“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” ( Romans 10:14).
The story of Christianity starts with Christ followers pursued and persecuted. The first recorded martyr after the crucifixion of Christ was Stephen. “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep” ( Acts 7: 59-60). More important to note the ring leader who presided over this execution was none other than Saul. “And Saul approved of their killing him” (Acts 8:1). Only later on, after a miraculous conversion, Saul turned into Paul, to win souls for Christ( Acts 9).
As the disciples of Christ spread beyond Jerusalem they met targeted attacks. Christ followers would be thrown over into dens of lions and made a spectacle to jeering crowds. But yet followers kept multplying. Eventually, quite overwhelmed, the Roman Empire decided to abandon its own pagan gods and embrace Christianity under the reign of Emperor Constatine.
Because it was now a state religion the Roman Empire decided to force conversation of their territories through crusaders. This was against the commands of Christ. Up to that point Christianity had not been growing through force. Christianity had grown because of the irresistable power of the Holy Spirit to bring conversation to the lost through repetance and acknowlegdment of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Today we should not loose sight of this history. Just before he left Christ cautioned his followers “And whoever shall not receive you or hear your words, shake off the dust of your feet when you depart from that house, or that city” ( Acts 10:14). All he was saying do your part and let the Holy Spirit finish His business. It is not you who saves people but God, after all. “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” ( Romans 9:15)
Do your part, pray and leave the rest to God!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today help me through the power of the Holy Spirit share your Gospel of salvation and let you bring those you will to salvation, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
