God upturns the persecutors will
Reading: Acts 8 vs 1-15kjv
Key verse: 4
Stephen was already gone—stoned by
the persecutors, under the command of the consenter—Saul, the Tarsus, who did
not stop to unleash affliction, pain and misery upon the church at Jerusalem. As
the tempo increased, devout men and women who couldn’t stand it any more ran
for dear lives but never forgetting the command, charge given to them by the
Lord.
You probably might have heard or
witnessed people who claimed that they are true followers of Christ, give up
easily to the will of their persecutors. Some, even go far to deny Christ, just
because they persecuted them to a point, they felt helpless and couldn’t stand
it anymore. For instance, Mr. A, happened to be Stephen’s friend or probably
under his tutelage, and on that point of him being stoned, he wept and agonize
before God to spare His life but the opposite happens. And it didn’t stop
there, the same people also came for the life of Mr. A. If it is in our
dispensation, many will give up their faith and vowed not to ply in that path anymore.
But the early brethren saw
opportunity in their persecution. The scripture did not tell us that Phillip
preached at Jerusalem, he was among the seven appointed to serve tables which
one of his brethren, Stephen happened to belong but the persecution moved him
to Samaria and there he preached Christ and wrought great works for the kingdom
of God.
The persecutors wanted to shut
up their voices and probably annihilate them but their will, desire was upturned
and it was a moment to preach the gospel both in Judea, Samaria and beyond, with
great miracles happening which is in concord with the injunction from Jesus
Christ—Acts 1 vs 8b.
Thoughts for the day: God is ever ready to upturn, twist the will
of those persecuting your life, their intentions and desire will be invalidated.
Remain steadfast, unmovable, unwavering and unfettered. Don’t allow their abracadabra, threatening or
whatever they come up with to jilter you, and I assure you, victory is guaranteed.
Prayer for the day: Lord, give
me the grace to remain steadfast and unmovable, the discretion to know what to
do. This I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.