The Work of Overcoming Resistance

Recently I have been reflecting on possessing the land, from a New Testament perspective and how it applies this side of Christ's revelation, death, resurrection and ascension.  In a similar theme, this morning I am reading from Acts 14, and looking at some of the battle and work required to spread the Gospel.  Here are some verses that demonstrate the situation and the battle - Acts 14:1-12,19-22 NIV:

[1] "At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. [2] But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3] So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. [4] The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. [5] There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. [6] But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, [7] where they continued to preach the gospel. 

[8] In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. [9] He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed [10] and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 

[11] When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” [12] Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 

[19] Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. [20] But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 

[21] They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, [22] strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said."

I didn't copy the whole of the chapter, but these verses seem to color a picture for us of the highs and lows of efforts to preach the Gospel, as experienced by Paul and Barnabas.  They meet with success almost immediately, saw miracles and other signs, but then someone stirred up trouble and persecution, and their lives are threatened or attacked and then they needed to move.  It seemed to be a pattern that was repeated over and over, and in spite of the difficulties, Paul and Barnabas just pressed forward, and would move on to the next group or town.  They showed remarkable courage, and stamina in the face of regular difficulties.  Paul later compiled a list of all the difficulties he experienced and it was impressive for all he overcame (See 2 Cor 11:23-27).  

My point in all of this, is that in our modern semi-Christian, western society, we can forget the effort, cost and work involved in taking and possessing new land, using that as an analogy for spreading the Gospel.  The forces aligned against the Gospel have not gone away, but they have changed tactics and become more subtle.  Make no mistake, the advancement of the Gospel will be resisted. 

In our lives today, we see similar techniques, though sometimes at a societal level.  There are always efforts to discredit Gospel leaders, to drown out their voices and messages.  Rumours and unfounded accusations are often brought against churches, against ministries and against the faith, in a widespread effort to stamp out the Gospel.  Other times the efforts are to water-down the Gospel to the extent that it is anemic and powerless.  Other times the Gospel is presented as just a whitewashed  repackaging of the law, and again it is anemic and powerless.  

In our personal lives, the enemy works overtime to convince us of our own powerlessness, and inabilities. He works to convince us of our sinfulness, our disqualification due to whatever brokenness or entrenched sin might be present in our lives. Additionally, he distracts us, gets us so busy in our lives, or the TV shows, or whatever, to keep us from pressing forward in representing the Gospel.  We might encounter resistance from friends, family members, work associates, and the like, all aimed at trying to reduce the impact we might have if we lived 100% for the Gospel.

Secondly, those that experience and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, are definitely targets of the persecution and smear tactics of the enemy. Often these are delivered by other well-meaning Christians who are convinced that any power is of the devil, and the only way forward for the Gospel is logic and the Word.  There is great fear of the unknown and uncontrolled, and the Holy Spirit is often viewed with great skepticism and mistrust.  

When I read the Gospels and Acts, one thing seems clear to me, the Gospel proclamation was always coupled with the demonstration of the power and authority of Jesus.  We see a great example of how such demonstrations of power and authority are received in verse 8 above.  In our minds, such things are only accomplished by God.  The immediate restoration of muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerve pathways to allow a man who was crippled from birth to jump up and walk around is impossible, even with all the the science and medicine available today!!  Such a miracle can only be accomplished by God, and that's the point!  The Gospel is meant to confront our unbelief, our logic, and cause us to change our minds (repent). 

In my opinion, we must have an openness to such demonstrations of healing, miracles and signs and wonders, for our witness to change the world.  We clearly can't do such things without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and that is for our protection, for the Lord knows we would take all the credit. We must learn to walk out our faith, humbly recognizing our inability, and His great ability, and press forward to see the Gospel preached, the Kingdom advanced and lives changed for eternity!  

Lord, I pray that You might encourage and strengthen us, even as You did Paul and Barnabas!  Help us to walk in humility, and in Your power and Authority that the world would know that You are alive and well and inviting them to belief!  Help us to realize that opposition will come, and that in seeing it, we might be strengthened in our resolve and witness.  We must not shy away from the work that is required, and some of that work in overcoming the resistance of the enemy and the worldly mindset he fosters.  

Lord, help us to press into the fullness of all You have for us, trusting that You will bear witness to the truth of the Gospel, even as You did through Paul and Barnabas!  We want to see Your name Glorified Jesus!  I join my prayer to the prayer of the Apostles in Acts 4:29-30 NIV: "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Amen and Amen!