06/03/2023 - APPOINTED A PREACHER

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To which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  2 Timothy 1.11

The persecutor of the first-century Church was greatly afflicted after seeing the shining of a light from Heaven on the road to Damascus, where he was going to arrest the saved in Christ: Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9.4). He asked who it was, and the voice said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (v. 5b). What a light!

That brightness of the Light made him blind. Paul was healed after spending three days in fasting and prayer. Now he could no longer see everything dark, nor could he breathe hatred against those who called on the Holy Name, because he had a love for them and for the lost, such as he had never known before. This radiance needs to be present in our worship services; after all, other persecutors of the Gospel will also give themselves to Christ. What glory God will give us!

Later, speaking to King Agrippa, the apostle reported: at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me (Acts 26.13). This was a conversion worked by the Lord himself. Can we witness something similar today? Yes, the Church did not call for the persecutor to die, but to be born again. Prayer changes everything!

Many people, when they receive Jesus into their lives, say they don’t understand what happens to them, claiming that even their relatives stop talking to them. This causes them to cool down in their faith or to keep silent, thinking that if they speak of their conversion to the Gospel, they could be killed. The Master declared: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33). They must pray until the door is opened!

After accepting Jesus as Savior, the new convert needs to seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Then his life will begin to change. It may be that one day his family members will be afflicted. In this case, the one who has received salvation should wisely comment that he has read or heard about Christians who intercede for the sick, and God will heal them. When he sees the door opening to pray on behalf of the sick person, he should pray in the Name of Jesus and believe that the Truth delivers and heals!

There are husbands who threaten to leave home, because the fanaticism is so great that they would rather leave their wife and children. But the prudent wife can prevail against the snares of the enemy. Be firm in what you have heard from the Lord in the Word and give God due praise for what He is doing in your life. Jesus said that He has overcome the world (John 16:33); therefore, we will overcome it too. If the struggle is great, let the Lord do the work!

We are just like the Christians of the early Church, when they were considered the scum of society because of their faith in Christ. Paul was called to preach the Good News and found that he would pay the price: persecution. Wherever he was sent, the apostle felt in the flesh the cost of leading lives to salvation, but to him it was nothing – as long as he could suffer for Jesus’ sake. It is worth being persecuted. Halleluiah!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares