In the book of Acts, Stephen was among the seven men of “good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” selected to serve the Christians in the distribution of bread so the Apostles could devote themselves to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” These Freedmen provoked false testimony against Stephen in such a way that many gathered and stoned Stephen to death. The stoning of Stephen stirred a great persecution against the church: “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” It is interesting that the early Christians, when scattered by persecution, could not help but repeat the glorious message of the gospel to everyone they met. God has a way of using persecution against His people to expand and build His Kingdom! Isaiah 55 says, ““For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” I know that my word can accomplish very little most of the time, But God’s Word will always produce fruit and not return void! Commit His Word to your hearts and minds. Then when the opportunities God sends our way, even in the middle of persecution, we’ll be ready to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:25:12 +0000
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