"A Simple Presentation into The Book of ACTS" - Chapter 13, Part 1 - Bro. John "Ernie" Perez

Bro. Ernie continues this journey deep into The Book of ACTS - hang on!  Get your Bible, your notebook and your highlighter...let's go!!!!

God doesn’t always whisper. Sometimes He speaks with enough clarity that the only real question left is whether we’ll obey. We sit down as a table family again after a summer break, share travel stories, and talk about those “Jesus never goes on vacation” moments when prayer and ministry show up in the middle of normal life. 

Then we open the Bible to Acts chapter 13 and watch a healthy church at Antioch do something rare: they worship, they fast, they pray, and they listen. When the Holy Spirit says to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work God has called them to, the church doesn’t debate it into the ground. They fast and pray again, lay hands on them, and send them out. We also slow down to talk about what it means to “minister to the Lord” when God has no needs, and why everyday kindness to people is a real way to honor Jesus. 

We dig into hearing God’s voice through Scripture and the pattern we see from Sinai to Samuel, and we give a straight warning about fasting and prayer: it isn’t a way to manipulate God, it’s how we crucify the flesh so God can speak and work through us with clarity. From Cyprus to the showdown with Elymas, Acts 13 also shows spiritual warfare, bold leadership, and a surprising conversion when Sergius Paulus believes after seeing God’s power. 

If you want a deeper Bible study on Acts 13, Christian discipleship, fasting and prayer, and the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, press play and read along with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the Word and grow with us. (*Recorded on 7/13/2026)

Ways to Give at https://m3mi.org...Thank you for your seed!  :)

Transcript

Welcome Back And Summer Stories

SPEAKER_03 0:12

Hi y'all, welcome to Simple Sunship Unfiltered. I'm your host, Sister Diana. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey today. Can we be a real? It's not always easy. But you are so grab me a drink. Grab me a snack. Let's open the word and see what Jesus has to say today. Hey, welcome to Simple Discipleship Unfiltered. I'm your host, Sister Diana. So good to have y'all joining us today. How y'all doing?

SPEAKER_05 0:45

Good, good.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Good, good. Oh, it seems like we haven't been together forever, Dunny. That little summer hiatus as we've uh had the grandgirls and we survived. Praise Jesus about that. But we've been missing uh brother Ernie and Sister Patty. They were out of town. Won't y'all tell us a little bit about what y'all had going on on your hiatus?

Washington DC Heat And Museums

SPEAKER_02 1:07

We went to Washington, DC over the 4th of July. Oh 116 degrees in the shade.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Well, maybe 126 on this year. Oh my god. It was hot.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

We were visiting with our son, and we went to several museums. And the best one was the museum of the Bible. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

And the space museum.

SPEAKER_02 1:33

Yeah, the space museum was amazing, also. But just being with our son and getting to talk to him and just relaxing and cooking.

SPEAKER_03 1:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

And then cooking for us. It was a good day. Did y'all see the fireworks? We did.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

We did.

unknown 1:50

They were amazing.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

We were on the roof of the condo where he lives, but it started raining. So we we went inside and then turned on the TV and we turned it on. And it was all over the city in several different places. And so the TV was panning, you know, all the different places. And so we got big to make and another one starts with an A, but I don't think it was Anaconda.

SPEAKER_02 2:33

That's a big snake. It was and something. It was the it started with an A. It went into the Potomac. Yes. Yes. How fun.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Anacostya.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Anacostya. I probably wouldn't remember that either. Yeah, Anaconda.

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Well, we went to a Nats baseball game.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Yeah. And they won.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

And they won. And it was a six-minute walk from where we were staying to our seat in the ballpark.

SPEAKER_03 3:02

Wow. That was that's cool.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

He live, he lives straight across the street from the gate.

SPEAKER_03 3:11

What an experience, though, for the big 250th to actually be there.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

We didn't go to the mall where the state fairs were. It was just too hot.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Be that close to the at the ball game. We sat down. And we sat down in the midst of Air Force veterans. All got tickets random. And so so, of course, we were yak-yaking quite a bit.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

The guy behind us was actually rooting for the pirates.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

So we told him to be quiet.

