You may have been in such a situation where you think you are making progress only to find out that you have been wasting your time.
It is laughable and worrisome at the same time when you think people are following your teachings whereas they have something really different in their minds.
It was a major challenge in the ministry of Jesus. It was a major challenge in the ministry of the apostles. It is a major challenge of life.
Peter was a victim of it, Paul was a victim of it, and you are also a victim of it. Even when Peter had followed Jesus all through his life, – even upon the resurrection of Jesus – he still asked questions based on what he had in mind.
There is a spirit of unbelief which is active in everybody as an initial knowledge. It is this spirit that keeps us from advancing spiritually in the knowledge and understanding of God and His powers.
Human being is filled with expectations which are generally depriving them of insights and peace.
These things are more of primary knowledge than material things.
Philippians 3:8~Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
These things are so strong that even when you have seen the power of God being manifested, the first impression that will come out of you tends to be derogative.
While Paul was speaking to the crowd in Lystra, he saw a man who was crippled from birth. He looked straight into the man’s face and discovered he had faith to be healed; and then he called out, “Stand up on your feet!”.
But, because the people of Lystra had known only Zeus and Hermes as gods, whatever it was that Paul had said appeared useless to them.
Instead of accepting Jesus, they declared Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes. Acts 14:11~When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
This message is not about the people of Lystra. This message is about you and me. How long shall we continue to hold on to our perspectives?
How often shall we not give in to the words which the holy spirit has whispered into our souls.
How often shall we despise the God’s perspective?
May we receive grace to break every remaining shackles of unbelief in our soul; that we may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
