Decree Blindness for Elymas
Scripture Reading: Acts 13:6–12
“And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand,” Acts 13:11.
Decree Blindness for Elymas
Father God, we thank you because today is better than yesterday and we are persuaded that by your grace, tomorrow will be better than today. Thank you because by your grace, you have broken down every altar set up by the Balaks and Balaams. Thank you because you have the power and have given us your power for victory to overcome in the name of Jesus.
Sometimes Christians think that our Lord Jesus is only meek, gentle and mild. But when addressing hindrances to the work of God, Jesus is not. It is time for the church to wake up and treat those hindrances in the manner Jesus treated them. That was what Paul did in Acts 13:6-12.
“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” And as we read in verse 11, Paul, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, caused Elymas to go blind. “Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord,” verse 12.
Here we see the story of a man named Barjesus, or Elymas the sorcerer. Like Balaam and Balak of the Old Testament, Elymas wanted to hinder the advancement of God’s agenda. He was trying to keep the deputy from hearing the gospel. But Paul, being filled with the Holy Ghost confronted the sorcerer and decreed blindness to him.
Sometimes when you are ministering or being ministered to, in your midst there are Elymases. They come to turn people away from your ministry; they even attempt to turn people away from the faith. You might be making progress but these evil Elymases have an assignment to discourage you. They hover around where the gospel is being shared; they intrude and become a hindrance. Their actions can be bold or subtle, these Elymases have hindered the faith of believers even to the extent that some believers no longer go to church.
Whenever you encounter any Elymases on your path as you walk with God, use Acts 13:11 to speak to that situation and that spirit: “Spirit of hindrance, backsliding, diversion, and demotion, I speak to you today. Spirit of subtlety, you are full of mischief. Child of the devil, be blinded so you cannot see the work of God again in Jesus’ name!” By this, you are not addressing human beings; you are addressing the spirits that cause these hindrances and diversions.
I pray today that every Elymas operating in the lives of the children of God will experience a mist of darkness so they cannot see God’s children anymore.
I pray that you will strengthen this prayer by praying yourself, by speaking to that situation and addressing that sorcerer, saying, “Lose your vision of me in the name of Jesus!” Paul was not gentle with the sorcerer. Likewise, you have no business playing around with the children of the devil whose assignments are clear. Decree blindness to the sorcerers operating in your life and ministry in Jesus’ name!
Prayer Points:
O Father, let there be a restoration for all who have been hindered in their ministries by Elymases. Let a mist, a darkness fall from heaven to blind those who are causing your children to walk away from your ways.
This is not possible unless you are born again. If you are not born again, pray, “Dear Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you. I confess and forsake my sins. Cleanse me from my sins with your blood and write my name in the book of life. Bless me with salvation in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