A Prayer Moment With A Marine

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Reagan. Reagan. And this young man walked up to me and was talking to me about, you know, I wear my veteran's cap usually.

SPEAKER_03 4:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

And he is recently enlisted in the Marines and he was on his way. And you know, he he took my number and we prayed with him and prayed for him. And I got that text message from him with his prayer needs later. And so we we thought that was unique that we got to pray with him. And we're all we're always looking for people like that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:39

He was really he came up to, you know, thank you for your service. And then, or he says, Can I pray for you? He says, I called my mom. I'm just I'm just coming back from Tampa because I got to spend the weekend with my family. And I said, Mom, I need somebody to pray for me right now.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

Oh that's something. That that was I I love that.

Staying Open To God While Traveling

SPEAKER_00 5:02

Jesus never goes on vacation.

SPEAKER_03 5:04

That was the point. The girls and I were just having this discussion because we're about to leave on the mission trip to up to Waola. And and it's gonna be 10 days, and we're older, so I mean we gotta if we gotta travel on a cart, it's gonna take a little longer than it used to, right? But I told him I said, let's just make sure that we're never turned off, that we can't see somebody if the Lord you know sends them to us or whether we see a need or whatever. I think that's we miss a moment, you know. I think that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

But I think you like saying we're older, so you could rub our noses.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

I'm just saying physically we cannot. I cannot. We did we did that trip to Dollywood out to Seaverville, and and we came straight back, and I was like, I'm never gonna do that ever again. You know, we're just gonna we're gonna have to split this up because we're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

We we had a serious discussion about driving.

SPEAKER_03 6:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

14 hours never happening again.

SPEAKER_03 6:06

No, we just we we just yeah, no, so we're we're gonna take our time and go up to see the new neat baby niece that was born up in Rio Rancho. We're gonna see them, and then we're gonna go take another time to stop somewhere, and then we're gonna make it to the Grand Tetons and to Yellowstone and Cody, and then we're gonna go over to Walla.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

So it's gonna be a bring me back an autograph from Yogi Bear, please.

SPEAKER_03 6:36

Yeah, I'll I'll search him out for you, you know what I'm saying? You can't really miss him.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

If he and Boo Boo are having a picnic, we might find the forest bear.

SPEAKER_03 6:52

Don't start forest fires.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

Yeah, no, he's in New Mexico. Is he really? Smoky's from New Mexico from the Sacramento Mountains. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 7:02

Wow. Yeah, and then we're then I said, you know, on the way back, we're just coming back. And then I was like, well, no, we're this close to Mount Rushmore. We gotta go over there, you know. Plus, we're gonna spend a day in prayer at Ranchester praying for the people coming in for Sturgis. So we're gonna have a prayer tent set up there for a day and one place uh for like two hours in one place and two hours at another place. So I'm excited about that. But anyway, we're we're all busy for the summer. Glad

Turning To Acts Chapter 13

SPEAKER_03 7:31

to know that that y'all had a wonderful trip, and and I'm excited to get back into the study of the book of Acts. Simple presentation, and and I just want to announce everybody here around the table real quick because I forgot to do that. Sister Audia. Thank you for your home. Thank you for the food. Sister Patty's here. Good morning, brother Ernie's here.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

Yes, indeed.

SPEAKER_03 7:54

Sister Ann's here. Always in the back, we've got Sister Helen, Sister Sandy, Sister Tammy, and Sister Joyce. So they're all back there. I see we got the lively crowd again. So, but everybody's here because we're we're hungry and we're ready for the word today. So I like that. So here we go with a uh simple presentation into the book of Acts.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

All right, so we're at Acts chapter 13 today, reminding you if you're using the King James translation of the Bible, then it will read the same verbatim, word for word. If you're reading another translation, we're just glad you've got your Bible and that you're participating and have thoroughly enjoyed what we're doing. We've come to Acts 13. It's a very exciting chapter for me. We're gonna see some real changes in the life of Paul and Barnabas in the church in general, and Luke is going to be focusing from here on through on the Apostle Paul's ministry. So we'll we'll want you to remember that and enjoy that as we go along. So we're going to read from Acts chapter 13. We'll read the first 20 verses, and then is our habit. We'll go back and give you a simple commentary as we stroll through the scripture and just do our best to enjoy it and understand it. Please remember, if this blesses you at all, to share it, to like it, and to share it, to download it, to send it to people, because you can get this word of God to people we will never ever touch. So we want to thank you for your participation in that capacity. Alright,

