What can Christians do amid persecution? Pray and encourage one another. In this blog series, I share warfare prayers and words of encouragement from the Book of Acts to win the battle against the enemies of the gospel.
Amid persecution, Saul had an encounter with Jesus and he became Paul. The persecutor became a preacher and teacher of the gospel. While the actions of the Talibans, Boko-haram, and nations persecuting Christians and killing innocent people grieves my heart, Saul’s conversion reminds me that the persecutors are not out of reach. Our prayers can lead to the conversion of murderers. It is difficult to pray for persecutors to have an encounter with Jesus, yet we must pray about it as well. I believe this is why praying in tongues is also helpful (Romans 8:26) .
Please read Acts 9:1-15(KJV) attentively and let hope arise in you.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Continue praying in the Holy Spirit and with your understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15).
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Amen! So true, God can rescue those who do the persecuting just as he rescued Saul as he became Paul. May we see many new Paul’s turning to Christ! God bless
Amen!