The Path of God Not of Least Resistance; Acts 1-4

May the mumbling commence!

What do we do when we encounter resistance?  It is far too easy for me to take the path of least resistance.  Conflict is hard work – especially when it happens with the people that you love.  In the third and fourth chapters of Acts, Peter and John find themselves at odds with their religious leaders.  Peter and John are ordered to stop healing and preaching in the name of Jesus.

Time to go undercover?  Not so fast!  Read about what they did after their chastisement in Acts chapter four.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

'Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain? 

The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the Lord

and against his Anointed One.' 

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Verses 23-31)

God’s people united in prayer.  They trusted in the Lord, the Creator of the universe.  They looked to the Scriptures and saw the machinations of the worldly powers against the Anointed One predicted.  They also saw that defying the Anointed One was futile.

Where did God’s people place the blame for Jesus’ death?  Herod, Pilate and the Gentiles are mentioned as conspiring against Jesus.  The people of Israel were counted among this list as well.  The Sanhedrin is not even mentioned in this passage.  It seems no one was innocent in this affair – except for Jesus.  Yes, the innocent suffer the most.

What did the people of God pray for?  They prayed for the ability to continue serving the Lord Jesus with boldness.  They prayed for more healings and miraculous sings so that glory would come to the name of Jesus.  They hardened themselves against the command of the Sanhedrin to continue to walk in Jesus’ way.

God’s answer was immediate.  In fact, God earlier provided Peter with the words to refute the Sanhedrin.  Peter had a special extra anointing of the Holy Spirit.  At this prayer meeting, God answered by shaking His people.  How did the Lord shake them?  He shook them by giving them a special anointing of the Holy Spirit.  And they spoke boldly the word of God.

Resistance to God’s will is futile.  When God calls us, the path of least resistance is no longer an option.  Help us, O God, to hear the whispering of Your Holy Spirit.  May we listen and obey.  Then, we will know the way of Jesus.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out