Acts 13 Reading Through Verse 20

SPEAKER_00 9:53

Acts chapter 13, beginning with verse 1. Now there were in the church, that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Menae, which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they also had John to their minister. And when they had gone through the Isle of Paphos they found certain a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was our Jesus, which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God. But Elimus the sorcerer, for so it is his name by interpretation, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, Oh fool of subtlety 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? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist of and a darkness, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. Now, when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up and beckoning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel, our father, chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm he brought them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years until Samuel the prophet. Excuse

Daily Discipleship And The Real Church

SPEAKER_00 13:55

me. All right, let's go back to verse one, and then I'm gonna give you my simple commentary. Hope that it blesses you and it stirs up some thought within you and makes you want to dig deeper into the scripture for yourself. All right, beginning with verse one. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Menaeon, which had been brought up with Herod, the Tetrarch, and Saul. So at this time, just we left Acts church with Acts 12 with church growth in Antioch, it's still happening in Antioch, and it's it's lively growth, it's good growth. And the Lord has added to the church there daily such as should be saved. As you read in Acts chapter 2, verse 47, if you look at the latter half of the verse, it goes on to say how that after everyone had submitted to the gospel, that they continued steadfastly, daily in the apostles' doctrine and breaking of bread, and that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. This is stressing for us. Peter, at the very beginning, if you're gonna walk with Jesus, you're gonna need a daily walk. The church begins with a daily walk. It doesn't begin with we're gonna get you here for every feast and every feast day and we're gonna get you here on every Sabbath. No, that the Jews live that way, but the church went from house to house daily. And we we have such tradition in our country, you know, and and most western nations. Well, churches for Sunday and churches for Wednesday. But the church is not a building, and the church is not a denomination. The church is the bride of Christ and them that believe in the Lord Jesus and commit their lives to them. And here we see that God has sent ministers that were serving as both prophets and teachers to disciple new believers, not to be confused with some as prophets and some as teachers. They were apostles and prophets, they fulfilled both both offices. Now, verse 2, I'm gonna read verse 2. And

Worship, Fasting, And Hearing God

SPEAKER_00 16:39

they ministered to the Lord and fasted. And the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. Notice they ministered to the Lord and fasted. In this instance, minister is better understood as served and or worshiped the Lord. They fasted and prayed. They didn't serve God, minister to the Lord in the sense that he needs anything. God does not require humans to provide for him anything in any capacity. God has no need. He is the all-sufficient one. The old country preacher said, God don't need no matches, because he's fire all by his self. God doesn't have any needs like that. Now we have Psalm 50, verses 10 through 12. Has anybody got that and want to read it? Go ahead, Mama.

SPEAKER_02 17:50

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee. For the world is mine in the fullness thereof.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

This world belongs to God. So when we how do we minister to God since he has no need? We lavish love, adoration, affection, worship upon him. And listen, since God is invisible, there's a principle in 1 John. If you love not your brother who you see, how can you love God whom you don't see? So take advantage of that knowledge because when you're kind to people, you're trying to be kind to them as unto the Lord. Every now and then we're someplace where there's a DPS or a deputy or a police officer having lunch. And one of us will go up to that officer or those officers and say, We'd like to buy you lunch today. When they say, No, no, thank you, please take it as an offering unto the Lord, because you render a service to us. Remember, Jesus said, if you've done it to the least of these, you've done it to me. So when we treat people good for Jesus' sake, He recognizes it. When we treat people poorly, in spite of the name of Jesus being on our lives, he recognizes that too. So we we want to try to walk in kindness, you know. Nobody's rich enough to buy all the army a meal or every cop they see a meal, but every now and then, if you can, you know, help someone, help them out with their lunch a little bit. Kid was in the Burger King the other day and walked up and asked me, could he have 50 cents? And and so I I said, 50 cents? What do you need 50 cents for? He is so hot, gosh, so awful hot. He he said, I want to buy a cold drink. I said, I'll buy you a cold drink. I don't know if I'll ever see the kid again. It's not gonna make me saint it. It's not gonna do, but it Jesus does see every little act of kindness that you do in his name. And the thing about giving can become very selfish in the sense that when you fulfill a need, you get so much self-gratification for knowing that this little light was appreciated. And you don't know who come behind that and water it with intercessory prayer and anointing of the Holy Ghost. So they ministered and fasted. Then it says, the Holy Ghost said, that is, the voice of God filled the room. There was not tongues and interpretation, there was not a prophet who stood and said, Barnabas didn't stand up, Paul didn't stand up and declare. The Holy Ghost said, now, if you believe the Bible is true, then you know what recorded in this verse is true. The Spirit of the Lord filled that room, and you have examples of that. So I'll tell you what, I'll pass out a few scriptures.

