Shalom, beloved, and welcome once again to our morning meditation on chapter 13 of the Book of Acts.

I was deeply touched by verse 9:

"Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him..."

Everything begins in the church at Antioch, where there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon, and others. They were fasting and praying together. During this time of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke:

"Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

After they had finished fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Here we see that the Christian life was lived in community. They prayed together, fasted together, and were sent out together. It is like a burning coal—it needs other burning coals to keep its fire alive. When a coal is separated and left alone, it eventually grows cold. May God grant us His grace.

Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, first arrived in Cyprus, at Salamis, where they proclaimed the Word of God in the Jewish synagogues. Then they traveled across the island to Paphos.

There they met a Jewish magician, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus (also called Elymas). He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul was the Roman governor of the island of Cyprus. He represented the authority of the Roman Empire in that province and was responsible for its civil and judicial administration. Despite his high position, he had an open heart and desired to hear the Word of God. For this reason, he summoned Barnabas and Saul. But Elymas opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced judgment upon him, and the man became blind for a time. The proconsul believed, astonished by the power of the Lord's teaching.

The Fullness of the Holy Spirit: The Secret of Victory

This passage clearly shows that Paul and Barnabas did not act in their own strength. They lived continually under the fullness of the Holy Spirit. They did not preach with carefully prepared words and actions, but were completely led by the Holy Spirit.

There is no genuine Christian life without the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says:

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)

It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to love God, hate sin, and love righteousness. By our own efforts, we cannot overcome sin or bear spiritual fruit. As Zechariah declared:

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)

Jesus Himself said to His disciples:

"It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you." (John 16:7)

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, our strength, and our anointing. He is the One who breaks every yoke.

May God help us to continually seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit through prayer, fasting, and fellowship. May we be continually filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.

May the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Presented by Bro. Olivier