Acts 18:9-17
It seems the enemy waited to attack Paul again until he thought the political winds were in his favor. The enemy needs the cover of something to do his dirty work. Whether it be darkness, political corruption, or religious zealotry, he waits to inflict maximum damage.
Consider this Scripture found in Luke 4:13 NLT:
“When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”
Many speculate that when Paul referred to the "thorn in his flesh," he was speaking of some physical ailment. However, Paul described it as "a messenger of Satan" sent to buffet him. Everywhere he went, he experienced opposition and persecution, although in this instance it appeared he received a brief reprieve. Not so much for Sosthenes—welcome to the ministry!
Since doing this study through Acts, I have been amazed at how threatened the enemy is by the truth. His M.O. is to immediately—and often very loudly—attack it. That realization has caused me to think more carefully about what I see in the news and in the public forum. What ideas are being attacked? What people are being marginalized? And why? Once you begin looking beneath the surface, you often discover that things are not always as they first appear.
History is filled with atrocities committed in the name of God. Jesus Himself warned us that there would be people who would persecute His followers, believing they were actually serving God. That is why it is so important to know the Scriptures for ourselves, lest we be misled. So let's read what Jesus said in John 16:1-4 NLT:
““I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”
If God were the vengeful God some portray Him to be—one who simply wanted to wipe humanity off the face of the earth—He would never have sent Jesus to save us. People need to reconsider who they believe God truly is. We are easily misguided when we are misinformed, and the enemy counts on our ignorance of God's Word.
"You will know people by their fruit," Jesus said. He also said that people would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Perhaps that is why, as we draw closer to the end of the age, Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:9-14 NLT:
““Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Hatred and divisive political climates often provide fertile ground for the enemy to sow confusion, deception, and destruction. That is one reason Scripture repeatedly instructs us to pray for those in authority. It is difficult to complain faithfully about what we have never faithfully prayed over. We have access to the King of kings, and He has invited us to partner with Him through prayer by seeking His will to be done on earth. If we began there, instead of treating prayer as a last resort, I believe we would see far more of God's wisdom, peace, and righteousness at work.
One last Scripture to challenge us:
““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
Ezekiel 22:30
Will we be that person for God? Are we willing to stand for righteousness? It is righteousness that guards a nation. May we be people who know His Word, walk in His love, faithfully pray, declaring His will be done in the earth, and courageously stand in the gap for our families, our churches, our communities, and our nation.
Consider this Scripture found in Luke 4:13 NLT:
“When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”
Many speculate that when Paul referred to the "thorn in his flesh," he was speaking of some physical ailment. However, Paul described it as "a messenger of Satan" sent to buffet him. Everywhere he went, he experienced opposition and persecution, although in this instance it appeared he received a brief reprieve. Not so much for Sosthenes—welcome to the ministry!
Since doing this study through Acts, I have been amazed at how threatened the enemy is by the truth. His M.O. is to immediately—and often very loudly—attack it. That realization has caused me to think more carefully about what I see in the news and in the public forum. What ideas are being attacked? What people are being marginalized? And why? Once you begin looking beneath the surface, you often discover that things are not always as they first appear.
History is filled with atrocities committed in the name of God. Jesus Himself warned us that there would be people who would persecute His followers, believing they were actually serving God. That is why it is so important to know the Scriptures for ourselves, lest we be misled. So let's read what Jesus said in John 16:1-4 NLT:
““I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”
If God were the vengeful God some portray Him to be—one who simply wanted to wipe humanity off the face of the earth—He would never have sent Jesus to save us. People need to reconsider who they believe God truly is. We are easily misguided when we are misinformed, and the enemy counts on our ignorance of God's Word.
"You will know people by their fruit," Jesus said. He also said that people would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Perhaps that is why, as we draw closer to the end of the age, Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:9-14 NLT:
““Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Hatred and divisive political climates often provide fertile ground for the enemy to sow confusion, deception, and destruction. That is one reason Scripture repeatedly instructs us to pray for those in authority. It is difficult to complain faithfully about what we have never faithfully prayed over. We have access to the King of kings, and He has invited us to partner with Him through prayer by seeking His will to be done on earth. If we began there, instead of treating prayer as a last resort, I believe we would see far more of God's wisdom, peace, and righteousness at work.
One last Scripture to challenge us:
““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
Ezekiel 22:30
Will we be that person for God? Are we willing to stand for righteousness? It is righteousness that guards a nation. May we be people who know His Word, walk in His love, faithfully pray, declaring His will be done in the earth, and courageously stand in the gap for our families, our churches, our communities, and our nation.
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