ROSES AND THORNS

Life and Ministry

Sharing with Pastor Dapo Adeniyi

Impact and trials

Acts 18:11-17

Here is a rather strident evidence that wherever the word of God has an impact, trouble from hell looms.

The devil may try to mobilise his dormant agents within the church itself.

The serpent in Act 28 when Paul landed from the wreckage on the island of Melita is an example.

 If you are always an instrument for stirring trouble in the church, you are informing yourself about whose you really are.

The devil also has a lot of people he rules over out there in the world.

Let’s now quickly examine some types of impact the word of God may have that would provoke reaction from hell.

The first is the fruit of a healthy and united church or fellowship.

The second is salvation of souls.

The third is the growth of the influence of the word of God.

This passage also reveals that God has influence over everyone both saved and unsaved in the world.

The action of Gallio who was a sort of ruler over the province of Corinth confirms the promise given to Paul in Verse 10. The heart of Gallio was clearly in God’s hands. Instead of Paul, the wicked people vented their anger on Sosthenes, the ruler of the Synagogue.

 Historically, religious but unsaved people are ever ready tools in Satan’s hands.

It was Jews that moved against Paul at Corinth.

Similarly, looking way back, it was Doeg the Edomite who claimed to have been detained before God who slew the whole city of the priests in I Sam 22.

In the parable of Jesus on the good Samaritan, priests walked by as the slain man lay dying on the road.

Even in the case of 10 lepers that Jesus healed, there were 9 Jews and 1 Samaritan, yet, it was the Samaritan that came back to give thanks.

Gallio was a type that helps the gospel but may have no part in it.

He did not allow Paul to open his mouth to speak even though he had been instrumental in saving Paul from his avowed enemies, Verse 14.

Those who do all the talking don’t hear from God.