But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Devotional Thoughts
By David Wilkerson
Paul was often harassed by demonic powers. In one particular case, he was preaching on the isle of Paphos when demons attempted to interfere: “Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But…the sorcerer…withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith” (Acts 13:6-8, NKJV).
This was the devil standing up against Paul, but the Holy Ghost welled up inside of the apostle. “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘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.’
“And immediately a dark mist fell on him [Bar-Jesus], and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:9-12).
It is not enough to be grieved by the attempts of Satan to harass you. When you take authority and command devils to flee, Satan will come at you with everything in his arsenal.
Another case of this in Paul’s life was after he had cast the demons out of the possessed girl in Acts 16:16–18. Satan enflamed the crowd against Paul and Silas, and suddenly they were in a terrible crisis. The city magistrates had them whipped and cast into prison. If we are to walk in the Spirit, we must believe God for supernatural deliverance from every bondage of Satan. That is exactly what Paul did, and God answered. “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:26).
Satan will try to bring upon you the most dreadful temptation or trial you have ever faced. He wants you to get bogged down in guilt, condemnation or self-examination. Dear saint, you have to arise in the full power of the Spirit. Trust God, and he will take care of your deliverance.