Acts 13:6-8

The enemy always seeks to position himself near power so that he can influence the decision-making process. We must always be mindful of the influencers around us—especially the flatterers in our midst, for they are often trying to worm their way into our good graces for self-serving or even nefarious purposes.

In this case, we have Elymas, a sorcerer—someone who relies on demonic power—who has attached himself to the governor, the very seat of authority. Spiritual opposition has now arrived in the form of Barnabas and Saul, and things are about to go badly for Elymas. He is actively trying to keep the governor from hearing and believing the Gospel. It will not end well for him because he is standing in the way of the work of God.

It is important to be spiritually discerning. Scripture actually tells us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Jesus said we would know people by their fruit and warned us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. The very essence of deception is to appear to be one thing while actually being another. Eventually, a person's true character will be revealed, for no one can maintain a false image forever. As the old adage says, “A leopard cannot change his spots.” Unfortunately, many fall under the influence of deceptive people only to discover too late that there was a traitor in their midst.

This highlights the importance of praying for those in authority over us—that they would be discerning and surround themselves with men and women of proven character.

As Proverbs 29:2 states:

“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.”

A note of caution, discernment is not suspicion; it is wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit. God calls us to look beyond appearances and evaluate people, influences, and ideas by their fruit. The closer someone is to a position of influence, the greater the need for godly character and spiritual integrity. When we pray for our leaders and cultivate discernment in our own lives, we help create an environment where truth can flourish and God's purposes can prevail.