Don’t Let Hindrances Stop You

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert … Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” (Luke 4:1, 14)

Jesus was well received throughout the whole countryside, but then the Holy Spirit led Jesus to his hometown, Nazareth, where He read from the prophet Isaiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1)

The people were amazed at His words and wondered about who Jesus was when He said, “This Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

And when He told them that a prophet is without honor in his own country, they became enraged.

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town.” (Luke 4:28-29a)

Don’t be surprised when the Holy Spirit begins to empower you for service that there will be those who should be your biggest encouragers become your biggest hindrance. Many times in my own ministry those who said they would stand alongside were the first to leave or criticize when things didn’t go their way.

But, Jesus didn’t allow what happened in Nazareth to stop His ministry; rather He continued to teach, preach, and heal.

God empowers us through the Holy Spirit to fulfill His calling and purpose. So don’t let others hinder what God has called you to do.

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)