Acts 5:14
“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”
No-one else dared join the church, nevertheless, the numbers increased of those who became believers. The understanding is that the only ones joining the church were the ones who dared to believe, who were so convinced of the gospel that they had to be added into the number, they had to be counted.
I love the word ‘nevertheless’.
‘In spite of that’.
God uses the word ‘nevertheless’.
He will find a way.
He will come through for you.
The Church didn’t decide to change or adapt a different method because ‘no-one else dared join them’. The Church didn’t move venue to attract those who didn’t have the courage to join. The Church continued, relying on Him who cannot be stopped!
Why do so many Pastors panic at the moment of difficulty?
Why do they scramble to get the latest idea off the shelf? Why are they pestered by their members who want the Church to adopt what the church down the road are doing? A programme that guarantees growth. A fool-proof idea. What’s it all about?
When are we going to learn that it is not by might nor power but by His Spirit? When are we going to realise that when the Holy Spirit is the programme and fills our agenda that actually He has some very bright ideas?
And if it is possible to say something even more important than that, when are we going to believe that God specialises in the “nevertheless’?!
Missions Paul 