The Apostle Paul said he was chief among sinners. I Timothy 1:15
In his zeal for his faith, he went about capturing believers to turn them over to the authorities to face the consequence of their embrace of JESUS CHRIST as their Savior and Lord.
Paul, called 'Saul' before his conversion (see Acts, Chapter 9), stood by, holding the cloaks of those who stoned the first martyr to death. (See Acts 7:54-60.)
In this regard, he was not unlike the most virulent haters of our LORD and of those who follow Him in today's world.
Persecution for the sake of CHRIST is nothing new, although it has attained a higher level today. More people have been martyred in recent years than in previous centuries. It will exacerbate in the future.
But even when people of faith in JESUS are being brutalized by haters of the Gospel, the HOLY ONE is holding out a hand of mercy to those who hate HIM, just as HE did to the Apostle Paul.
LORD JESUS, we who love YOU, we who call upon YOUR NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES, Philippians 2:9, ask YOU to visit YOUR PEOPLE with the strength to be faithful, even in the face of diabolical persecution.
And JESUS, we would not forget to ask YOU to visit their persecutors, to reveal YOURSELF, YOUR LOVE, YOUR GLORY to them so they would turn from their wicked way, so they would love YOU--even unto death.
It is in YOUR NAME, we pray, JESUS, and it is in the authority of the power YOU have given to us that we stand, O, great GOD and KING. Amen.
Persecution for the sake of CHRIST is nothing new, although it has attained a higher level today. More people have been martyred in recent years than in previous centuries. It will exacerbate in the future.
But even when people of faith in JESUS are being brutalized by haters of the Gospel, the HOLY ONE is holding out a hand of mercy to those who hate HIM, just as HE did to the Apostle Paul.
LORD JESUS, we who love YOU, we who call upon YOUR NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES, Philippians 2:9, ask YOU to visit YOUR PEOPLE with the strength to be faithful, even in the face of diabolical persecution.
And JESUS, we would not forget to ask YOU to visit their persecutors, to reveal YOURSELF, YOUR LOVE, YOUR GLORY to them so they would turn from their wicked way, so they would love YOU--even unto death.
It is in YOUR NAME, we pray, JESUS, and it is in the authority of the power YOU have given to us that we stand, O, great GOD and KING. Amen.
It was the sacrifice that He paid on Calvary that we can be forgiven. Thank you, Jesus!
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