A Battle for Hearts and Minds

It is valuable for the Christian to know that he or she is doing the Lord's will. Some situations we need to pray much about and search the word to know what we should do, but in other situations it is very evident. The mission of Saul and Barnabas was something that was clearly the will of God. When we know it is the Lord's will, we are able to do the work with purpose, peacefully, joyfully and in the knowledge that God is with us.

But they soon discovered that, although we are doing the will of God, we will soon be opposed. Elymas the sorcerer represents powers of darkness which are only too real and which people dabble with at their peril. It proves that in evangelism there is a battle for hearts and minds. Firstly there is a battle within the believer not to give up through discouragements, as John Mark was destined to do. We need to have the armour of God to withstand difficulties in our families or the challenge of fruitlessness. There is also a battle for the hearts and minds of unbelievers. They are under Satan's power and it needs the superior power of Christ for these captives to be set free. The objections in the world against the Christian faith are all expressions of sin. But we are not to give up but are to continue in the strength of the Lord.