Gamaliel Was Right

…if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. (Acts 5:38-39)

These were wise words by Gamaliel. No wonder he was held in honor by all the people. For if this was indeed God’s doing, if God was truly building his spiritual temple, the church, then man would not be able to oppose his work and win. For no man is stronger than God. The history of Israel proves this with the rebuilding of the physical temple in Ezra 5. For when the King gave orders for the work to stop, eventually God stirred his prophets and people to pick right back up where they left off. When God is building his temple, nothing can thwart his plans.

In Acts 5 we see many threats opposing God’s temple work. For one, demands were still coming from the officials to cease the spread of the gospel and teaching in the name of Jesus. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira snuck into the church. Sin that if left unaddressed would have spread through the body like gangrene. Also, arrests and imprisonments tried to shut up the apostles and their message.

But God would not yield. Not even for one moment. For just as God removed what threatened his peoples’ progress in his marvelous work of the Exodus (namely the red sea and Pharaoh’s army), God removed what sought to cease the progress of his church. He removed the sin in the Ananias family. He removed the prison doors that held the apostles. And after his children were unjustly beaten, our Father removed any fear of man and empowered his sent ones to return home rejoicing that they were “counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

Gamaliel was right. Nothing will be able to overthrow the plans and undertakings of God. So as we look at the division of our nation right now or the militia movements in the Congo. We need to rest assured that nothing (no-thing) will be able to stop God from building his church and completing his plan for the fulness of time to unite all things in Christ—things in heaven and things on earth. Jesus said that he would build his church, and that not even the gates of hell would be able to prevail against it.

Sovereign Lord, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them…We continue to ask, that as the Gentiles continue to rage, and the peoples continue to plot in vain, and kings of the earth continue to set themselves against you and against your Son. We ask that you would graciously grant us to speak your word with all boldness, while you with your mighty hand continue to grow your church and set up your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Heal and let signs and wonders be performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. Cause us to speak your word with all boldness. And by your grace, let the seed of your word give new birth to those who receive your word by faith. I ask this according to the riches of your grace and in your relentlessness to build your church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

These articles supplement our church wide reading plan. To read the bible with us click here.