Taking New Territories Stirs Opposition

Baptist Daily Devotional
Jul 31
3 min read

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 31 2025 | Acts 13:48-51

KEY VERSE:

“⁴⁹ The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region. ” Acts 13:49-50 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

When God sends us on assignments, we are certain that the outcome will be success, to His glory. This is so because God knows all things, has all power and can do all things in and through us. This confidence in God sometimes overshadows another truth, which we must keep in mind as we venture to take new territories, that is, the mission of God will always attract opposition from the enemies of God.

Acts 13:49 reports the rapid spread of the Gospel as the Apostles bore witness to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the way opened for reconciliation with God. The immediate response to this progress report is the incitement of persecution by the Jews and the expulsion of Paul and Barnabas from the region.

Very often, new territory is occupied territory, occupied by other interested parties, physical or spiritual. Competing interests will seek to keep us out of the new things God would want us to attain. The promise of the building of the church was made with a proviso that the gates of hell would not prevail against it, because the gates of hell would fight against the divine action to build the church!

When God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life, (Joshua 1:5), He did not mean that the assignment was going to be without challenges and opposition. He meant that people WOULD GET UP AGAINST YOU, BUT CANNOT STAND UP AGAINST YOU.

God has provided us with weapons like prayer, Scripture, and the support of our church community to help us stand firm. Let us engage those weapons and keep on keeping on.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Are you experiencing any pushback in a clear vision from God you are pursuing? Don’t be deterred, press on, victory is assured!

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for committing your missions unto me, to your Church. Thank you for the pattern, which is clear that we shall face opposition as we reach out to take new territories. Please make us resolute, strong and courageous. May your mission prosper in our hands. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 212: 1 Kings 14 — Jeroboam’s Fall and Judah’s Decline

DAILY word study: SPREAD The word spread in the Greek is diapherō, which means “to carry through” or “to bear widely.” It conveys the idea of movement, expansion, and active distribution.

In Acts 13:49, the gospel wasn’t just shared—it was carried far and wide across the region. The message of Jesus moved beyond individual moments into entire communities. God’s word spreads when His people are faithful, even when facing resistance.

Reflect on This:

Are you letting God’s word travel through you into the spaces around you? The gospel is meant to move—don’t keep it still.