Please take note:
When the Gospel is preached, Satan will fight us (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
When the Gospel is preached, Judases attack us (Luke 22:3).
When the Gospel is preached, false accusations surround us (Mark 14:56).
When the Gospel is preached, the government may threaten us (Acts 5:28).
When the Gospel is preached, some will abandon the mission God gave us (2 Timothy 4:10).
When the Gospel is preached, former allies will turn enemies from among us (1 John 2:19).
When the Gospel is preached, pagans will scoff at us (Acts 17:32).
When the Gospel is preached, unrepentant sinners will oppose us (Acts 19:23-26).
Ready to give up?
NEVER.
Because…
When the Gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit will anoint us (Isaiah 61:1).
When the Gospel is preached, darkness becomes light around us (1 Peter 2:9).
When the Gospel is preached, miracles happen (Acts 20:7-12).
When the Gospel is preached, hearts are opened to hear it (Acts 16:14).
When the Gospel is preached, the Angels will direct us (Acts 8:26).
When the Gospel is preached, the Angels will deliver us (Acts 5:19-20).
When the Gospel is preached, prison doors will be opened (Acts 12:6-11).
When the Gospel is preached, heaven invades earth (Ephesians 2:6).
When the Gospel is preached, nations will be changed (Psalm 2:8).
When the Gospel is preached, souls are saved (2:40-41).
My friends, we have so much more going for us than stands against us. If you are new to the mission of Jesus remember two things: (1) the world will absolutely resist what God has given us to do and (2) the world cannot ever STOP what God has given us to do.
This week I pondered the wonderful things happening in and through our Church. The baptisms, the life changes, the presence of the Holy Spirit so alive and real in our meetings (1st Tuesday was off the hook!). I can honestly say I’m blown away by God’s goodness to us in spite of all that went wrong for the world in 2020. I’m not surprised that people reported us to the board of health. I’m not surprised that some people can no longer support us. But I’m also not surprised that God is still blessing and adding to us. These are the expected realities of the very real and unseen spiritual war in the heavenly realm as we soldier forward in the mission to deliver God’s message to the men and women He is saving.
Press on!
The best is ALWAYS yet to come!
BTW: We passed the Board of Health’s inspection with flying colors and 19 people got saved this weekend and we have 7 baptisms coming up this weekend. Praise be to God!
