It cannot be overthrown

Acts 5:39

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

In this portion of the book of Acts, we see the beginnings of the church of Jesus Christ, that He started through His disciples, and empowered at Pentecost. What a wonderful work the Lord did during these early days! What a glorious salvation was found by thousands upon thousands of Jews and Gentiles! And God used these disciples mightily throughout the known world of the day. But this did not come without persecution. We find reports of them being beaten, and being stoned, and being imprisoned, and even killed for the name of Jesus Christ. They had been commanded not to speak in His name time and again. But their answer was simple: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” And we ought always to do the same. We must be prepared to show such allegiance to the Savior, that we will not back down no matter the consequences. We will preach, and we will win others, and we will spread His gospel around this world. It must be done! And it will only be done through prayer! That is the only source of the boldness that the disciples had, and it is our only source of boldness (see Acts 4:31).

But here we find a record of great consolation, a principle to bring joy and great peace to our hearts. It may raise us to a level of confidence not heretofore attained. Look at it! Gamaliel stands forth in the council, and commanded the men of Israel to give space to the apostles, and warned them that if this work were of men, it would come to naught: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it! You cannot fight against God! If it is merely contrived and conceived by man, it will be easily destroyed and thwarted and stopped. It will not stand! But it will come to an end! But the warning is—if this is of God, it cannot be stopped! It cannot be thwarted! It cannot be impeded! It may be frustrated a little by the enemy, but it will never be overthrown! And this is a great encouragement to the believer who is in the work of God. If our work is not our own, but is begun by God, He will see it to its completion. It will not come to naught! It will succeed! It will prosper! It will be victorious! Lest haply ye be found even to fight against God! Fighting against God never succeeds! Be strengthened in this, dearly beloved, that God’s work cannot be brought to naught by the enemy. If it is a work of God, it shall continue. Let us rest in this, and do not concede to the temptation of the devil to be saddened and discouraged. Stay encouraged! Stay faithful! Remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! For He shall fight our battles, and His work will not be overthrown!

“Dear Lord, we praise you for the encouragement that you have freely given to us this day. We often are disheartened because we see the devil’s attempts to impede your work. But we are reminded today that he shall not succeed or be victorious! His work cannot stand against the work of God! He cannot overthrow it! We praise you for this eternally! May we rest in this truth and in the joy of it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”