In Luke 21:12-13 Jesus warned of obstacles Christians would face and the opportunities each offered. The obstacle would be the suffering entailed being a witness for him. The opportunity being the chance to be a bold witness whatever they experienced.
The book of Acts presented a series of obstacles and opportunities we'll call Problem: Solution. For example, the loss of Judas posed a Problem. While the selection of Matthias offered a Solution Acts 1:15-20, 26. Thus, while Judas failed as a disciple, Matthias succeeded in an ongoing mission. For example, the Jewish leadership created a Problem by rejecting Christ's Messianic Presence. God's Solution declared him both Lord and Christ by his resurrection Acts 2:36. Sinners can interfere with God's plans. They can never overcome them. For example, the Jewish leadership posed a Problem when warning the apostles not to speak "at all" in Christ's name. God's Solution empowered Peter to declare they couldn't stop speaking in Christ's name Acts 4:18-29. Servants of Christ can be harmed. His message can never be stilled. For example, Ananias and Sapphira desired the reputation Barnabas enjoyed as a financial blessing to the church, Acts 4:36-37, while harboring greed—the Problem—that made them lie about the size of their contribution Acts 5:1-2. God's Solution: protecting the integrity of Christ's apostles—who as his Vicars could not be deceived—came by striking both sinners down Acts 5:5, 9. Evil people die, God's work proceeds! In Acts 6:1 burgeoning growth in the Jerusalem church posed the Problem of favoritism in the distribution of food. The widows of Judean Christians received more attention than those of Grecian ancestry. A possible split coming, at the very start of Christianity? No...for God's Solution through the apostles was the selection of 7 Grecian men to represent the interests of Grecian widows in the distribution. And these are but a few of the Problems Posed, Solution Offered in the first six chapters of Acts. The point for us is: life will never stop creating problems; enemies of grace will never stop corrupting it into license; weak Christians will always find ways to increase problems in the fellowship. BUT...thank God...the Holy Spirit will always have a Solution, whatever the Problem. We won't stop the former. Will we pray for insight to find and implement the latter? How many PROBLEMS that arise in congregations, resulting in church fights and splits, could be avoided if God's people PRAYED to see the SOLUTION available to maintain unity, not experience division?
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