Facing Opposition with an Open Heart

Acts 13:4–12

✋ Let’s be honest—have you ever assumed that if God opened the door, things would just… work out? That if He called you to do something, all the pieces would fall into place easily?

Yeah, me too. It’s a comforting thought—but not a biblical one. 😬

In Acts 13, we see something different. God absolutely opens a door, but almost immediately, opposition shows up. And in this passage, we’re reminded of a powerful truth:

Spiritual opposition is conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the Word.

That’s how Barnabas and Saul faced it. And that’s how we can face it, too.

🚢 The Mission Begins: Sent and Supplied

Barnabas and Saul set out on their very first missionary journey—launched by their church in Antioch, but more importantly, sent by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4–6). They travel to Seleucia, hop on a boat to Cyprus, and land in Salamis.

And what’s the first thing they do?

They preach. 🎙️ The Word of God. Boldly. Right away.

No build-up. No brand strategy. Just preaching the Word where God sent them.

Here’s what’s amazing—they didn’t have much. But they did have two things that matter more than anything else:

• The Holy Spirit 🕊️
• The Word of God 📖

That’s the heart of ministry right there.

If Jesus relied on the Spirit and Scripture in His ministry, how could we possibly think we can go without them?

💼 Quick Story: Don’t Forget the Essentials

Ever left home and realized you forgot something important? I do the classic three-pat check:

👉 Phone, keys, wallet.

One vacation, we were already two hours down the road when we stopped for gas. I reached for my wallet… and it was still sitting at home. 🤦‍♂️

So Alicia paid for the whole trip.

When you leave the essentials behind, you realize pretty fast just how limited you are.

Spiritually speaking, many of us are trying to follow Jesus without the essentials. No wonder we feel powerless.

⚔️ Resistance Is Inevitable

In verses 7–8, we meet a man named Elymas (also called Bar-Jesus)—a false prophet and sorcerer. When the team reaches Paphos, a regional official named Sergius Paulus invites Barnabas and Saul to come speak to him.

This is huge. A leader wants to hear the gospel!

But of course, opposition steps in. Elymas doesn’t just disagree—he actively tries to stop them from preaching to Sergius. He’s working overtime to turn him away from the truth.

🚪 Open doors often have enemies standing in the doorway.

That’s spiritual warfare. And it’s frustrating. Ever been in a moment where momentum felt strong and then suddenly someone—or something—slams the brakes?

🚗 Illustration: The Driveway Bandit

I love the traffic flow around Green Country. It’s smooth sailing most days. But when I travel somewhere with heavy traffic, it’s a different story.

You finally get some open road, and you’re cruising… then someone peeks their bumper out of a driveway. You see it coming. You whisper, “Don’t do it…”

But they do. 😤 They pull out and drive 2 mph under the limit. And of course, no one’s behind you.

All that momentum? Gone.

That’s what opposition feels like sometimes. But we don’t slam on the brakes and give up, do we? We keep going.

Same with spiritual momentum. Don’t let the enemy’s interference make you pull over and stop obeying God.

🙌 Victory Is in God’s Hands

This is the part I love. Paul—still called Saul in this moment—steps forward in Acts 13:9–12. He’s filled with the Holy Ghost and boldly confronts Elymas. He calls him out for who he really is: a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness.

That’s boldness in the Spirit. 🕊️

And what happens next is a power move only God could orchestrate: Elymas is struck blind. The man who tried to blind others from truth now stumbles in literal darkness.

And Sergius Paulus?

He believes. 🙌

Not because of the miracle—but because he was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

The Spirit empowered the messenger.

The Word convicted the hearer.

And the opposition crumbled.

🎖️ Picture This: You Can’t Win a War Against God

Imagine a rebel force attacks a global superpower, thinking they’ll win with shock and awe. But the moment they strike, satellites move, jets scramble, and overwhelming force floods the battlefield.

That’s what happens when people try to fight God. The more they resist, the more His power is revealed. You can’t win a war against the One who commands every force and already wrote the final chapter.

💡 What Does This Mean for Us?

When you face spiritual opposition—and you will—don’t panic. Don’t get discouraged. Just go back to the same two essentials:

• Let the Holy Spirit lead you.
• Sometimes that means bold confrontation. Sometimes it means quiet trust. But it always means surrendering control.
• Keep the Word of God front and center.
• That’s your anchor. That’s your answer. Don’t let anyone distract you from it.

Even when things feel dicey, and you’re tempted to rely on gimmicks or charisma—don’t. Stick with the Spirit. Stay in the Word.

That’s where victory is.

And by the way—victory doesn’t always mean people like you. It means staying faithful.

Sergius Paulus didn’t just like Paul. He believed. That’s the win.

👣 So… What If You Meet an Elymas This Week?

What if someone tries to shut down your spiritual momentum?

What if a door that God clearly opened is suddenly blocked by resistance—spiritual, relational, emotional?

🎯 Will you walk away?

🎯 Will you question if it was really God?

🎯 Or will you lean into the Spirit and stand on the Word?

Final Thoughts 🙏

• Follow the Spirit.
• Share the Word.
• Walk through the door—even when it’s guarded.

Don’t wait until opposition shows up to decide whether you’ll stay faithful. Make the decision now. 💪

The same God who sent Barnabas and Saul has sent you.

He’s already given you what you need.

So go.

Face opposition…

with an open heart.

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