When God Speaks In Scripture

SPEAKER_00 21:27

Mama, if if you'll get Exodus 19. I did a poor job of anticipation. Exodus 19, 16, 19, 16 through 20, and then we're gonna come back and read verse 19. And you, young lady, and if you'll get Deuteronomy 4, you're gonna read verses 9 through 12. And audio, you're going to read 1 Samuel verses 3 through 4. So let's start with you, Mama. Exodus 19, verses 16 through 20. Then we're going to come back and talk about verse 19.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

It came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God. And they stood at the nether part of the mount, and this Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. And the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed, louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him with a voice. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai on the top of the mount, and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount, and Moses went up.

SPEAKER_00 23:13

So here, in the midst of this great demonstration of his presence, and this trumpet that came from the mountain, that was evidently the largest trumpet ever in all of history, booming from the mountain. And then they heard him by a voice. Look at verse 19 again. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. So this isn't this is not something that has never happened before in God dealing with people. So let's look at Deuteronomy chapter 4. And the verses that we've got there are nine through twelve.

SPEAKER_01 24:08

Only take heed to yourself and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life, and teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, Gather to people to me, and I will let them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children. Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven. Wow. With darkness, cloud, and thick darkness, and the Lord to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but say no form.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

Saw no form.

SPEAKER_01 25:14

Saw no form.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

So here is the situation I want you to see. Remember, Adam and Eve heard God in the cool of the evening.

unknown 25:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:25

Moses says in Deuteronomy, he's quoting what we read in Exodus. Remember, this is Moses summing up everything that is written in the law, meaning the tail end of Exodus and Leviticus Numbers. In Deuteronomy, it's his farewell speech. It's often called the second giving of the law or the second testimony. And he's reminding them you heard the voice of God. You need to be sure and teach this to your children. And I think one of the mistakes that we make as parents probably, and I just caught myself just a few days asking myself a few days ago, did I really give enough attention to teaching the why? Because we can teach our children scripture. But if we don't teach them an understanding what God has shown us, in certain places, God tells us exactly why in Scripture He did certain things.

SPEAKER_01 27:15

Fear me if you do wrong.

SPEAKER_00 27:19

That's good that you said that. How about it's being in awe? I keep forgetting an awesome God holds us in awe. Imagine when they were at the bottom of that mountain, they were paying attention.

SPEAKER_01 27:33

Right, because they got fire.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Fire, smoke, thunder, lightning, and then what sounded like, my guess, is you know, a two-ton trumpet. Because they're they're at the bottom of the mountain, and it's just that that's just how it happens in my imagination. 1 Samuel 3, 4 through 10.

SPEAKER_04 27:59

You ready? Yes. That the Lord called Samuel and he said, Oh, what three? I'm sorry. That the Lord called Samuel and he answered, Here I am. So he ran to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And he said, I did not call you. Lie down again. And he went and lay down. Then the Lord called yet again Samuel. So Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And he answered, I did not call my son, lay down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, Go lay down, and it shall be if he calls you, that you must say, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came, now the Lord came and stood and called at another time. Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel answered, Speak for your servant hears.

