In the context of biblical teachings, "obstruction" can refer to anything that hinders or impedes the spiritual growth, mission, or obedience of God's people. The concept of obstruction is often associated with spiritual warfare, sin, and the challenges faced by believers in their walk with God.

Obstruction in Spiritual Warfare

The Bible frequently addresses the theme of spiritual warfare, where believers are called to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Here, obstruction is seen as the spiritual forces that seek to hinder the believer's faith and mission.

Obstruction through Sin

Sin is a primary form of obstruction in the life of a believer. It separates individuals from God and impedes their spiritual progress. Isaiah 59:2 declares, "But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear." Sin creates a barrier, obstructing the relationship between God and His people.

Obstruction in the Mission of the Church

The early church faced numerous obstructions in spreading the Gospel. Acts 13:8 recounts the account of Elymas the sorcerer, who opposed Paul and Barnabas, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith." Such opposition is an example of obstruction in the mission of the church.

Obstruction in Personal Relationships

Obstruction can also occur in personal relationships, affecting unity and harmony within the body of Christ. In Matthew 18:15-17 , Jesus provides guidance on resolving conflicts, emphasizing the importance of addressing obstructions to maintain fellowship: "If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church."

Overcoming Obstruction

The Bible provides guidance on overcoming obstructions through faith, prayer, and reliance on God's strength. Hebrews 12:1 encourages believers to "throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us." This passage highlights the need to remove obstructions to pursue a faithful and obedient life.

Obstruction and Divine Intervention

God's intervention can remove obstructions, as seen in the account of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Exodus 14:21-22 describes how God parted the waters, allowing His people to pass through on dry ground: "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."

In summary, obstruction in the Bible encompasses spiritual, moral, and relational barriers that hinder the believer's journey. Through faith, obedience, and divine intervention, these obstructions can be overcome, allowing believers to fulfill their God-given purpose.1. (n.) That which impedes; an obstacle; a hindrance.

2. (n.) The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death.

5146. tribolos -- a thistle
... brier, thistle. From treis and belos; properly, a crow-foot (three-pronged obstruction
in war), ie (by analogy) a thorny plant (caltrop) -- brier, thistle. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5146.htm - 6k

The Allies of the Tempter.
... How can you regulate an obstruction that is involved with the springs of
a machine, or the works of a clock? The only possible method ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse vi the allies of.htm

How Does it Come?
... Either the authorities have cut off our supply because of some infraction of the
law on our part, or there is an obstruction in our service pipe, or the ...
/.../macneil/the spirit-filled life/chapter xiv how does it.htm

Of the Way of Man's Delivery.
... Therefore Jesus Christ, who came himself into the world to satisfy justice and remove
its plea, that there might be no obstruction from that airth, he sends ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxv of the way.htm

But they with whom we Argue have Undoubtedly a Right to Select ...
... that many of them were thrown into violent convulsions, which convulsions, in certain
instances, produced a removal of disorder, depending upon obstruction. ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii but they with.htm

The Intimacy of Human Hearts in Christ
... The same divine Cause tends always to similar effects. Unhappily it does not
always act without obstruction"obstruction which need not be. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moule/philippian studies/chapter ii the intimacy of.htm

'In this Mountain'
... Not one beam can penetrate through the wet, chill obstruction, and men stumble about
in the fog with lamps and torches, and all the while a hundred feet up it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/in this mountain.htm

Christian Graces.
... I call that an intermitting pulse, with reference to the fear we speak of, when
there is some obstruction by the workings of corruption in the soul: I say ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xviii christian graces.htm

Composition and Style
... As the current of rivers is swifter and more impetuous in a free and open channel
than amidst an obstruction of rocks breaking and struggling against the flow ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/composition and style.htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... To deny women such a privilege is contrary to the Christian spirit of
equality, and a serious obstruction to pure gospel light. ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

On the End of the World.
... the nature of bodily matter, although cleansed and purified, and rendered altogether
spiritual, does not seem either to offer an obstruction towards attaining ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen de principiis/chapter vi on the end of.htm

Obstruction (1 Occurrence)
... the arrest of the vital functions; death. Multi-Version Concordance
Obstruction (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 57:14 And I will say, Make ...
/o/obstruction.htm - 6k

Rub (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) The act of rubbing; friction. 11. (n.) That which rubs; that which tends to
hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment ...
/r/rub.htm - 8k

Barrier (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A carpentry obstruction, stockade, or
other obstacle made in a passage in order to stop an enemy. ...
/b/barrier.htm - 8k

Block (22 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept. 9. (vt) Any obstruction, or cause
of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way. ...
/b/block.htm - 16k

Barricade (5 Occurrences)
... enemy. It is usually an obstruction formed in streets to block an enemy's
access. 2. (n.) Any bar, obstruction, or means of defense. ...
/b/barricade.htm - 8k

Bar (27 Occurrences)
... long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various
other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as ...
/b/bar.htm - 21k

Clear (641 Occurrences)
... clear profit. 10. (superl.) Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed;
as, a clear view; to keep clear of debt. 11. (superl ...
/c/clear.htm - 39k

Stop (108 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The act of stopping, or the state of being stopped; hindrance of progress
or of action; cessation; repression; interruption; check; obstruction. 12. ...
/s/stop.htm - 38k

Smooth (39 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh;
voluble; even; fluent. ... 11. (v.) To free from obstruction; to make easy. ...
/s/smooth.htm - 18k

Obstinate (12 Occurrences)

/o/obstinate.htm - 10k

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