Acts 13:1-12

Saul and Barnabas are called into the mission field.  Does God have a plan for your life?  Absolutely!  How do you figure that out?  Through your relationship with Him.  A relationship that includes prayer and fasting.  Prayer and fasting aren't some magical hot line to God.  Prayer is simply talking to God.  Fasting is setting aside something that is important to you - food, TV, books, etc. (usually food) and spending the time you would spend eating, watching TV, reading, etc. focused on God.  It's not some sacrifice that shows God you're really serious.  It's not something that wins you "points" in heaven.  It's simply putting your focus on spending time with God.  Think of it as a couples retreat.  You leave the world behind for a while in order to really focus on the person with whom you are in a relationship.

So, Saul and Barnabas first head to Cyprus.  Why Cyprus?  Well, that's Barnabas' hometown.  Start with what you know & people with whom you are comfortable.  This is the first of three missionary journey's Paul took.  It likely took place around A.D. 46 or 47 and lasted about a year and a half.  This is also the first place you hear Saul called Paul.  Paul is simply his Greek name.

While in Paphos, Cyprus, they came across a magician that really attempted to make things hard for them.  Paul spoke to him plainly.  Sometimes in our current culture we try to sugar-coat things.  Unfortunately, sugar-coating never gets to the heart of an issue.  No one really feels any better about the situation, and nothing really gets done.  Paul wasn't someone who sugar-coated.  He called it like he saw it.  Now, was this sometimes harsh?  Yes.  Was it done to put people down?  No.  It was done in love.  If you really love someone, you will give it to them straight.  Think of it this way - if your friend is about to walk out into oncoming traffic would you A) tell him that he might be making a wrong choice and hope for the best?  or B) tell him to stop before he gets hurt?  You might even be loud about it.  Well, sin is on-coming traffic.  Are you going to hope for the best or are you going to tell it to them straight?.