These Men

 

“Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.” -Acts 4:16       

 

There’s a hornet’s nest that exists just outside my front door.  It sits right up in the corner of the awning that covers my patio.  For a couple years I have waged war against these pesky hornets.  They build the nest and I destroy.  They build and I destroy.  Recently, I have discovered that if I leave them alone, they come and go routinely, and I don’t get stung.  There is a chance someone else might get stung, but if I don’t go near them, and they don’t go near me; were good.  So, the truce was called (we don’t get too many visitors now anyway) and everyone is happy.  However, what I didn’t realize is that while I was comfortable, they were busy.  I ignored them for too long and now there are four more nests and another under construction.  So now the choice is, do I continue to try and avoid them, or stir them up?  Enter the fry and kill some hornets; risking the stinging that may follow.

 

Holy living and preaching will stir up the devil’s nest and he will come for you.  However, to leave him be is to risk him advancing and sending more souls into hell.  Satan would keep a person or persons from being converted and sanctified.  Truly, this is the first line of defense.  If he can keep them blinded by sin, they will not seek nor could they witness for the Savior.  How can a dead man be a living testimony?  This is the principle thing, so if you go out there and start telling people about Jesus you are stirring up the devil’s nest.  You are tearing down his kingdom and he will come for you.  Should you persevere, he has other means to stop the saint from contending for the faith.  He will tempt the saint or at the very least cause him to doubt.  Doubt his/her witness, testimony, and ministry.  Satan will throw temptation after temptation, trial after trial, until you are wearied and submissive.  He will also busy the saint.  Keep you so wrapped in the cares of the world that you forget your true vocation.  It is enough for you pass on by him.  He would have you believe that you can have your little bit of the world and he will be satisfied with his little bit.  Not so, the devil is not so lazy, and we not so lucky.  He will labor night and day to destroy souls, always advancing; just because you ignore him and build your own kingdom doesn’t mean he is not out there building his.  With all this said, we have a might force in the Holy Spirit.  When a man or women truly gets ahold of the indwelling Holy Spirit and is daily shining their light, all of Satan’s devices will fail.  What shall he do to these men?  Can he beat them?  Them who count it joy to suffer.  Have them exiled?  Those who entertain the company of Almighty God.  Rob them?  Those who have given up all.  Should he have them killed?  Those who have already lost their life for Christ’s sake!  What can he do?  What can the world do?  What can anyone do to the Christian who is fully persuaded?  They can do nothing.  There is no defense against a man or women who has the perfect love for God and perfect love for man burning on the inside.  It is a consuming fire that will burn brightly in a dark world.  A convicting Spirit that will expose the sin in the sinner.  Satan can do nothing against it, so he will do everything to prevent it.  He will prevent the receiving of the Holy Ghost, the fellowship with the Holy Ghost, and the preaching of the Holy Ghost.  He will threaten, discourage, sow discord, cause strife, and keep us plain busy.  He will cause us to get so wrapped up in this world that we forget the world to come.  He will say, whatever happens, do not let a man become sanctified, and do not let a man live sanctified, and do not let him preach sanctification.  For truly if that happens, he can do nothing against it. The early church was ablaze with love for God by the Spirit of God.  They were sold out to the Christ that sacrificed all for them.  By consequential fact their preaching and teaching were met with persecution and opposition, but it also caused many to be saved. 

 

What shall we do to these men?  Indeed, that is the question that plagues the world, and the devil when confronted with truly sanctified people.  What shall we do?  How can we stop the spread of the gospel, and the furthering of the kingdom of God?  To them, holiness is an open assault on their wickedness.  A light which condemns the darkness within.  It is the person of Christ himself.  Are you one of these men?