Just last week we talked about making decisions based on God and not flesh. Then, we talked about how to stop using our flesh to reach people and using our personal relationship with Christ. Well, just yesterday I finished up the 5th chapter of Acts in our sermon series on Acts. We looked at the words of a Pharisee, which should be extremely meaningful to us as believers.
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law,who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For 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."
How much more perfectly could he have chosen his words? First, he lists two men who had come along and caused them trouble. Each of them had a large following and seemed to be prospering, but what they were doing was apparently fleshly and not of God. Gamaliel noticed this and basically said, "If what they are doing is not of GOd they will destroy themselves, but if it is of God we will never be able to stop them."
Fighting against God is how he put it, he was afraid they were actually doing everything and personally driven by God through the Holy Spirit and he was smart enough to recognize that there would be no wait to stop them.
So, if you are doing GOd's will for your life, if you are setting aside flesh and pressing on toward a life that is pleasing God and not man, there is no need to worry. You will prevail every time through tests and trials because God is at the center of what you are doing. The key ingredient however, is the Holy Spirit and His work in and through you, you are just a small piece of the puzzle.
Thanks for reading, and keep on doing what GOd calls you to do no matter what the price!
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