Dealing With Spiritual Deception
To the ends of the earth - Acts 13:4-12 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God...”
A campaign is a planned, coordinated series of actions designed to achieve a specific goal. There are military campaigns, ad campaigns, and political campaigns. Whatever the kind, success depends on clear goals, a well-defined audience, compelling messaging, disciplined execution, and continuous learning.
But as we continue in the Book of Acts, we read about a different kind of campaign: an evangelistic campaign. In obedience to the Holy Spirit, with the blessing of the church at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey. They would claim unreached areas for Christ, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
They began in Cyprus, Barnabas’ birthplace. There, they traveled the length of the island, proclaiming the word of God. Luke illustrates the success of their efforts by describing the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor over the entire province.
How did the gospel prevail in Cyprus? Many have attempted to analyze and replicate the missionary methods of Paul, such as selecting strategic city centers or targeting men of influence. While some patterns do emerge, it doesn’t seem that he set out with any definite design. Luke doesn’t attribute Paul and Barnabas’ success to a particular strategy. Instead, we see that the gospel prevailed on the island of Cyprus because they faithfully communicated God’s word and boldly confronted Satan’s lies.
So it is for you and me still today. There is an ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of people. But our methods are not political, militaristic, or better marketing. As Paul writes, "The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God." We too deal with spiritual deception by faithfully communicating God’s word and boldly confronting Satan’s lies.
