If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men;
you will only find yourselves fighting against God.
Acts 5:38b-39
The latter half of Acts 5 shares how the disciples got in and out of trouble. God was using them in amazing ways, and crowds from all over were coming to see what was going on. The “religious” leaders did not like it. They didn’t like the change in the status quo that viewed their teachings as supreme.
The high priest and Sadducees got pretty jealous and put the disciples in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord let them out without anyone noticing. There they were the next day, teaching the people in the temple courts. They were brought back to the Sanhedrin, who further harassed them and tried to prevent them from sharing about Jesus.
Peter’s response contained words that we should live by today: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (verse 29). They were then warned, flogged, and released. I’m amazed that they rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (verse 41). May we all be willing to pay the same price with the same attitude.
There is an often-overlooked reality that these apostles faced. On multiple occasions Jesus, His disciples, and subsequent followers were often targeted – not by the secular governing authorities – but by the Pharisees and/or Sadducees, corporately called the Sanhedrin. What is my point here? Basically they were persecuted by the Jewish equivalent of the church governing body, but one that did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
With the overseas ministries we work with, if there is a Christian presence in that particular country, our partners have told me that their primary opposition is from others in the so-called Body of Christ. I use the word, “so-called,” because you wouldn’t expect this kind of behavior in the true Body of Christ. The same is true of the American ministries we partner with. They all seem to say that some of the biggest roadblocks and obstacles they face are from those in the church, those that don’t like the status quo being changed. How sad.
Don’t be surprised that when you go on the offensive for the Lord you receive opposition from others who claim to be believers. God is worth the effort of enduring any and all opposition, even if it is from those who believe they are acting on God’s behalf. Just remind yourself that they are really “fighting against God”.