Dear Friend,

There is a clear connection between spiritual breakthroughs and outbreaks of spiritual resistance. Like clockwork, whenever and wherever God is breaking through, hell breaks out!

Mark 4:35-5:20 illustrates this. Jesus was extending His ministry from Galilee to the heavily Gentile region of the Decapolis - ten cities independently ruled, policed, and immersed in Greek beliefs and practices. Previously, He primarily targeted Jews for ministry. Now, however, He was breaking through to new territory, new people groups, and a new work. Great things would happen when He reached the "other side," that is, the southwest shores of Lake Galilee.

But as He moved to break through, Satan, the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), broke out, stirring a sudden, deadly storm that threatened to sink Jesus' ship (Mark 4:35-41; see Job 1:12, 19). Coincidental timing?

Not at all! Satan sensed Jesus would do something on the "other side" to free many troubled souls from his (Satan's) dark, cruel bondage and bring them into His glorious kingdom of light. And as Satan feared, so God worked!

With one word Jesus delivered a notoriously wild and tormented demoniac, who then, at Jesus' instructions, began telling everyone throughout the Decapolis "what great things the Lord [Yahweh, and Jesus] had done" for him (5:19-20). Thus, the name and works of Jesus of Nazareth gained fame all over Decapolis. It was a breakthrough moment.

Jesus was using this man as an unofficial harbinger - one sent to prepare the way for a king's impending royal visit. When Jesus later arrived in Decapolis for more extended ministry, multitudes immediately came out to see Him, seeking healing and deliverance - and receiving it (Matthew 15:29-31)! Why? They had heard of this Jewish Prophet who had cast a legion of demons out of the Gerasene wild man. This powerful, widespread ministry in a new region explains why the great storm broke out as Jesus was crossing Galilee: He was laying the ground work for a great breakthrough on the "other side."

There are a legion of examples that illustrate this pattern.

For instance, when through Peter the gospel broke through to the Gentiles in Cornelius' house, the Pharisaic Christians in Jerusalem broke out in protest against Peter. When through Paul the gospel broke through into Europe at Philippi, persecution broke out against Paul through the local occultists.

Years later, when through Paul's extended ministry in Ephesus the gospel broke through into all the major cities of Asia Minor, Satan stirred the Ephesian idol makers to break out in a riot that for hours rocked the city and threatened Paul's safety.

Almost 1,500 years later, when through Martin Luther's inspired biblical studies and brave protests God broke through centuries of Roman heresies and corruptions, Pope Leo X broke out with official denunciations of Luther and promptly tried and excommunicated the great reformer.

And I could go on. But what does this mean to you and me today?

Simply this: has all hell broken out in your life? Stormy waters everywhere? Trouble before, behind, on the left, and on the right? No solutions visible? Remember, when outbreaks attend your breakthrough moments, don't break down with doubt, unbelief, or offense at Christ for letting your life be broken into. He must test you as He tested His original apostles. There is no other way to establish you in strong faith. But you may rest in this: He will also bring you to the "other side" of your test, just as surely as He brought the apostles.

So, don't focus on the outbreak; look instead for your breakthrough - in that lost or troubled family member for whom you've been interceding for years; in your ministry, long hindered by prejudiced ministers, envious critics, and slanderers; in your Bible study, which is suddenly becoming rich, timely, and inspiring; in your health, which has been under attack and failing; in your pastorate, where you've been frustrated by stubborn deacons, unwilling elders, and uncommitted congregants; with your children, who have misunderstood, misjudged, and withdrawn from you.

Or look for a breakthrough in your neighbors, who are suddenly becoming interested in your testimony, faith, and Lord; in your church, which has long been lukewarm but is now warming up to the deep things of God; in your nation, which has been sinning impenitently for decades but which, gripped by deep, inescapable troubles, is suddenly ripe for the gospel; or in a thousand other matters in which you have been praying and waiting for a much-needed breakthrough.

So, never break down at the outbreak of trouble. Instead, break off those shackles of fear, break down all your pride, break away from all carnal reasoning, break up your discouragement, break open God's Word again, break into God's presence by thanksgiving and prayer, and break out in the praise and worship of faith - utterly confident God's breakthrough is happening now, as you read these words: "And they came over unto the other side . . ."

Breaking through!

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries