Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 May 2023

Opposition

“These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:17-21)

Today’s Morsel: What most folks do not understand is that there is going to be opposition to you being a Christian. They think that just because they are Christians and do good things, that the people in the world will love them for their benevolence, and that they will be willing to accept them for who they are. But sad to say, you are no longer a friend to Satan. You are his enemy and he’s going to do everything in his power to take you out. Jesus said if you were of the world, the world would love its own. This is one of the reasons that I believe that Paul tells you to put on the whole armor of God. I have heard preachers say, “We need more miracles, wonders, and signs, in the church to draw people to the church. I agree. People need to be able to see that Jesus still heals, delivers, and can change a person’s life. But most do not realize that these same things bring about opposition. I’m not saying this to scare you. I’m saying this to help you prepare. So that you will remain prayed up, standing up, and holding fast to what you believe and teach.  If you have read the book of Acts, as soon as the New Testament church is established there is opposition, in Acts 3-4, Peter, John, and others find themselves being beaten because a man was healed in Jesus’ name, that was lame outside the church. Opposition. In Acts 6, people got upset because they felt they weren’t being used in the church. Opposition. In Acts 7, Stephen preached one of the most beautiful messages one could have heard to bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and he was stoned to death, because of the name of Jesus. Opposition.  In Acts 11, Peter gets called on the carpet for going to a Gentile’s house by his own brethren. Opposition.  In Acts 12, James is beheaded by Herod, and Peter is put in prison to have his head chopped off right after Easter (The Passover). Opposition. In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas found themselves in opposition with some false prophets and sorcerers name Bar-jesus, and Elymas, who tried to prevent the deputy Sergius, from hearing the faith. In Acts 14, Paul is stoned and left for dead, because a cripple man was healed at Lystra. Opposition. Acts 16, Paul and Silas are beaten and cast into prison because they cast a demon out of a woman. Opposition.  I could go on and on, but hopefully, you have read the book as well. Jesus said that opposition was going to come when you preached and taught in His name. As I said, don’t let that deter you. We are God’s children and greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. We become partakers of Christ’s suffering. If you truly want to see the miraculous in the church, then prepare yourself for the opposition, and don’t be afraid to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  We are warned of the perilous time that will come.  

Sing: Greater is He that is in me, greater is He that is in me, greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world.