Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today- we can believe we are following God whilst standing in opposition to what He is doing.
Acts 5:38-39 NLT
[38] “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. [39] But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Observation
How often do we stand in the way of what God is doing? The Religious leaders want to stop the Apostles from sharing the news of Jesus. They were not bad men but this Jesus gospel threatened their religious way of life. They believed they stood for God whilst standing firmly against Him, they were fighting against God while believing they were defending Him.
The advice is ‘let it all play out.’ If it’s God it will come to pass, if not it will die its own death. And here we are thousands of years on and this gospel of Jesus remains alive and being shared throughout the world. Does the fact that it has stood the test of time testify that it is a supernatural work of God? Is there any other nation still around that has stood the trails of the Jewish nation, God’s chosen people through whom He has blessed the world? Has there been a greater influencer of society, in all of history, than the carpenter from Galilee? Does all this point to – “But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them.”
What is it about God’s message of love, forgiveness, mercy, abundant eternal life that makes us stand in opposition? Is it that we want to be God and not serve God? Is it that we want to make it on our own? We all want, one could say we’re made for, the love, the forgiveness, and right relationship with God. It’s not that what He offers we are not buying. So, is it the way of His offer, the without conditioned, without cause, grace, and gift of His offering that causes us to balk? Do we want to control the way the good news is handed out?
How many of us – “find ourselves fighting against God,” without even knowing it?
Application
I will invite God to inspect my heart and see where I am standing opposed to the good news He wants to place in my life. I will inspect my motives and see where I am opposing God convinced I am defending Him. I will take the advice, if it’s of God then you can’t stop it, and if it’s of man then it will come to pass.
Response
Thank you for being so incredibly patient with me. Thank you for not withdrawing your love when I stand opposed to you in my brokenness and deception. Thank you that you are faithful and you will prevail, history gives testimony that your Kingdom is always gloriously advancing.
Meditation
Meditation truth – If it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them.
Consider:
Ask Holy Spirit to bring awareness of where you stand opposed to what God is doing.
JOURNEY DEEPER
