Opposition will eventually come when you commit your life to serving God. Satan won't just sit by and idly watch people be saved without doing something to interfere. It might be big, it might be small, but he moves wherever God moves. Your heart needs to be ready for those times when they come. Today, Pastor Mark is going to prepare you for the times of the enemy's attacks. They usually come when it will hurt the most, but it's not the end. Make sure you soften your heart to God's Word and harden it toward sin, and keep your focus on serving God and doing His Will. He can bring good out of anything.

There is always hope while you’re still breathing – you can be saved simply by placing your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But, as Pastor Mark will warn in today’s message, it doesn’t get easier as you get older. The more you resist His invitation and say “no” to the offer Jesus extended on the cross, the more likely you are to continue down that path. You do not want to continue to put off this decision. None of us knows the time we have. Many don’t get the luxury of knowing when they’ll enter eternity. It could be decades, or it could be a matter of hours from now. Eternity is not something to gamble with.

Have you ever talked with a devout member of the Mormon church or perhaps a Jehovah’s Witness? They may offer some of the most challenging conversations you’ll have in sharing the Gospel. They often have very strong convictions and a comprehensive understanding of their own religion, along with a playbook for every argument you may try to present. As Pastor Mark will point out in today’s message, Paul faced a similar challenge, likely even harder, as he confronted his fellow Jews with the Gospel. They were very stubborn in their beliefs and had strongly rooted convictions about the expected Messiah. 

Before you start going around examining others’ lives, it’s important that you dedicate time to some honest introspection. What kind of fruit are you bearing? Would the people around you say that they see Jesus in your words, actions, and attitudes? If you’re following Him, you won’t live a perfect life, but your life should demonstrate a trend of growth in the fruits of His Spirit. As Pastor Mark continues our study in the book of Acts today, he’ll challenge us to be bold in our love for the people around us. When you humbly approach them, allow the Spirit to provide discernment, as you seek to draw them closer to Christ.

In a battle, the element of surprise brings a massive advantage to the attacking party. Even an outnumbered, outgunned force significantly increases its chances of victory if its enemy is caught off guard. As Pastor Mark will warn us in today’s message, we’re entrenched in a spiritual battle, and it’s crucial that we’re alert and ready for the attacks of the enemy. Our enemy loves to lull us into a sense of comfort and ease. When we relax and start to think this journey is smooth sailing, that’s when he sees his chance. He’ll draw us into compromise and introduce deceptive thoughts that lead to destruction.

Do you remember the last time God spoke to you? I’m not talking about an audible voice coming down from Heaven, that’s rare… but when’s the last time you heard His voice speak to your heart? For many believers, it’s a challenge to remember a moment like that. It isn’t something unique to the people we read about in Scripture; God will speak to you if you give Him the opportunity. As Pastor Mark will challenge us in today’s message, we need to set aside time with our Father. His Word is more readily available today than it’s ever been, and He’s ready to listen and speak to you when you dedicate time in His presence. 

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit can be a real challenge in this life. As Pastor Mark points out today, as a young believer, or in a situation where you really don’t have any other choice, following the Spirit may come naturally. But in day-to-day practice, it’s easy to rely on yourself and ignore God’s guidance. To follow Jesus and allow His Spirit to move through you requires faith and intentionality. You’ll need to slow down on a routine basis, allowing time to listen for God’s still, quiet voice. You’ll also need to dig into Scripture and lean on your fellow believers for discernment and encouragement.

This account of King Herod’s untimely death is not only presented in Scripture, but in the records of Josephus – a well-respected historian of the time. It offers a warning to any who would try to take glory that should be directed to God while also persecuting those He loves. We may not see people bowing down before leaders today, but the fervor some have for their political icons can be a form of worship. As we’ll be warned in today’s message from Pastor Mark, we can have confidence that God and His Word will always prevail over these attacks, and we’d much rather be on the winning side of this war.

When you lose someone to death, it hurts. Words fail to express the inner turmoil and pain you experience in that moment. Even the knowledge that they’re with God in Heaven may only be a small consolation. You want them here with you now. As Pastor Mark will explain in today’s message, those feelings are natural, and God can handle your pain in that moment. Why doesn’t God stop us from experiencing loss and heartache? He didn’t design us to go through this originally. Our pain is the result of sin, and sin still reigns in this world. But you can have hope; God has secured victory, and He will bring good out of all of it.

An important part of your development as a follower of Christ is learning patience. This will test your faith, and you’ll find it easy to allow your passion to wane as you wait on God to lead you to the next step or open that next door for you. As Pastor Mark will point out today, you’re not alone in that. In today’s passage, we see that even the Apostle Paul had periods of waiting on God to lead him into His next mission. So what do you do while you wait? Just sit around and read your Bible and pray? Of course not – those are healthy practices, but God wants you to be actively sharing the Gospel right where you are.