Tues. Devo - Are You Experiencing Opposition?....Rejoice!

Read Acts 13
Saul and Barnabas were sent to preach to the Gentiles. After much prayer and fasting, they left for Cyprus. Since verse 1 says the church in Antioch had these certain teachers and prophets and "Barnabas" means "prophecy", I would think that he was the prophet and Saul was the teacher. After preaching in Salamis where everything went smoothly, they went to Paphos where things were not so smooth. First there was a certain false prophet named Barjesus. He was friends with the deputy of the coutry, Sergius Paulus who wanted to hear what Saul and Barnabas had to say. Then there was Elymas, the sorcerer who didn't want the deputy to hear the truth so he opposed Paul and Barnabas. Paul turned and rebuke Elymas and cursed him with blindness. (Isn't that exactly what God did to Saul?) When the deputy saw this power he was amazed and became a believer.
Paul and Barnabas left Perga and came to Pisidia and went into the synagogue because it was the sabbath. The priest read from the Torah then asked Paul and Barnabas if they had anything they wanted to say. Paul stood up and preached the whole Jewish history up to that present time. He then preached Jesus, the fulfillment of the law. The Jews heard and left, but the Gentiles asked to hear more next sabbath. When next sabbath came the whole town showed up. The Jews saw the crowds and were filled with jealousy. They argued the truth and reviled Paul and Barnabas. So Paul turned and told them that the opportunity of everlasting life had to be given to them (the Jews) first, but since they didn't want it they were going to offer it to the Gentiles. And this is what they did until the Jews stirred up the wealthy people to get them kicked out of town. Paul and Barnabas left for Iconium shaking the dust off their feet, full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
Give us the heart of Paul and Barnabas that we would be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit when we are being persecuted for righteous sake. It seems to be a given: it you are making progress in the kingdom of God, you are going to be opposed. Recognize the source and don't be defeated.