SPEAKER_00 29:22

Eli was not surprised that Samuel could hear the voice of God. The fact that God would speak to someone didn't shake people up. They knew that it didn't happen to everybody every day, but it happened enough that when it did occur, they were not shocked. So these believers in Antioch, now they're a mixed group now. We've got many Gentiles in this group, but most of them were most likely proselytes first. So they're familiar with Jewish history and the scriptures. So they know that God spoke in times past. So when it happens now, I just don't see them being scared. I see them being in awe. I see them being shocked. I see them being thrilled that the voice of God has spoken. And look, God didn't make any suggestions. The voice didn't suggest. Would we like to have Barnabas and Saul? Would you step up? Do either of you feel a calling? Yeah. None of that. The Spirit of the Lord said, Separate me, Saul. Or Barnabas, actually, and Saul. Separate them to me for the work whereunto I have called them. God gave specific instructions. I find the only time that God asks questions is when he wants to make us focus on what he's teaching us.

unknown 31:01

Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:03

You know, so separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. Verse 3.

Fasting Without Trying To Manipulate

SPEAKER_00 31:10

And when they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and they sent them away. The church in Antioch followed the instructions. You know what they did? They were fasting and praying and ministering to the Lord when it happened. And after it happened and they received instructions, what did they do? They fasted and prayed. Please remember, fasting cannot be used to twist God's arm.

unknown 31:38

No.

SPEAKER_00 31:39

We don't fast to get what we want and satisfy our carnal nature. We fast to get ourselves in submission to God's will. And a good uh reading for you, write down this note, Isaiah 58, 1 through 12, regarding the spirit of fasting. Fasting and petitioning can very well go together depending on the attitude of the petitioner. We can never think that, oh, because I'm fasting, God's going to give me what I want. We can never manipulate God. We must never try to manipulate God.

unknown 32:20

No.

SPEAKER_00 32:21

It just won't do. Let's look quickly at the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 17. I'm getting faster with my Kindle here, bit by bit. And go to verse 19 and read 19 through 21.

SPEAKER_02 32:43

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said, Why could we not cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of lessard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove thence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

Now that's a powerful statement.

unknown 33:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:13

Fasting, go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 33:14

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the hands of men.

SPEAKER_00 33:22

So fasting puts us in a place where we're pressing the carnal nature down so that it doesn't come between us and God. It's not so that we can get what we want. It's so God can do what He wants through us. It's just fasting was never meant to be used to get us to satisfy our carnal needs. And as for the voice of God, you may have never heard the voice of God, but let me tell you, you might. You might.

unknown 34:07

That'll scare me.

SPEAKER_00 34:10

I've been blessed to hear the voice of God, and I've heard other people testify about it. And the first time I heard the voice of God, it was a mixture of power, terror, and love and comfort all at the same time. And it it was overwhelming. And I looked to see who was there. But you know, there was nobody there. But I followed the instructions God gave me, and there was a manifestation of his faithfulness. You are prompted by God, and you're not sure it's God. It's between you and Him what you do, but I would encourage you. Follow the voice of the Lord. And if you've never heard it, pray, God, let me hear your voice. Whether it's in a dream or a vision or an audible voice, maybe a scripture jumping off a page, God let me know you're talking to me. And give me a courageous and obedient heart, so that when you speak, I will comply. So separate Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. There's one instance when I myself and another person heard the voice of God at the same time. And the only reason I know that is because I wouldn't say what I heard. But that person verified for me word for word what I heard as me and Mama in the same room. And God spoke to us and said, I give my beloved rest. Rebuke that thing in Jesus' name and go back to sleep. And then it was daylight.

SPEAKER_01 36:10

You've told that story before.

