‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a SIGN that will be SPOKEN AGAINST, 35 SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS WILL BE REVEALED.’ Luke 2 (Simeon over baby Jesus in the Temple)
The mention of Jesus’ Name causes the thoughts of people’s hearts to be revealed to this very day! The enemies of the Cross cannot stand the mention of His name. Reasonable people who are respectful in many other ways, can become very upset with the mention of that name.
It’s interesting to look at some of the words used by the Bible to describe those who opposed the preaching of the Gospel by Paul and Barnabas.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with JEALOUSY. Acts 13
50 But the Jewish leaders INCITED the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up PERSECUTION against Paul and Barnabas, and EXPELLED THEM from their region. Acts 13
2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and POISONED THEIR MINDS against the brothers. Acts 14
The enemy still uses the same tactics to oppose anything concerning God’s Kingdom. I believe that the minds of many believers at the present time have been poisoned against the work to advance the Kingdom. We have great need of more discernment to see and hear beyond the false agendas continually broadcast by much of the media. Those who want to maintain the status quo should beware of anything which stirs anger or bitterness, just like the religious Jews in the time of Acts. The coming church may be almost unrecognisable to the current structures.
43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who TALKED WITH THEM AND URGED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD. (God works by persuasion, not by force) Acts 13
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they WERE GLAD AND HONOURED THE WORD OF THE LORD (Whatever steals your joy is not of God); Acts 13
52 And the disciples were FILLED WITH JOY(as above) and with the Holy Spirit.
I find the most chilling part of the narrative at the end of Acts 13, is verse 46,
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and DO NOT CONSIDER YOURSELVES WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, we now turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13
Paul knew that he had to honour the Jews first, but once they finally rejected the Good News, he had no further obligation to continue speaking with them. Many religious people who reject the new day ushered in by God’s Spirit may find themselves bypassed. The future will be different and we must adapt to the change necessary to enter into God’s new day.
May the Lord bless and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.