FRIDAY, JULY 4
Scripture: Acts 13:50-52

The Jews came back with a second round of persecution and they, “…stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” Now today, most believers would likely “turn-the-other-cheek” and pray for their enemy. But that is not what the Holy Spirit led Paul and Barnabas to do. The Holy Spirit led them, in verses 51,52 to pray judicially. And the interesting part of this spiritual pattern is, that after they went judicial, they received a move of the Holy Spirit. Verses 51,52 say, “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Paul and Barnabas possessed the blessing of the Lord and the filling of the Holy Spirit while praying judicially. Following their judicial act they moved forward in declaring judgment. It sounds strange to say that, but it is truth. Paul and Barnabas possessed the blessing of the Lord by declaring judgment! Now that is exactly the opposite of what tradition has taught us to do today, because tradition has perverted Scripture in order to make the church passive. Will we continue to be passive or will we possess the blessing of the Lord and the move of the Holy Spirit by imitating Paul and Barnabas? It is time to follow Paul and Barnabas’ lead and be prepared to follow the Spirit’s direction in prayer – whether it means praying for or praying against!