Breaking Free from Falsehood - Embracing Truth in a World of Deception - Acts 13
Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv
Sermon Introduction
Today my message is entitled Confronting Deception with Truth. In ancient history, the story of the Trojan Horse stands as a powerful lesson on deception and its devastating effects. The Greeks were unable to breach the walls of Troy, so they devised a cunning plan.
They built a giant wooden horse and hid a select group of soldiers inside. Pretending to retreat, they left the horse as a supposed gift of surrender. The Trojans, believing the war was over, brought the horse into their city as a trophy.
During the night, the Greek soldiers came out of the horse, opened the city gates for their army, and Troy was conquered from within. The story of the Trojan Horse serves as an illustration of how deception can infiltrate and destroy from within. Deception often comes in forms that appear harmless or even beneficial, making it difficult to recognize and resist.
The Bible warns us of the true reality and danger of spiritual deception.
Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
We are reminded that we are in a battle where the devil seeks to mislead and harm us. The schemes of the devil are all based on deception; they are his lies. Just as the Trojans were unprepared for the hidden soldiers in the horse, we must be equipped to recognize and withstand the schemes and deception of the devil.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Satan is a master of deception. He can disguise himself as an angel of light to deceive people. The Mormon cult was begun by Satan disguising himself as the angel Moroni, who spoke falsehood that continues to deceive people today. Deception often appears to be something good or trustworthy, but we must look beyond appearances and seek the truth.
John 8:32 (ESV) and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Believing and acting on falsehood leads to bondage of many kinds. Believing and acting on the truth sets people free to follow Jesus. Jesus is the truth, and God’s Word is truth. They are our armor against the deceptions of the enemy.
Today, we’re going to look into the account of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13. We’re going to learn how they were empowered by the Spirit and stood firm in the truth. They relied on God’s power to expose and defeat the enemy’s schemes.
We also must confront falsehood with the truth of God’s Word, empowered by the Spirit, to protect ourselves and others from spiritual deception.
Engage in Spirit-Led Ministry
Acts 13:1-2 (ESV) Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Antioch is the city that has become a missionary hub to reach the Gentiles. We see that important spiritual gifts or ministries in the church were prophets and teachers. These leaders in the church were worshipping and fasting as they sought direction from the Lord.
The Holy Spirit then spoke, undoubtedly through one of the prophets. Barnabas and Saul were to be set apart for a special missionary work. We already know that Saul had been called by God primarily to reach the Gentiles.
Acts 13:3 (ESV) Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The group of leaders continued to fast and pray concerning this word from the Lord. They were seeking for God to confirm the prophetic word that had been given. There was a consensus among the leaders that this was indeed God’s direction.
They then laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them on their missionary journey.
Acts 13:4 (ESV) So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
The two men were sent out by the Holy Spirit, who led them to the large island of Cyprus. Their task was to preach the Gospel to those on the island.
Let’s think about what happened in this passage so far. Barnabas and Saul had a calling from God to be missionaries. Yet, they didn’t just set out on their own.
They were active and involved in the local church in Antioch. While there, the church leadership were used by God to set them apart and approve them for this mission. They were sent out with the blessing of the church leadership.
The Holy Spirit led them to begin their missionary work on the island of Cyprus. This island had been the birthplace of Barnabas, so he knew it well. At this time, Cyprus had a notable Jewish population, so they would be able to reach out to both Jews and Gentiles.
We learn a pattern of these believers being engaged in Spirit-led ministry.
Confront Spiritual Deception
Acts 13:5-6 (ESV) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
The team of Barnabas and Saul began to preach the Gospel in the Jewish synagogues. Jews then, and now, need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved. The mission strategy was to witness first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.
They then encountered an attack from the devil through a man named Bar-Jesus. Most likely, this man was an astrologer who claimed to predict the future by looking at the movement of the stars and the planets. He would then prophesy what the future would hold.
He was, however, a false prophet as no true prophet would be an astrologer. His name, Bar-Jesus, means "son of Jesus," which is ironic. Not only is he not a follower of Jesus, but he is of Jewish heritage yet following astrology, which is condemned in the Old Testament.
Acts 13:7-8 (ESV) He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Bar-Jesus appears to be a right-hand man for the Roman governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus. Most likely, he gave his false prophecies to the governor and so controlled him, and probably also was paid for his counsel. The governor sought out Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God, which they were preaching.
The false prophet, also known as Elymas, opposed the teaching of Barnabas and Saul. His words and actions were intended to stop the governor from listening to God’s Word and believing in it.
Acts 13:9 (ESV) But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him …
In this verse, we see Saul beginning to be called by his Roman name, Paul. Very important to notice that Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit in this situation. That means that the words and actions that Paul is going to do were directed by the Holy Spirit.
Paul looks intently at the false prophet Elymas, who is using deception to oppose God’s Word. Paul is not going to let this deception go; he is going to confront it with the truth and the power of God. Spiritual deception, indeed deception of all kinds, must be confronted with God’s truth.
Witness God’s Power in Action
Acts 13:9-10 (ESV) But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?"
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to reveal the wickedness of this magician. He identified him, first of all, as a son of the devil. Those who promote deception and lies are children of Satan, the father of lies.
Those who promote deception are enemies of the righteous. They are full of deceit and fraud; they lead people astray onto crooked paths away from the Lord.
Acts 13:11 (ESV) And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
Then Paul pronounces the judgment of the Lord upon this false prophet. He was made blind for a time to show the power of God and to give him an opportunity to repent. As the magician needed his eyes in order to practice astrology, that was taken from him.
God can bring judgment on those who oppose the Gospel and seek to deceive.
Acts 13:12 (ESV) Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
The proconsul of Cyprus was amazed at the power of the Lord. The message of the Gospel was not just in words but in power. The combination of the word of God with the visible power of God caused him to reject the counsel of the magician.
And more than that, to become a believer in Jesus Christ. As we confront deception with God’s truth, we will see God’s power in action.
