THURSDAY, JULY 22

Scripture: Acts 13:9-11

In Acts 13 the Apostle Paul faces a false prophet who is working to deny him entrance to a region.  He does not offer him a drink of cold water nor does he “turn-the-other-cheek”.  He says, “’O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” Paul goes judicial and the Holy Spirit honors it with blindness falling on the false prophet.  The fruit of Paul’s declaration was that the proconsul believed and the region opened to ministry.  How is it that we have taught “turn-the-other-cheek” but we have not taught the preparation to announce blindness or removal of those in opposition?  Why have we emphasized only half of who Jesus is and deprived the church of necessary preparation needed for confronting end-time evil?