Its Day 4 of our ACTivate adventure, and todays “Spiritual Living” thought is from ACTS chapter 4 by Andrew Holmes, pastor of our Stratford congregation in London:

Spiritual Living will result in opposition…

When we commit to spiritual living, we can expect to face resistance. This chapter details the backlash of Peter and John’s healing miracle in chapter 3.

Although “all the people were praising God for what has happened” (v.21), there were some who weren’t. On the contrary, they were “greatly disturbed” (v.2). It’s inevitable that any commitment you and I make to genuine spiritual living will be met with some hostility – even more so if we’re getting it right!

But notice the believers’ response to the hostility they received: they gathered together to pray. For what? Protection from the persecution? No. A more comfortable environment? No. More favourable laws? No. For great boldness to speak the Word? Yes! No doubt the very answer to this prayer would stir up further resistance for them.

Any decision you and I make to live spiritually will be met with resistance – particularly in our secular, “politically correct” culture. It may come from family, friends, colleagues or strangers we’re simply trying to show Christ’s love to. Like Peter and John we may even be “commanded not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (v.18). But true spiritual living with Jesus demands that we not only persist, but pray that the Lord will “enable your servants to speak with great boldness” and that He will “stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders” (v.29).

So, expect some resistance – but also expect some Holy Spirit filling and great boldness to face it.

You CAN overcome because “greater is in you than He who is in the world!”