"You might even be found opposing God!"

(Happy New Year!)

Read: Acts 5:12-42

Freed From Prison

“…if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (v. 38-39)

How often have we made God out to be “weak” by pretending that some man-made opposition to his work would be able to oppose the expanding of the Kingdom of God? Are we the type of Christians who wring our hands in fear and murmur about how evil is winning as if the darkness is going to overtake the light? As we boldly step into 2021, these words from Gamaliel are as true today as they were back then. Who or what could win in opposition to God? I love how Gamaliel phrases this: “you might even be found opposing God!” This reveals to us a biblical truth: it is possible to be opposing God and not know it. You will eventually find out… but at the outset it is very possible to be setting yourself up against the Lord without even being aware of it. This is happening all around us - people living in opposition to the Lord - some intentionally while others act out of ignorance. (cf. Acts 3:17) This begs the question: who should we “oppose” anyways?

Genuine Christian living and the proclamation of the Gospel will always dray fire and opposition. The sad truth is that this opposition will come form “within” the C/church as often as it will come from “outside” the C/church. Notice that it was not the Romans here in Acts that were throwing the Apostles into jail. This “opposition from within” is fueled by “jealousy”. (v.17) When people see God moving and working through others - believe it or not - they get jealous! We know that there is no need for “jealousy” because it is God’s plan and desire to work through ALL of his children, but when you are bought into these paradigms where only a select few participate with God - then you become “jealous” when you see others living this way. GOD’S PLAN IS TO WORK THROUGH YOU THIS YEAR IN POWERFUL WAYS. (It is his plan every year… whether you realize it or not!)

Nothing can stop the mission of God… nor those who are on that mission with him. Human opposition to the work of the Lord will never stand. They threw these people in jail and look what happens: “an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” (v.19) God is calling us to speak words of LIFE this year. God is calling us into the crowds to bring them words of LIFE and to call them out of “darkness and into the light.” (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) If our efforts are driven by our own strength… they will FAIL. If they are driven by the Lord… nothing will stop them.We must never give into the jealous-human-driven opposition that sets itself against the work of God. You all know the people in your life that stand in opposition to the work the Lord is seeking to do in you. You know the one’s whose approval you seek… whose approval you “worship”. In the end, “We must obey God rather than men.” (v.29) There will be no success in 2021 if it is not rooted in what the Lord is leading you to do. There is no LIFE in being tossed and turned by every wave of human opinion. Those things opposing God will not stand, so you need not be afraid. God wants to “jail-break” you out of what has you trapped… imprisoned. What will you do when he shows up and opens that cell door? Will you run back to the very people / things that threw you in there? Or will you seek out to crowds to share about this new freedom and life you have found in Christ?

What has you imprisoned? What do you feel “trapped” by? Would you be brave enough to start the year by telling someone else about it? Could you trust the Lord to “spring you” out… to set you free? Maybe you are trapped by fear… a fear that the work of the Lord is losing. Listen: nothing can stand in opposition to the Lord! I don’t know what 2021 has in store for us, but I think it is going to be GOOD. Will we endure suffering? Maybe. But look at this: “and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (v.40-41) There is actually rejoicing to be had when we suffer for the sake of the Kingdom of God. God is going to bring us JOY no matter what 2021 throws at us! Love you guys. - JDP