The Spirit In Saul
- Linda Rock
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read

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 against you and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. Acts 13: 10 – 11 NKJV.
These are words spoken by Saul on one occasion when he is filled with the Holy Spirit, to work such works. Before us to behold, is the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ servant, manifested in Power, Presence And Produce.
There is Power in the spoken word of God, when that word is spoken at the bidding of the Holy Spirit.
There is Presence in the spoken word of God, when that word is made flesh by the Holy Spirit.
There is Produce in the spoken word of God, when that word is proven by the working of the Holy Spirit.
Ready to look at and learn about the spoken word of God in Power, Presence and Produce, we have a bit of background into what precipitated this avalanche of words upon Elymas, a sorcerer.
Saul and Barnabas, servants of Jesus Christ, have arrived in Paphos, where they meet Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer. Paul and Barnabas are working the works of Jesus, speaking boldly in His Name. Word about them spreads and Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, has heard about these visitors. He sends for them, not to question them about why they are in his territory, but to learn more about the Word of God. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. Acts 13: 7b.
It is at this point that tensions begin to rise between the Jewish sorcerer and the Jewish servants of Jesus. You see, working for the proconsul was a sorcerer, who did not at all take kindly to Saul and Barnabas, powerful and confident servants of the One True God, preaching and teaching in the Name of Jesus, and how people moved by the Holy Spirit, were putting their faith in Jesus.
Albeit, when it comes within his reach, when these Jews bring Jesus to the governor for whom he works, he has to do something. Sorcerer Elymas, does everything in his demonic powers to oppose the servants of God and turn the mind and heart of his boss, Sergius Paulus, from the faith. Elymas has become such an oppositional block and harassing menace to the Lord’s work in the proconsul, that Saul is moved to action. Keenly observing what was happening, Saul, filled with the Holy Spirit, decided it was time to put an end to the evil works of the sorcerer in their midst.
The proconsul is witnessing everything as his attendant is speaking things, trying to counteract what God’s men are speaking. Filled with the Holy Spirit, I tell you, Saul stops just speaking and acts. He turns and looks straight at Elymas the sorcerer and said these cutting-down words, telling him, in front of his master and all the people present that he was a child of the devil and an enemy of God. He also told him that because of his evil works, he would become temporarily blind.
Note clearly, in the presence of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, Saul takes on the sorcerer one on one. It is Holy Spirit against evil spirit; servant of Jesus against servant of sorcery; true prophet against false prophet; Saul also known as Paul, against Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul unleashes this avalanche of words upon Bar-Jesus. The punishment of blindness on Bar-Jesus is immediate, as this sorcerer begins to grope about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. This manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit in Saul, over the power of an unholy spirit in Elymas, seals it for the proconsul. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13: 12 NKJV
The proconsul witnessed the Power, Presence and Produce of the Working of the Holy Spirit through Saul. He immediately believed when he saw this manifestation of the Holy Spirit, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Here are four things which occurred when the Holy Spirit faced the unholy spirit.
The Pronouncement of the Holy Spirit overruled the talk of the unholy spirit.
The Person of the Holy Spirit overshadowed the presence of the unholy spirit.
The Power of the Holy Spirit overtook the might of the unholy spirit.
The Persuasion of the Holy Spirit overrode the efforts of the unholy spirit.
As we face false unholy spirits daily, what is our Holy Spirit witnessing in us? The problem is not the false unholy spirits, trying to discredit the Holy Spirit in you, but how you testify to His presence and power in you. If indeed, the Holy Spirit is your authority, then the words you speak against the unholy spirit must come to pass, with quickening.
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