Acts 5:17-32 NKJV

[17] Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, [18] and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. [19] But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” [21] And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, [23] saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” [24] Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. [25] So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” [26] Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. [27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest asked them, [28] saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” [29] But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. [31] Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The first vehicle I ever bought was a 1966 Chevrolet C10 stepside truck. It was a disaster, to say the least. For whatever reason, I fell in love with the truck... or at least the idea of it. When I trailered it home, my dad walked around it, looked me dead in the eyes, and said, " You'll never get that thing running."

Over the next six months, every waking minute and ever spare dime went into proving my dad wrong. I don't like to be told that I can't do something. When I drove it for the first time, my dad admitted that he never doubted my ability to fix it. He just knew what it would take to motivate me.

There will always be an abundance of people who want to stifle the Holy Spirit in our lives. Skeptical family members and friends, even fellow believers, may think some plans are a bit too lofty, too big, or too daunting. God gives us individual passions for a reason. He also provides us with the means to carry it out. For Peter and John, God sent an angel to open the prison doors that others closed behind them. If God lays something on our hearts, we can't focus on the things that separate us from it. We have to trust that, if He calls us to it, He will help us do it... obstacles don't get in God's way.