INVINCIBLE!

June 28

Bible Reading: Acts 5:32-37

Acts 5:38-39, “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.  You might even be found to be opposing God!”

The religious leaders conspired to have Jesus put to death.  But they were powerless to keep Him entombed.  The risen Christ sent forth His Apostles to bear witness of Him, but the religious leaders kept trying to stop them.  They were “enraged and wanted to kill them” (Acts 5:33).  “But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel” spoke up and intervened on their behalf (Acts 5:34f).

Gamaliel was a “teacher of the law” and was “held in honor by all the people” (Acts 5:35; 22:3).  He suggested that the Council carefully weigh its decision regarding the apostles, reminding them of other previous revolutionaries that had risen only to perish.  So he counseled the Council to take care. His reasoning?  “If this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.  You might even be found to be opposing God” (Acts 5:38-39)!  After they warned the apostles and had them beaten, the religious leaders “let them go” (Acts 5:40).

“If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them,” Gamaliel said (Acts 5:39).  So, it has been as Gamaliel predicted, and more importantly, as Jesus Himself had promised: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).  History has proven that which Jesus declared.  In the centuries following the church’s inception, it has witnessed countless spurious causes and even world-wide revolutions taking place.  Some of these revolutions have ascended to incredible heights of authoritative power and influence.  But their man-made causes proved unsustainable—worthless relics in the trash heap of history.  Not so Biblical Christianity.  Despite persecution and opposition, the church continues.  The Roman Empire tried to extinguish its light, but the witness could not be silenced.  The Protestant Reformation burst forth despite intense resistance.  In recent centuries, communist governments sought to eradicate Christianity, only to see the church persevere and grow under oppression.  Even today, in countries around the world, the persecution of Christians only works to strengthen the resolve of Christ’s followers.  It is as the 2nd-century Church Father Tertullian once said, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Secular elitists are working to this day to silence the testimony of Bible-believing Christians.  The prince of the power of the air leads many minions (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:26).  Redefining sin and silencing the gospel are their key objectives.  Many are yielding to the pressure to compromise.  But Christ’s true church will never falter or fail (Romans 8:31, 37).  His Word cannot be imprisoned (2 Timothy 2:9).  His plans cannot be thwarted.  Don’t let the growing choir of secular voices that speak ill of His church or His Word alarm you.  The Lord lovingly and faithfully provides for and protects His Church.  He is even now preparing it for His return. The day is coming when the “great Church victorious” will be “the Church at rest!”

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18

THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation:
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food;
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

‘Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth has union
With God, the Three in One,
And mystic, sweet communion
With those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee.