Yesterday we looked at one of the reasons that severe persecution came on the early Church. 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us this:
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. KJV
This is undeserved suffering and with it comes great blessing! What we looked at yesterday was deserved suffering for disobedience. This allows the curse to operate in our lives. BUT, with repentance comes blessing! AFTER the Church began to obey the instructions of Jesus, great blessings and powerful testimonies resulted! We see one of them in Acts 9! One of the biggest perpetrators of severe persecution of the Church was Saul of Tarsus. Acts 9:1-2 show us the extent he was willing to go:
1 MEANWHILE SAUL, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest. 2 And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.
THIS was ungodly hatred that was driven by the devil, but God had other plans for Saul! When the Church obeyed He was able to do this! Acts 9:3-9:
3 Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, 4 And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]? 5 And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance]. 6 Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. 7 The men who were accompanying him were unable to speak [for terror], hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank [anything].
Understandably, the Church was fearful of Saul, but Ananias obeyed the Lord and Saul was born again! Verses 17-20:
17 So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized, 19 And after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days [afterward] he remained with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!
Obedience to the Word of God and the specific direction of the Spirit of God is VITAL for the plan of God to be carried out! Remember, Jesus is the Head and WE are the Body! His will on the earth is carried out through US! Give the plan of God free reign in YOUR life! Saul went on to become the Apostle Paul and to write most of the Epistles in the New Testament! YOU will go on to accomplish everything that God intends for YOU to accomplish in this life through YOUR obedience! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Run":
Shalom in Him!
