Paul's Enemies
Acts 23:12–14 (ESV) When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.
Paul had a full share of enemies. The prophecy at his conversion from Christ Himself to Ananias is unfolded in the book of Acts in great detail. From the beginning of Paul's life in Christ, people sought to kill him.
Once again in Acts 23, it's the familiar script for Paul. This time 40 men bound by an oath not to eat or drink until he's dead. Paul was right in his farewell address to the Ephesians, prisons and hardships awaited him in every city.
He later wrote to the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV) For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
The first thing we must recognize: the more we serve God's purposes the more the enemies will show up and attack. And they won't be the people we expect. No, it was Paul's own brothers who came after him. His own people!
Are you facing an attack right now? Are the people you least expected having the greatest hostility toward you? Take joy! That's a sign the Lord is at work in your life and you are following in the footsteps of Jesus Himself.
I know whenever our church has decided to change to reach more people, add a service, put on a special evangelistic oriented weekend, the enemy attacked. Close friends walked away and others simply criticized. The enemy uses that to attack your faith and mission in multiple waves and various ways.
But the good news for Paul is God was in control of the entire situation. First, God sends a word of encouragement:
Acts 23:11 (ESV) The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Paul had a full share of enemies. The prophecy at his conversion from Christ Himself to Ananias is unfolded in the book of Acts in great detail. From the beginning of Paul's life in Christ, people sought to kill him.
Once again in Acts 23, it's the familiar script for Paul. This time 40 men bound by an oath not to eat or drink until he's dead. Paul was right in his farewell address to the Ephesians, prisons and hardships awaited him in every city.
He later wrote to the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV) For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
Are you facing an attack right now? Are the people you least expected having the greatest hostility toward you? Take joy! That's a sign the Lord is at work in your life and you are following in the footsteps of Jesus Himself.
I know whenever our church has decided to change to reach more people, add a service, put on a special evangelistic oriented weekend, the enemy attacked. Close friends walked away and others simply criticized. The enemy uses that to attack your faith and mission in multiple waves and various ways.
But the good news for Paul is God was in control of the entire situation. First, God sends a word of encouragement:
Acts 23:11 (ESV) The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
The second thing we need to recognize is that God provides a way of escape. A young boy is at the right place to hear of the plot and relays the message to the Roman officer. The Roman officers then make sure to transport Paul safely to another city. All this happens without Paul doing much of anything.
If you know what God has called you to do, you can expect enemies, but you can also expect God's provision. The Lord makes a way for His chosen instruments and nothing will stop His plan.
At the end of this chapter all you have is a vain plot that seemed much more intimidating than it turned out to be. I wonder when those 40 men gave up their fast!
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for always providing. I believe you are in charge and your calling is sure on my life. When I feel like I'm alone and attacked, remind me of these awesome truths so that I may be part of seeing Your Kingdom come and Your will being done.
Comments
Post a Comment