SPEAKER_00 36:13

I probably have because it's a testimony for us that that just won't go away. Mark the things that God does in your life. So as the church and Antioch humble themselves, oh, and another scripture you should write down about not manipulating God. We read Matthew, didn't we? Okay. As the church and Antioch humbled themselves before God, seeking to align their hearts with God, they weren't able to fulfill his will. They had heard the voice of the Lord, giving them instructions what to do. And before they did that, they fasted and prayed some more. I wonder how many of them were having to say, Pinch me. Did you hear that? That's what I heard. Did you hear the same thing I heard? Man, that was God speaking, man, just like at the mountain. And through prayer and fasting, they found the courage to be obedient. Verse 4. So

Sent To Cyprus And Spiritual Warfare

SPEAKER_00 37:21

they, Barnabas and Saul, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia and from thence sailed to Cyprus. Let's see, I think I'm going to read verse 5 also. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they also had John to their minister. Okay. So during the fasting and the praying, they understood the Holy Ghost direction for the ministry of Barnabas and Saul. And Barnabas and Saul first traveled to Seleucia. From there, they sailed to the island of Cyprus. Verse 6, and when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus. Here they are. They hit Cyprus on the eastern end of the island. They enter the city of Salamis. It is there that they preach the word, where? In the synagogues. Listen, Paul is still a Jew. Barnabas is still a Jew. Jesus didn't tell them you can't be a Jew. He said you got to live by faith. You got to obey my voice. Now, here they are in the synagogues. Just how many synagogues they visited? I don't know. We're not told. We're not told how long they stayed at Salamis. We don't know. We do know that Barnabas lived previously in Cyprus. We know that from Acts chapter 4, verses 36 through 37, where Barnabas sold his property in Cyprus. He was a Levite and brought the money to the apostles. Of course, God was fully aware of Barnabas' upbringing and where he lived. It seems reasonable to me that the people who laid hands on these two brothers knew where they were sending them. I don't think it was a stab in the dark myself. Even though it's not given day by day details where they're going to go, we notice their destination where they first stopped is Cyprus, where Barnabas is from. Here they encountered a sorcerer. Wouldn't you know it? He was a Jew. Wouldn't you know it? He was a false prophet. His name was Bar Jesus, or meaning son of Jesus. And remember, Yeshua was a common name throughout Hebrew history. They did not know when they used that name for thousands of years what they were proclaiming. But it would be revealed in the gospels and in the rest of the New Testament. Now, he is also called Elimus, meaning sorcerer. Verse 7. Elimus, which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God. So this man, Elimus, had gained favor with the Roman deputy or pro-council or governor of the island of Cyprus, which is under Roman domain. So Sergius Paulus is not a Jew. He's a Gentile. The deputy himself had the reputation of being an intelligent man and prudent. He was, hey, I do things wisely, I go cautiously. Hearing that Barnabas and Saul were in his territory and what they were doing requested that they come to speak the word of God to him. Remember, we know that Barnabas was a Jew and a native of Cyprus and a Levite. Is it possible that his return to Cyprus as a disciple of Christ was big news on Cyprus? And therefore Sergius Paulus was informed of his presence. You know, as you follow the Apostle Paul, it seems like everywhere that boy goes, there's either a riot or a revival. You know, he he shows up and and it's just the struggles that he faces, the persecution that he faces, never hinders the gospel from going forth. Now, verse 8 says, But Elimus the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them. So Barnabas and and and Saul, who's going to be called Paul from now on, they are that's his Roman name. They are having conversation with the deputy, the pro council. They're talking to him. There's something going back and forth, and Elimus doesn't like this. And he withstood them, and he's seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. The sorcerer was pro. Possibly threatened by the preaching of the true word of God. Perhaps his demons recognize the two ministers of God. Subsequently, he was in the ear of the deputy trying to discourage him from receiving the gospel. I I once had a guy walk up to me out of the clear blue and look at me and say, You think you're so good, don't you? You think you're so holy. I said, What are you talking about? He said, You do. You just think you're so good. And he used the word goody two shoes, which we hadn't used since we were children, you know. So I think I said, Have I said to you, I think I'm holy? Have I said? And he said this in front of several people. And God has a way of taking what the enemy means to hurt you and turn it for your good. Isn't that what happened to Joseph? Joseph said to his brothers, You meant it to me for evil, but God meant it for good. I'm telling you. But it will be turned. Let's read verse nine. Saul, who is called also called Paul, he's now using his Roman name. Because the name Saul, Saul of Tarsus, that that strikes a little terror in the hearts of some of the believers, you know. He starts going by his Roman name, Paul, you know. Filled with the Holy Ghost. Oh, there was a move of God within him. We know he was already filled with the Holy Ghost, so why are you saying it again? It's a Hebrew style of writing, making you understand God showed up extra special, mojo diddly, whopper on the scene. And Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. Saul, who for the first time, Luke writes his Roman name, was suddenly moved by the Spirit of God to warfare, spiritual warfare. He fixed his eyes on Elimus and called out his sinful efforts, then spoke to Kim in the same manner, I believe the apostle Paul spoke to Sapphira. In Acts chapter 5, verses 1 through 11, there's a story about Ananias and Sapphira, right? Ananias came in and they had decided we're going to lie about our offering just so that we'll look good in church and everybody will respect us like they respect Barnabas. They're going to say my name, put my name on the pew. That's what they're going to do. But they lied. And Peter caught them in the line. He said, Listen, this money was your money, right? Yes, the property is your property, right? Right. You have the right to do anything with it you want to do. It's yours, right? He said, right. And you sold it for this much, and that's what you brought. Yes. Man, don't you know you're not lying to me?

