A transition can occur when God interrupts our direction. Saul thought he was serving God by persecuting the church. Acts 9: 1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for …
Remember Jesus’s words amid adversity—like a parent’s advice before you venture out into the real world for the first time. When a young adult goes out into the world for the first time, their parents are no longer there, and they have to learn how to depend on the Lord themselves. Unfortunately, not everyone in …
Jesus wanted His disciples to persist despite rejection, so He gave them a heads-up about what was to come. John 16: 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.[1] There was already a precedent for …
Jesus warns the disciples of the battles to come so they don’t abandon the faith. John 16:1 I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. [1] The Greek word translated “abandon” here is skandalizo. Its primary meaning is to be offended. Strong’s Lexicon defines it as to cause a person …
Hardening my heart to the miracles of Jesus might seem unlikely, yet this occurred in Bible days and still happens today. In God’s mercy, He reveals Himself through signs and wonders so that people will believe and that believers will have their faith strengthened. How would seeing a miracle or hearing a personal testimony of …
The consequences of rejecting Jesus are eternal and begin in this life as people walk down the broad road of the world. The profound implication for those who reject Jesus explains why He calls people to come to Him in faith. If you have never believed in Him, the Lord is calling you today! It’s …
Jesus had taught the disciples about love, obedience, and joy. Then Jesus taught them how to prepare for persecution. Even though Jesus had told the disciples that the Romans would kill Him, they didn’t understand. Jesus knew that His time was short and wanted to warn the disciples about the difficulties that lay ahead. He …
Jesus wanted His disciples to persevere in persecution. He also sent them with authority in the Kingdom of God. Luke 10: 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust …
The unexpected blessings of persecution are a gift from the Lord to His faithful children. In a world that constantly pursues comfort, acceptance, and ease, the notion of persecution sends shivers down our spines. Our natural inclination is to avoid conflict, to seek harmony, and to steer clear of anything that might bring us ridicule …
The politics of persecution gives insight into the story of an angel releasing Peter from prison. Herod Agrippa I was the ruler who arrested Peter after killing the Apostle James. Acts 12:1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with …