CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 : TOPIC – Pray for those persecuting Jesus (II)

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 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.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 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.

6 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.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 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.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Memorise:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9v4)

Beacaue the devil hates Christ, we should be expecting the prevalence of persecutors. Right from the first century of Christianity, individuals, groups of people and governments have continued to threaten Christianity. Check around you, scan through the pages of dailies. If God has allowed it, what should be our attitude towards such persecutors? We started examining this yesterday.

If anyone was praying for Sauls death before his conversion, what would God have said? He would have been laughing at such, saying, “You don’t know that he would soon be converted and become greater than most of you in the faith.” Man hardly sees the way God sees (cf.Isa. 55v8,9). To God, every sinner is a potential saint, no matter the level of badness, as long as he/she is still alive.

Honestly, if persecutors know they are fighting a settled fight against their Creator, they might have thought otherwise, hence the need to be pitied and prayed for. Isn’t it possible that there were brethren interceding for conversion of Saul, then, unannounced? How many unbelievers are you interceding for their conversion? God never overlooks the efforts of such.

Sauls conversion gave the Church peace and prosperity (Acts 9v32). The only way the Church in the land can have from these fundamentalists is when those perceived enemies encounter the saving power Christ, and they become witness to the Way they earlier persecuted. As we pray, let us be more aggressively evangelistic and missionary. Stop having and harbouring animosity against our persecutors. Love, pray for, preach to, and accommodate them when, and as they come into the fold, even as today marks World Lymphoma Awareness Day and International Day of Democracy

1. O Lord, it is time for You to over-rule wherever You are not allowed to rule around us, in Jesus name.

2. Declare: Jesus shall reign, forever more. He shall reign forever more.

3. Lord, use me to expand Your kingdom against the onslaughter of the devil.

Hosea 7-12

Author

C. A. C. Worldwide

Remain blessed