The Obsession of the Enemy

He thought he was doing God  a favor.  He was murdering Christians.  Those found in “the Way”.  He must’ve sat up nights and planned his intentional attacks on these innocent believers.  Later he would claim ignorance to who God really was and God would forgive him for his violence and use him to spread the gospel throughout Europe.  His name was Paul.  I read something this morning in my devotions that made me stop and think about this man prior to his epiphany of Christ.

Acts 26 is such a powerful chapter for me personally. I have gained such insight to life and reason out of this single chapter of Holy Writ.  In verse nineteen as Paul stands before Agrippa in defense of his actions he says this: “I tried to force them to blaspheme and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities” (NASB).  In the NIV Bible the word “obsessed” is used.  When you tear this down the Greek word for obsessed (mainomai) here implies he acted like a maniac.

He acted with strategic knowledge.  His background allowed him the experience to wage a structured war against the New Testament church.  I can’t imagine families being drug into the street and whatever measure he used against them to “force them to blaspheme” and when they would not – what he did at that point.  I can’t imagine the torture, the pain inflicted on the infant church to force it to comply with his wishes.  My mind can’t or won’t go there.  Then I remembered something.  Paul should have known better in the first place.

He had been trained, mentored and educated by Gamaliel.  It was Gamaliel who offered to the Sanhedrin when in Acts 5.38 he proclaimed, “If this plan is of God you can’t overthrow it.”  Somewhere along the line Paul (then Saul) must’ve become bold, cocky and arrogant.  He elevated himself above the advice of his mentor.  He actually stepped on the advice of Gamaliel.  A cold slap in the face would not have been any lesser for Gamaliel.  Paul engaged in rebellion and eventually became obsessed with murdering Christians.

Isn’t that what happens still to this day?  People refuse to accept the advice of those who God has placed in their lives to enhance their faith journey along the way.  I stand amazed at the people who like Saul – refuse to accept what Scripture and God’s anointed attempt to say to them.   This act of passive rebellion is still rebellion – no matter where you place on the chart.  Passive or aggressive – most rebellion is based on the idea that we know more than those giving us advice.  Paul must’ve though early in his life that Gamaliel was missing it somehow.  He moved into obsession.  He acted like a maniac.  His maniacal actions and attitude eventually found him on his rear end as God drew the line.  He had a confrontation with the power of God.  God knows how to stop rebellion.  He knows how to get our attention when we are ignoring Him, His word and those He puts in our path to instruct us and guide us with righteous intent.

My prayer for you today is that you will allow the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Word and holy men and women God puts in you path to instruct you, lead you and guide you.  Rebellion exists out of an attitude of thinking and believing he lies of the enemy.  He has six thousand years of experience on you.  Adam and Eve were introduced to the same attempt of the enemy to lie and distort the truth.  As with most of us, I am sure Paul justified his actions somehow religiously.  But then righteousness took over.  Grace and mercy were introduced to Paul and God won.  He always does.  Stop fighting advice, counsel and direction from Godly people.  Stop running from the presence of God.  Jonah discovered that’s not a fun place to be.  Settle down.  Listen to the Lord.  Take advice.  Move with forward motion faith.  Life is much more enjoyable my friend.  Much more enjoyable.