The Commands of Jesus (Part 32) – Make Disciples Without Pre-Deciding the Answer

Empires rise and fall on decisions made behind closed doors. Mark Antony traded Cyprus as a political prize. Cleopatra ruled it with ambition. Caesar Augustus reclaimed it with force. But in Acts 13, God sends Paul—not with an army, but with obedience—straight into the same territory shaped by empire, power, and deception. This isn’t a missionary story about safe evangelism. It’s a confrontation between the Kingdom of God and the systems that rule the world. The Holy Spirit leads Paul and Barnabas into a province governed by Rome, overseen by a proconsul, and guarded by a false prophet positioned next to power. And when truth finally stands alone, a ruler believes—not because he was targeted, but because someone refused to pre-decide the answer. This teaching exposes the quiet way believers disobey: not by saying no to Jesus, but by deciding in advance who will never respond. You’ll see why God measures faithfulness by obedience, not outcomes; why open doors often come with resistance; and how Spirit-filled discernment silences deception long enough for truth to be heard. If God can place the gospel before emperors, governors, and power brokers, who have you already decided is out of reach? This message will stretch your faith, sharpen your obedience, and remind you that the Great Commission was never about predicting results—it was always about following Jesus.