阅读经文 

巴拿巴、扫罗（保罗）和约翰（马可）的使命是把神在耶稣里救赎的好消息带给那些以前没有听说过的人。他们遇到了行法术的假先知以吕马的抵挡。我们的仇敌、魔鬼，正试图阻止福音在那里传开。以吕马甚至试图使他的雇主，即方伯，放弃对基督的信仰。

被圣灵充满的保罗，让圣灵的大能来对付这个邪恶的势力。这些话听起来很刺耳，但耶稣对彼得说：“撒但退我后边去”（参太 16:23）时也是如此。

在神面前，只有一种方式是对的。那就是敞开自己，让神的灵充满我们，听从“真理的灵”引导我们“进入一切的真理”。（参约 16:13）

听到有关主的教导，并目睹了圣灵透过保罗所施行的大能工作，方伯相信了基督。当神的灵和魔鬼的谎言之间展开争战，神的灵总是会得胜。

愿我们有智慧地选择跟随的榜样。

Barnabas, Saul (Paul), and John (Mark) were on a mission to bring the good news of God's salvation in Jesus to people who had not heard it before. And they met some resistance from Elymas, a sorcerer and false prophet. Our enemy, the devil, was trying to stop the gospel from being preached there. Elymas went so far as to try turning his employer, the proconsul, away from having faith in Christ.

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, let the power of the Spirit do his work against this demonic influence. The words sound harsh, but then so did Jesus' words to Peter when he said, "Get behind me Satan" (Matthew 16:23).

There is only one way to be right with God. And that means opening ourselves to be filled with the Spirit of God, "the Spirit of truth" who guides us "into all truth" (John 16:13).

In response to the teaching about the Lord, and having seen the powerful work of the Spirit through Paul, the proconsul believed. In a battle between God's Spirit and the devil's lies, the Spirit will always win.
Let us be wise in who we follow.