When Saul became king, he was “little in his own eyes” (see 1 Sam. 15:17), but some time later all that changed drastically. The erosion of his character left him proud, impatient, and downright rebellious…a man who refused to bow even to the Lord his God. A serious failure and well worth our attention.
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Read Acts 19:17
A solemn fear descended on the city,
and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honoured.
(Acts 19:17)
Never doubt this fact: wherever we experience the bold and uncompromising declaration of God’s truth, we will encounter the test of spiritual warfare. Satan hates it when God’s Word is declared, believed, and obeyed. It is always when believers are in close harmony with one another...when the body of Christ is being taught...when Jesus is building His church that the attacks kick in.
The gates of Hades will pull out all the stops in hopes of hindering the ministry. But look at the power the Lord provided in the midst of the battle:
God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. (Acts 19:11–12 NASB)
God was at work in Ephesus. Not only were healings occurring, but also spiritual victories took place as evil spirits departed. When the teaching of the Scriptures occurs, when the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is lifted up, when God’s people remain faithful to His truth, the impact is absolutely remarkable.
Read the following account and imagine the original scene:
Fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. (Acts 19:17–20 NASB)
How marvellous! Lives are changing and Christ is honoured. Diseases are healed and evil spirits are sent packing. God’s Word is making an impact and the church is growing and staying healthy. Finally, the tests are over! Wrong.
The church is never free of attacks, even in times of peace. When we believe we are safe, and when we relax, become indifferent, and let down our guard, the church begins to erode. Attacks come at the church from every direction.
Taken from The Church Awakening by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Faith Words, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
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