Unstoppable

“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Acts 28:30-31

The book of Acts has been rightly called the “end of the beginning” and as well the “beginning of the end” as it is both an account of the inception of the church and is also the beginning of the end times in that the hour glass of human history has been flipped over at the birth of Jesus into the world and when the sand runs out so to speak so does this dispensation of grace that we currently enjoy. In others words, we are all on borrowed time and the this life is but a vapor. Jesus Christ is coming soon and all the events taking place in the world today are in preparation for that day. We are free to choose to love and honor God and no one and nothing can stop us. 

Believe it or not, we have the same freedom in the world today just like the apostle Paul enjoyed in the book of Acts that we read about as chapter 28 comes to an end. Just as Paul was able to receive those who came to him to learn from him and to worship the risen Savior alongside him, you and I are able to enjoy that same freedoms today here in the United States. Acts 28 closes with the words, “no one forbidding him”. The key here is don’t mistake resistance for forbiddance.

Anyone who lives for Jesus and seeks to make him known will be met with resistance. The apostle Paul maybe more than most was met with all kinds of resistance. After all, he was at the time of the events taking place in Acts 28 living in a rented home under house arrest. He in a sense was a prisoner of Rome but Paul never saw his chains as forbidding him. He saw his chains for what they were, the means by which the Lord had ordained the Gospel to go forth from Paul’s life. 

For you and me, living in the midst of a COVID pandemic might be creating some resistance when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we do well to keep in mind that we no one can forbid you and me from sharing the love of God with others. Thats because freedom is in Christ not apart from Him. Jesus said it best in John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” 

Unlike Rome, America is the greatest country in the world because it is the freest country in the world. America is still the land of the free and the home of the brave. Our founding Father’s understood the power of the Gospel in that our constitution guarantees each citizen the freedom to practice their beliefs, and so much so they put it down as our first amendment right. The first amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” And the founders were so serious about these freedoms they gave us the second commandment to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government if it ever sought to infringe upon those first amendment freedoms. Freedom is serious business for sure. A matter of life and death.

Jesus came to set us free! The message of the Gospel is freedom. The gospel cannot be chained. It's alive because Jesus is alive. He died once and for all and never to die again. Thats why the message of Jesus cant be eliminated. It’s not as if the world hasn’t tried. From persecution to prosperity the message of hope and freedom is always met with resistance because the enemy of our soul wants us in bondage where Jesus on the other hand came to give us life and life more abundantly. Set out today to share the love and life of Jesus with others and you will be met with resistance, sometimes strong resistance. But rest assured the gospel cannot be forbidden as the Gospel always has and always will set men free! It’s unstoppable! 


"I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”

Job 42:2 


I LOVE YOU!  


Unstoppable God


Heaven thundered
And the world was born
Life begins and ends
In the dust You formed
Faith commanded
And the mountains moved
Fear is losing ground
To our hope in You


Unstoppable God
Let Your glory go on and on
Impossible things
In Your name they shall be done (oh)


Freedom conquered
All our chains undone
Sin defeated
Jesus has overcome
Mercy triumphed
When the third day dawned
Darkness was denied
When the stone was gone


Nothing shall be impossible
Your kingdom reigns unstoppable
We'll shout Your praise forevermore
Jesus our God unstoppable





Michael Osthimer

Recent

Archive

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags