are women aka the opposite of what they were born to be . More of the devil’s work .
I pray for us all and I pray for strength as we all are weak , we all are tempted more so than in Jesus’ time . We all need our Father and Jesus now more than ever .
Doug and Bill I know what you’re going through. I’ve been a pastor for 34 years and our two children were raised in a Christian home, in church every service. My son even went to a good Bible school for 1 1/2 years. Sadly, today both are living in great sin and are a heart break to their mother and myself. We would never have believed it possible that they could stray so far from what they have been taught. It has caused us to wonder what we could have done differently, but like you said Bro. Bill, they make their choices as adults and have to live with the consequences. I put my confidence in Prov. 22:6 and pray every day that they will return to that which they know is right. The pull of the world is so strong on all people today and most people don’t realize the intensity of the spiritual battle taking place for their souls. Thank you for your daily devotional. If I didn’t spend time every day in God’s Word and in prayer the same could happen to me!
I really enjoy the feedback from everybody!
I have wondered the same thing “How can people that know the ways of God live in disobedience or rebellion?”
My oldest daughter was raised in church and was saved at a revival. We taught her right from wrong, read the Bible to her as she was growing up, she went to VBS every summer, went on youth trips and youth camps.
Yet at 17, she was having pre-marital sex, moved out at 17, she’s now 19 and lives with a man she’s not married to and is pregnant! We’re going to love our first grandchild no matter how it was conceived, but my point is: Even though people are raised in church and are taught the ways of God, everyone still has a free-will and choices!
Eli’s sons in the O.T were evil even though they were raised in the ways of God in the temple! Samuel’s sons turned out evil even though they too were raised in the ways of God (I Samuel 8:1-6).
Many kings of Judah were righteous, yet some of their sons (Kings too) turned out evil!
It’s hard for me to understand how people that know the ways of God can go the opposite direction in life, but I guess it’s all about their choices! Even though I’m saved, go to Bible College, and pastored a church, I still sin from time to time and make poor decisions!
Great devotion!
So sorry to hear of your daughter. My daughter also succumbed to a similar fate at the same age. She was surrounded by the things of God since she was 18 months old, claimed salvation at a young age, went to church and Christian school, worked with me in the ministry, won souls to the Lord, but followed the scent of sin rather than the leading of the Saviour. Breaks my heart, but as you wisely said, it is all about decisions. Too many fall for the bright, luring appearance of sin and often do not even see what it has done to them.
Someone once said, how a child acts from 1-7, reflects on the parent. When they are older, their testimony and behaviour is from the decisions they have made in their life.
I also believe if Satan can’t reach the father or mother, he often goes in to do damage through a backdoor — often the children. IT’s a battle out there!