One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid, but go on
speaking, and do not keep silent. For I am with you, and no one is going
to attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."
Acts 18:9-10.
The apostle Paul was and is one of the most important figures in Christianity...
speaking, and do not keep silent. For I am with you, and no one is going
to attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."
Acts 18:9-10.
The apostle Paul was and is one of the most important figures in Christianity...
A well-educated Jewish rabbi and scholar of the writings of Moses and the Hebrew prophets from biblical times, Paul was formerly known as "Saul of Tarsus." And when he experienced a supernatural encounter with Jesus Himself, he was renamed Paul. He would become a champion of the gospel, traveling far and wide proclaiming Jesus as Savior and Lord. For him, Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel's Messiah (see just 22 of those Messianic prophecies).
But not everyone was accepting of Paul's message. In fact, he encountered enormous opposition, as did many members of what was then called the "followers of the way," but is now known in modern times as the Church.
Yet in spite of fierce persecution, Paul would not stop preaching and evangelizing. Thus, he suffered beatings, imprisonment, was pelted with stones, got death threats, and more. As Paul wrote in his letters to the churches, "All who want to lead godly lives in Christ Jesus, will experience persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
While in a similar way, I too seek to share God's message of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus' name. And there are those who want to shut me up as well.
Yes, I have my haters too. There are those who, for whatever reasons, want to silence me. They'd blast me online and in podcasts where they would publicly ridicule me and say all kinds of falsehoods. But thankfully none have ever laid their hands on me.
Nevertheless, be it getting attacked with words or fists, I've no desire to quit on the Lord. He never quit on me. He went to the cross carrying all my sins and crimes (see "What's so good about Good Friday"). So who am I to even think about turning my back on Him? God forbid! And I'm not going to stay quiet either.
D.B.
But not everyone was accepting of Paul's message. In fact, he encountered enormous opposition, as did many members of what was then called the "followers of the way," but is now known in modern times as the Church.
Yet in spite of fierce persecution, Paul would not stop preaching and evangelizing. Thus, he suffered beatings, imprisonment, was pelted with stones, got death threats, and more. As Paul wrote in his letters to the churches, "All who want to lead godly lives in Christ Jesus, will experience persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
While in a similar way, I too seek to share God's message of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus' name. And there are those who want to shut me up as well.
Yes, I have my haters too. There are those who, for whatever reasons, want to silence me. They'd blast me online and in podcasts where they would publicly ridicule me and say all kinds of falsehoods. But thankfully none have ever laid their hands on me.
Nevertheless, be it getting attacked with words or fists, I've no desire to quit on the Lord. He never quit on me. He went to the cross carrying all my sins and crimes (see "What's so good about Good Friday"). So who am I to even think about turning my back on Him? God forbid! And I'm not going to stay quiet either.
D.B.