April 25, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread
Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018 by Bro_D
Daily Bread January 22, 2018
Acts 5:38-39 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; (39) but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
Once again the early church leaders were being harassed for preaching the Name of Jesus as the only way of salvation. They were threatened and beaten, yet, they wouldn’t stop sharing Jesus and speaking boldly the Word of God. The religious leaders were at their wits-end, they didn’t know what to do. One of them, Gamaliel, and well respected man stood and gave this advice.
Reminds me of Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? IF the plan is of God, directed by God, empowered by God, NOTHING can stop it. God is unchanging and will not be diverted from His plan. We saw this same thing last night as we studied Jonah. God’s plan was for the Ninevites to hear God’s message and turn from their wicked ways. Jonah had other plans – Jonah’s rejection of God and His plan did not alter God’s plan. My personal opinion is that Jonah’s days in the belly of that great fish was even in God’s divine plan – Jonah learned a great many lessons in the fish---- I think God knew that the belly was the best place for Jonah to learn --- very few earthly distractions there! Anyway …… the point is, when God’s people get on board with God’s plan ---- great big God things happen!
Gamaliel makes a statement that I think many if not most of us in the church should pay attention to – “You might even be found opposing God!” That is not a place I want to find myself! There are many instances in Scripture where we can see that those who oppose God are destroyed. To be in opposition to God means we are on the same side as God’s enemy – that being satan. Again, not a side on which I wish to be found.
I don’t think we are to be taking Gamaliel’s advice here either …. We aren’t to simply stand by and do nothing! We are to be like Peter & John, we are to be the one’s that Gamaliel and the others are watching. We are to be the ones pursuing God’s purpose being acted out in our lives. We are to be the ones experiencing great big God things happening in us and thru us. What is God doing thru you today?