The gospel had barely touched Samaria when Simon the Sorcerer stepped from the shadows and stood in the way. Acts 8:8. Paul's ministry in Philippi, the doorway to Europe, had just opened when he was joined by a "medium" who began endorsing his ministry. Acts 16:17. Later, he was resisted by Alexander the coppersmith who apparently worked in occult powers. II Timothy 4:14. At Ephesus, the resistance against Paul reached its greatest strength. Acts 19:28. Enraged by demons from the cult of Diana, the townspeople gathered in the amphitheatre and screamed for hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” All of these oppositions ultimately failed. Simon was exposed and told publicly to repent. The fortune-telling girl was exorcized and set free. At Ephesus, the riot was followed by revival and the Kingdom of God was firmly planted in the decay of fallen paganism. A huge pile of witchcraft books was publicly burned in the town square. Alexander apparently remained a thorn in Paul's side.
In Moses' day, the final attempt to stop Israel from entering the Promised Land was made by the false prophet, Balaam. He too failed and was destroyed. In each case, the initial cause of antagonism that exposed the devil’s presence was not Paul, Moses, or some other preacher. It was the Holy Spirit. Historically and presently, He challenges sin at its root. That challenge always brings chaos.
Here is the point: Modern churches can be as attractive and tranquil as a lily pond. Stained glass, dark wood, soft music, friends gathering, bring rest to the soul in the same way as looking at flowers floating on the water. Gold fish darting about the edge, birds blessing the spot with their songs, lily pads on the surface, are wonderful. But there is a problem: At the bottom of the pool, out of sight, and unknown, lies the discarded junk from years gone by. Rusted car bumpers, old tires, bottles, and trash of every sort, are polluting the water. In the same way, behind the scenes of that beautiful church service are members stained with jealousy, greed, ambition, religious politics, and a host of other ills. The Holy Spirit sees “below their surface” and begins to stir at the bottom of their pond. He frequently exposes the ugly and unbecoming side of their private lives. His motive is good--but the exposure is painful. And He is more concerned about conditions in the depths of the church than He is about its sweet-looking appearance on the surface.
So, what happens if He goes to the bottom of the pond? I can best illustrate that point: Not long ago I spoke to a congregation where the Holy Spirit moved in a powerful way. The gospel message was blessed, the audience listened with rapt attention, but when hands-on ministry occurred at the end and the Holy Spirit left some 40 people prostrate on the church floor, an angered resentment immediately organized to fire the pastor. The dear man was ousted. Some 400 members left the denomination and re-organized a new church. To the opponents that day, it did not matter that the Holy Spirit rescued lives from darkness and bondage or that homes were saved from disintegration. They were angered because the appearance of their pond was disturbed. Dignity was more important than deliverance. The attitude was, “Leave the bottom of our pond alone!” Sorry. The Holy Spirit refuses to be manipulated. Where He is rejected or grieved, He leaves. When that happens, “religion” returns and spirituality disappears. A “form of godliness that denies the power” takes over and opens the door to Christianized occultism. II Timothy 3:5. I know churches that have invited psychics and fortune-tellers--like Simon and the Philippian girl-- to work in their congregations. Instead of casting demons out, they welcomed them. God forbid!