unknown 47:21

You're lying to the Holy Ghost.

SPEAKER_00 47:22

You're lying to the Spirit of the Living God. You think you can do that? And Ananias fell dead. And a couple hours later, when his wife showed up, I guess she was looking for him. You know, he didn't come home for lunch or whatever. So she shows up. And Peter sees her and says, Oh, sister, by the way, your husband was here and brought the offering. Did you sell the land for that amount? Oh, yes, yes, that's what we did. Oh, we're just so humble before the Lord. Before the Lord we did, you know. He said, You and your husband both decided to lie to God. Don't you know God doesn't do? He said, and it's not like he told her, I'm telling you, drop dead. What he said is the feet of the men who carried your husband out, they're coming for you. He knew God's about to do it again. See, that was apostolic anointing, also. And and and uh what you gotta be. So Elimus the sorcerer was possibly threatened by this preaching, and Saul says to him, he's not gonna take it. Let me see. Saul says to him, You shall be blind for a season, you son of the devil, you unrighteous thing, he starts unloading on him, calling out his sinful spirit. Acts 13 and 11. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee. Oh, you're a pervert, and the hand of the Lord is on you because you're trying to pervert this brother right here, who's interested in the word of God. The hand of the Lord is upon you. How did you know this? Saul by the Holy Ghost, and you shall be blind, not seeing the Son for a season, and immediately there fell on him a midst and a darkness, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Everybody wants a ministry like Paul, right? To be shipwrecked and jailed and beaten and starve half to death and left for dead, and be chased by assassins and left for dead by people who robbed him, and be shipwrecked. They meant it to him for evil, but God used it for good. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed.

John Mark Leaves And Paul Preaches

SPEAKER_00 50:20

Okay, now when Paul and his company lose from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. Listen. When my boys were little, we dispute over which one did this, but I grew up you eat whatever's on your plate. Mama grew up eating only what she wanted, because her dad intervened for everything and spoiled her rotten. But uh we came to an agreement because we fussed over this. Okay, they will at least taste. You know, she was raised differently than me, and now we're trying to be a team. We had to find a place to work together. So we compromised that they will taste. Yeah, they wouldn't eat spinach, one of them. And I got him up from the table, and I said, You'll eat what your mother's prepared. And I give him a couple of swats, and his brother says, I'm eating my spinach, Daddy. I love spinach. I love this is good, you know. And when I think about Sergius Paulus right here, seeing the sorcerer blinded. And he said, Oh, I'm I'm a believer. You you count me in, you know. And at this point, John Mark says, I'm going home. Now, I don't know if he missed his fiancee or if he was a newlywed and had to get home, if he was just homesick and not ready for the journey, but he said, This is it. We're going. How much time do we have left here?

SPEAKER_03 51:56

No. You go ahead and finish it. Finish it out.

