Does God have a business plan?

 

 

READ Acts 5-8

A typical business plan includes things like a description of what the results will look like, a market analysis to identify the best customers, how to compete, funding, sales and marketing plans, management and operating procedures, goals, and so on. These plans are considered essential for any project.

However . . .  God builds His church using methods that a modern business plan would never consider. In these initial chapters of Acts, His plan seems haphazard. People were attracted by a miracle healing , then listened to a sermon that condemned them for killing Jesus. Soon His disciples were arrested. This might have halted progress but these early believers prayed for boldness and were united in their love for Jesus and their desire to tell others about Him. The threats helped the church grow!

Up to this point, numbers of believers increased, but then two of them lied about their donation and when confronted about this sin, both of them dropped dead. How does that fit with attracting new members? And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (Acts 5:11) Yet amazingly, this didn’t stop progress:

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12–16)

Next, the Apostles were arrested by enraged officials. Then they were set free because one of those officials reacted with logic. He was a Pharisee yet reminded his cohorts of others who tried to be somebody and failed. He said:

“So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, (Acts 5:38–39)

God used one of their enemies to rescue them!

The next issue was in-house grumbling, but God gave His people wisdom to sort it out. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7) What? Now the leaders of the opposition were moving over to join them!

Soon after that, God used a young man named Stephen. He filled him with wisdom and words that enraged His opponents. They stoned this young man, laying their garments at the feet of a man named Saul who approved of this execution. He joined the battle to rid their land of all who followed Jesus. Anyone who has read Acts knows that God was not finished with him and would use this rebel in a mighty way to build His church.

God continued to select and use individuals to gather converts into His kingdom. Philip was one of them. He worked in Samaria and there was “much joy in that city.” Then, God told him to go out in the desert. He went and encountered an Ethiopian who wanted to know the meaning of an OT passage about Jesus. Philip led him to Christ and baptized this new believer who continued on his way home. It does not tell much more here but history says soon after the church began to grow in Ethiopia!

God wasn’t finished yet, but these chapters make one thing clear; our understanding of how God works is limited. Some things do not make sense. However, He is busy. People still experience miraculous healing. Those who blatantly sin are dealt with. Church conflicts are settle with godly wisdom. Persecution is rampant yet God gives great boldness and faithfulness to His people in key places where the church is growing rapidly. He uses people to boldly proclaim the Gospel. Obscure believers are involved in the salvation of leaders who change the world with their godly words and actions.

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33) even though our perspective of world events often seems confusing. For me, trusting the Lord even when His work is hidden is an obedience. Seeking to do His will even when there is chaos and opposition tests my faith yet I know He uses every act of obedience for His purposes. Our world is erratic and unstable, but that cannot stop the Lord from accomplishing His purposes. Far better to be in line with Him than to doubt that He cares or worry that He is not involved.