Standing Firm Against Opposition

September 27, 2015 Background Scripture: Acts 7:1 – 53 Lesson Passage: Acts 7:2 – 4, 8 – 10, 17, 33, 34, 45 – 47, 52, 53 Let’s face it, it is easy to stand firm when there is no opposition. However, when there is opposition, then firmness often becomes relative depending on the threat of consequences from the opposition. Put another way, when there is no opposition, can we really be sure just how firm our stance is? If opposition does nothing else, it tests our fortitude. Andrae’ Crouch wrote “For if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do.” This is very much in line with the thinking of the Apostle James who declared that faith without works is dead. “Faith talk” is always “good talk” when opposition is perceived to be a long ways off. But when the challenge is before us, faith must reach beyond our knowledge and comprehension into the spirit realm where God’s perfection flourishes with little opposition. In the spirit realm, we must gather the strength to trust God for things we don’t know to ask of Him. That is to say, through faith, we must believe that whatever God does on behalf of the person who places his trust in Him will always be the right thing and indeed the perfect thing. So it is when it comes to standing firm against opposition. We don’t know what others are thinking or what actions they will or will not take. Neither do we know what God will or will not do. But through faith, we trust God with the outcome. We yield ourselves to His will and we joyfully accept His decisions and actions or inaction. By faith we know that God knows what is best for us. We must evaluate ourselves and our situations to determine if we are facing opposition because we are in God’s will or is it because we are living or acting against God’s will. When we know we are doing our best to live in submission to the will of God, then we understand that opposition does not come to oppose us but to oppose what God is doing in and through us. The opposition is there to oppose God. Oftentimes we don’t comprehend what God is doing in and through us until it is over and we look back. The presence of opposition can be the first indication that we should look around to see God’s plan unfolding in our midst. Here’s a news flash: We are not responsible for God’s plan. God is responsible for His plan and He will not let any form of opposition frustrate His plans. That’s where we come in. We should not allow opposition to frustrate us either. Or if we do become frustrated, we should stop and evaluate our emotions to see why are we getting frustrated rather than allow God to defend His own plan. If God is not frustrated with the situation and we are trying to follow His will, then why do we allow ourselves to stay frustrated in the midst of those who oppose God? This is a lesson we can all learn from Moses. We should never become more upset at a situation that arises against God than He is. If God is standing firm, then we should do our best to do likewise. This was Stephen’s attitude in our lesson today. With this attitude, we can also stand firm against opposition. Robert C. Hudson September 10, 2015