Unstoppable Power

Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
–Matthew 16:18

One day when President Theodore Roosevelt was in a meeting at the White House, there was a knock at the door. A young boy stuck his head in and said, “It’s after four.” Roosevelt looked at his watch. “By Jove, so it is!” he declared. Then he stood and excused himself, explaining that he had promised to take the boy and his friends for a walk at four o’clock. He said, “I never keep boys waiting. It’s a hard trial for a boy to wait.”

Waiting is difficult not just for boys but for all of us–especially when we’re waiting on a promise from our heavenly Father. Thousands of years ago, the prophets spoke of the second coming of Jesus. Then Jesus Himself told us that He is coming back to earth. We have spent the last several weeks studying Jesus’ roles in the end times, anticipating that glorious day when He returns. Yet we’re still waiting. Waiting is hard, but remember this: With God, a promise delayed is not a promise denied. God promised that Jesus is coming back, and He will keep that promise.

We see the promise of Jesus’ return reiterated in the opening chapter of Acts. Today, we’re going to begin studying the first twelve chapters of Acts, which recount the birth and explosive growth of the church. But before we look at the beginning of Acts, I want to point out the very last word of the book. Acts 28:30–31 says, “[Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (emphasis mine).

The Greek word translated as “unhindered” is rendered in some translations as “No one stopped him.” In Acts, the early church faced increasing opposition, yet that opposition was no match for the power of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” That is the story of the book of Acts, and in many ways, it is our story now. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the first-century Christians empowers us today. That’s why we have nothing to fear as we await the promised return of our Savior and carry out the work He gave us to do before He comes again.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Unstoppable Power” and “The Promise,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.