DIVERGENT VOICES

August 20

Bible Reading: Acts 13:4-12

Acts 13:7-8. “He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.”

C. S. Lewis’ classic, The Screwtape Letters, speaks of a fictional correspondence between devils trying to tempt a human soul away from God. The letters are from a senior demon named Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, who’s been assigned to darken the soul of a man called “the patient.” Screwtape instructs Wormwood to direct the patient toward his worst emotions, vice, and corruption, and away from reason and virtue.  Though fictional, the book speaks to the reality of the divergent voices, sourced in either good or evil, that would work to lead us to either know (and grow) in Jesus or remained darkened in our understanding.

Sent off from the church in Antioch, the Spirit worked to bring Barnabas and Saul to meet with the governor of the island of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus.  He was the man placed there by the Roman senate to handle the control and governance of the entire island.  In those days, it was common, even for a man of intelligence like Sergius Paulus, to use private wizards, fortune tellers, who dealt with magic and spells.  Elymas was that man for Sergius, and the words he spoke did not come from God.  In fact, when Paul and Barnabas began to share the word of God, it was Elymas who opposed them “seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith” (Acts 13:8).

The proconsul ultimately came to faith in Jesus, as he “was astonished at the teaching of the Lord,” but Paul had to intervene to silence Elymas’ deceptive voice.  In sharing the gospel, we engage the enemy of souls in spiritual combat.  He seeks to hold people in their spiritual darkness through all his deceitful devices.  It is as we prayerfully led by the Spirit that we lay hold of the divinely powerful weapons that work to destroy the enemy’s fortresses (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Our part is to clearly and boldly proclaim the truth, as God grants opportunities.  Who knows when God might privilege us to witness someone being turned, just as with Sergius Paulus, “from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).

Satanic opposition to the gospel is not a possibility but a certainty.

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S!
The battle is the Lord’s!
The harvest fields are white;
how few the reaping hands appear,
their strength how slight!
Yet victory is sure,
we face a vanquished foe;
then forward with the risen Christ
to battle go!

The battle is the Lord’s!
Not ours in strength or skill,
but his alone in sov’reign grace,
to work his will.
Ours, counting not the cost,
unflinching, to obey;
and in his time his holy arm
shall win the day.

The battle is the Lord’s!
The Victor crucified
must with the travail of his soul
be satisfied.
The pow’rs of hell shall fail,
and all God’s will be done,
‘til ev’ry soul whom he has giv’n
to Christ be won.

The battle is the Lord’s!
Stand still, my soul, and view
the great salvation God has wrought,
revealed for you.
Then, resting in his might,
lift high his triumph song,
for pow’r, dominion, kingdom, strength
to God belong!

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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