6 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, 7 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. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 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? 11 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, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
Acts 13:6-15
Before Paul and Barnabas left on their first missionary journey, there are several instances of the praying church in Jerusalem and in Antioch. So strong was the power of the Holy Spirit, the people were actually begging for the Word to be preached to them. Look at their reception in Cyprus Acts 13:7, “the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.” And then when they left the island, they went from Paphos to Perga in what is now southeast Turkey.
They then headed for the mountains of another city named “Antioch” but this one is in Pisidia near the area of Galatia. And even there, the word of God was eagerly anticipated and wanted. Read Acts 13:15, “If you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it!”
In our preparation for our trip in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, we may not be on a missionary journey, per se. But then again, we are always on a missionary journey. Ask God that we ourselves will be hungry for a word from God. We can see the sights and enjoy the time away, but if we do not hear from God, what is the purpose? And if we do not share the word of God, especially words of encouragement and exhortation, what is the point?
Ask God that we might have such a reception in our hearts to hear from Him in this trip. Write out your own definition of exhortation:
Whether on a missionary journey or in the Christian walk, we need to resist the urge to be critical of everything that doesn’t suit us. We should always seek to speak words of exhortation and encouragement. Edification means to build people up. We should look for ways to give compliments to our fellow sojourners on this trip.
Just like down home on the range, if a discouraging word doesn’t have to be said, then don’t say it.
