“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:12).
TEXT — Acts 13:6-12
Message
Power evangelism is preaching the gospel accompanied by the release of God’s power through signs and wonders. Apostle Paul gave an accurate definition of power evangelism in his first letter to the Corinthian believers: “And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4,5).
In our text, Sergius Paulus was a high Roman official who presided over the island of Cyprus. He had invited Barnabas and Paul to preach the word of God to him. A sorcerer named Elymas or Bar-Jesus, however, withstood them.
Paul discerned the obstructing spirit operating through Elymas through the Holy Spirit. He confronted Bar-Jesus, who was struck blind by God’s power. Astonished by God’s power, the governor believed the gospel. Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them…” (Mark 16:17,18). This is power evangelism, a regular experience in the early Church that is desperately needed in the Church today to dethrone all evil powers and to set captives free.
Many evangelistic efforts have been futile because most preachers lack the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. To carry out power evangelism, we must be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit as we witness. But we cannot have the Holy Spirit except we are saved and sanctified. Then we thirst and pray for the experience (Acts 1:8).
Thought for the day
Every knee bows before believers who are filled with the power of God.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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