The Goads and the Ox--Acts 9

One of the hardest fights is to fight against something we know to be right.  Our pride resists and we don't want to accept it.   We become stubborn as an ox fighting against the goads, those wooden prods that poke us when we go the wrong direction.

This is Paul's story.  Because there was a problem. He couldn't deny his experiences with those blasted Christ-ians.

"These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke" (Ac 6:10).

Every time these guys spoke, Paul could not stand up against them or fight the Spirit.  I believe it's because he felt that their message was true but his mind told him differently.  He could not, would not let this heresy sway him.  His would stay strong and uphold the law.

But not stronger than the power of Jesus  Thankfully.

"About noon, O king as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.  We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'" (Act 26:13-14).

In his fight against Jesus, Paul surrendered.  And today we have much to be grateful for that encounter.

I too often find myself fighting against the goads.  There are things I want to do that are good, but not necessarily best.  In the past the Holy Spirit has met me and I am glad.  I hope to mature to the point where I obey instead of fight, but until then, I'm glad the Lord is so ferocious for our hearts.

Sleepy Faith--Psalms 3-4, Mark 4, Acts 12

Sometimes faith shows itself at its greatest when one just goes to sleep.  I remember the story of a missionary who was stranded somewhere in a dangerous part of Africa.  They knew there were violent thieves around and they feared for their life, but they could do nothing about it.  As the man was praying, the Lord spoke to him the Scripture in Psalm 4:8--"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."  So with that Word, he shared with those with him and they decided the best thing they could do was lie down and sleep.

Sleep throughout Scripture has often been a fruit of faith.  Consider David when pursued by Saul and his whole army (Ps 3). 

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me! 
 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”

  But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 

 I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 

 I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side

Surrounded by tens of thousands who were pursuing him to his death.  And David goes to sleep.  It was the sleep of faith.  And it wasn't the first time (Ps 4).

We see it again in the New Testament.  Jesus and his disciples, some of who had grown up on the waters of the Galilee, were convinced they were going to drown in a storm.  And where was Jesus?  Sleeping.  Soundly.  They woke him up, he rebuked the wind, rebuked the disciples, and in my estimation, went back to sleep.  (Lk 8:22-25; Mk 4:35-41).

And another time in the life of the disciples.  King Herod had just arrested and beheaded James.  Seeing this pleased the Jews, he seized Peter also.  The church was earnestly praying and what was Peter doing?  Sleeping.  Soundly.  So soundly the angel of the Lord had to slap him on the side to wake him up (Acts 12).  It was the hour that he might have joined James in getting beheaded, but there he was in the cell, sleeping between two soldiers.

How can you sleep when the world is spiraling out of control?  How can you sleep when people are crying for death outside your window?  It's only possible by faith.  The same faith, like Daniel's friends when told to worship or die:

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue from your hand, O King.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Dan 3:17-18).
 And I think with every act of faith in this form, the forces of darkness shudder.  Shudder at our snoring.







 

To the ends of the earth--Acts 1:8

Random thought, but when Jesus mandated his disciples to take the gospel to "the ends of the earth," it was at that time that they did not know that the earth was round.

Deliverance--Acts 19

If the seven sons of Sceva were able to cast out demons and they did not have the Holy Spirit (they paid a terrible price as the demons did not recognize them), why do I hesitate with the full power of God to do the same?