The Witnesses’ Opposition

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: “’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 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.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4v21-31 (NIV)

A number of points come out from this passage of Scripture. First, we see that there will usually be opposition to the work of God. Peter and John had in the name of Jesus caused a man who had been lame to walk and when they began to share with the people about Jesus and the resurrection, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were grieved about this. They even put them in jail until the next day. After they questioned and listened to them, told them not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore (Acts 4v1-20). Today, we see stark opposition to Christianity, and perhaps in your own life you have seen this. It is perfectly normal! Regardless of the opposition then and now, God reigns. Jesus told us aforehand:

Supplementary Text

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15v20 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, we thank You because You are building Your church. We pray for those who are suffering persecution for the sake of the gospel and pray You will be their strength, shield and protector in Jesus name, amen.