Whenever the gospel goes forth, it will face opposition—as Jesus warned His disciples upon first sending them out, “you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22). Paul and Barnabas experience fierce opposition from false prophets in Cyprus in Acts 13, just as we saw the church facing persecution from the Jewish authorities in the previous chapter. We should not be surprised when the church faces opposition in our own time, and many elements in this morning’s service address this. Psalm 31 calls us into worship, encouraging us to be strong and courageous even as we ask the Lord to rescue us from enemies and persecutors. We’ll read the story of the Lord supporting Moses and Aaron in their battle with Pharaoh’s sorcerers, and we’ll respond singing psalms and hymns that ask the Lord to “train [our] fingers for the fight” and to be our “battle shield” and “sword for [our] fight.” We’ll confess that Jesus currently “stands in victory,” and we look forward to the eschatological fulfillment of Psalm 110, when all who oppose Him will be subdued and made like “a footstool for [His] feet.” As we see the church facing opposition and conflict, whether from false teachers or overt persecutors, I hope the elements in this morning’s service will remind us that we serve a great God who “reigns enthroned above”—and His Word will not be silenced.
—Henry C. Haffner
