Today's Passage - Acts 13:4-12

Acts 13:4-12   The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.  ...The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.  But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,  "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?  Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.  When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.   The Book of Acts is indeed the Book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit, because the gospel did not spread out because of the zeal or talents of people, but by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.  That's why after the Lord ascended to heaven, He asked the disciples to wait upon the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Acts chapter two describes how the Holy Spirit came down and empowered the disciples to stand up and testify for the Lord; they preached the gospel and led three thousand people to accept the Lord.  In Acts chapters three and four, by the power of the Holy Spirit the apostles were able to heal the sick and preach the gospel.  In Acts chapter five, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the sin of Ananias was revealed and it became a warning for the early church.  In Acts chapters six and seven, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the apostles were able to resolve a crisis in the church.  In Acts chapter eight, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit Philip was taken to the wilderness and shared gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch and led him to the Lord.  In Acts chapter nine, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Ananias was sent to minister to Paul, and Peter was filled by the Spirit that he healed all kinds of illnesses.  In chapter ten and eleven, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter entered the house of Cornelius to share the gospel with them.  In Acts chapter thirteen, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas were sent to gentile land to preach the gospel, and God's will is accomplished around the world because of their obedience.   God is still searching for obedient vessels today.  Even though He can always accomplish things in His own ways, the principle of God is to always choose vessels to work with Him.  God is now looking for those who are willing to break out from traditions, disregard the plans and methods of people, and follow the guidance and ways of the Holy Spirit.  The gospel has been spreading out by the early church, even till today, because they were obedient.  Similarly, when we are obedient to God, his grace will also flow out to all places through our lives.  Are you will to become such a vessel?   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you for the privilege of allowing us to work together with you.  Help us to become vessels that obey you, and may your will be manifested through us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!    Participate in Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - by Donating a Seat for a future new believer!