SPEAKER_00 51:59

Okay. All right. So verse 14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch and Pisidia. Not Antioch, Syria, where they started out, but another city, another city named Antioch. And went into where? The synagogue on the Sabbath day, because they were Jews. They didn't stop being Jews when they started loving Jesus. They understood the fulfillment of the law. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any exhortation for the people, say on. So, passing through Hergah, they get to the next synagogue, they get an invitation. Verse 16, Paul stands up and with wisdom greets the crowd. Look how he does it. Paul stood up and beckoning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. So, what he's doing, he's putting everybody in a place that's good. He recognizes them, you, my countrymen, and you know, you lovers of God, and I know it too. Verse 17 the God of this people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted them. Exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt. When the high arm of God brought them out of it, you know they love to hear that story. You know this rings a bell in their hearts and in their minds. He brought them out with a mighty hand. And about the time of 40 years, he suffered their manners in the wilderness. What does that mean? After Paul goes through the history of Israel's miraculous deliverance, he doesn't pull any punches. He also goes through the wilderness experience. We're reading just a slight narrative, I do believe, of the message. Because you know their life was filled with doubt and rebellion and unbelief and disobedience and repentance throughout the wilderness experience. Their journey to the Promised Land should have taken from 11 days to three months. But their doubting, their complaining, and this disobedience stretched out their journey to 40 years. Why? Because God is more concerned with your character than where you're going to move about to. Christ is being formed in us. That's the bottom line. So when you pray, what should I do for a career? You want a career that helps you to better be a Christian and be a better testimony. When you pray about where to move to, God, move me where I can be best used. And then it won't matter where you go because you'll be best used. I always prayed for employment where I would be the blessing. I never prayed for money. Say it, mama. And you know, to her credit, it never hindered her. I got a compliment from my son just the other day. He said, Dad, everywhere you went, it was like mom was the yin to your yang. She was just there. She was just in it with you. Blessed to have married a real woman of God. Now, Peter, now I'm sorry, Paul pivots in verse 20 right away. He pivots from talking about the trip in the wilderness and gets to Canaan and they get, they inherit the land. And at verse 20, after that he gave unto them judges about the space of 450 years until Samuel the prophet. Samuel is a hinge on which the door of Israel's history will swing. He is the last of the judges. He is also the first of many prophets, God will send to Israel to preach repentance, to call them to repentance. He will, under God's direction, anoint the first two kings of Israel. And Saul of the tribe of Benjamin and David of the tribe of Judah are the first two kings. So he's not done yet. And we're going to talk more about this.

Wrap Up And Next Steps

SPEAKER_00 56:46

We're going to try to finish the chapter in our next presentation. Thank you for your time. Please remember, download it, share it so that the word goes out in Jesus' name. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 57:00

All right, another great lesson on the book of Acts, our simple presentation that you brought there. We don't have any time to kind of go into anything, but I really love what you talked about fasting. And that it crucifies the flesh, which then you can remove your own ideas out of it so that God can speak through you in that moment. You know, it just there's such a clarity that comes just spending time with the Lord like that.

SPEAKER_00 57:26

Not fasting foolishly.

SPEAKER_03 57:28

Yeah. I mean, if you're just fasting to say I fast, that's dumb. Because you're eat because you're not doing anything or any good for anybody. But to say that I'm going to crucify my flesh because I just want to spend time with you, Jesus. I just want to come close to you, and I just want to find you in your work. I want to hear your voice, Lord. And you do. I mean, you just can't help but but to do that if you're doing it for the right reason. So, anyway, good lesson today. So glad to have everybody here today. And we're going to go ahead and close with our our kind of our motto is to go show some, show some give mercy and go be Jesus today. Hey

Like, Share, Feedback, And Giving

SPEAKER_03 58:12

STU family, if you have enjoyed this podcast today, would you please like, follow, and share our podcast link? We would love to hear your feedback and your podcast topic suggestions. To do that, simply go to our website at www.m3mi.org, scroll to the more tab, and select contact us. Also, if STU has been a blessing to you, you can also go to our website and select sew a seed. There are several ways that you can give, whether it's Zelf, Vinmo, Cash App, or if there's an address to send a check or money order. All your gifts are tax deductible, and we thank you so much for sewing your seed with us. I want you to remember this. This person once said that a person has given you their time, they've given you their most precious gift because they can never ever get it back. Thank you for sharing this day with me. We love you, we'll see you soon.