“But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went” Acts 8:3-4
It has become trendy to castigate the church, blame the church for any harm on earth. Let me say upfront I know God knows how to defend his church as He did with Saul in Acts chapter nine where He turned him into an asset.
We also have a case in Exodus 32 when the people made a calf and were dancing around it and God said the people have corrupted themselves. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:” Ex 32:7. What this means is that you can really not corrupt the church but you can corrupt yourself.
The message the Holy Spirt is prompting me to share is the need to stop taking delight in blaming and pulling down the church. The church I am talking about here is the church that Jesus built by shedding his blood on the cross of Calvary. The church that encompasses all believers in Jesus. It is the church that scripture says “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Eph 4:11 . The church he promised to build and ensure the gates of hell shall not prevail.
It is sad to see how people of other faith are doing everything to kill and maim Christians . It is sad to see how churches are being burnt down. Christian wives are suddenly turned to widows and young men made widowers. It is sad to see how some in the name of terrosim are finding it easy to abduct the children of Christians, raping them and doing everything to force them to their religion.
It is sad to see how Christians, missionaries, church leaders are being kidnapped, maimed, beheaded, slaughtered,by people like Saul “going from house to house dragging men to prison” (death).
On another level it is sad to see how the church is castigated for all calamities happening on earth. Take for instance the issues where some sections of even the church, some pastors put the blame of lack of development of Nigeria on the church. Just as I mentioned before people can not corrupt the church but corrupt themselves, we know there are Judases in the body of Christ but to blame the corruption of the politicians and lack of development of the nation Nigeria on Christians is unreasonable. That Nigeria is still standing today is because of the remnant of the faithful Christians that are daily interceding for the nation. It is sad to see many who are in power and occupy government positions directly and indirectly allowing Christians to be maimed and killed as we see in Northern Nigeria, The Fulanis and herdsmen unleashing mayhem on the church is nothing but wickedness per excellence, it should stop.
It is also sad on another level but equally dangerous to see emerging comedians making a caricature of the church and the scripture as their laughing stock. It is “sadder” to see that some pastors are encouraging these comedians by inviting them to the sacred altars. How many times have they seen these comedians in the mosques, how many times have they seen comedians make jest of Mohamned as they do of Christ? These ungodly actions should stop, they are attacks against the church.
While I’m persuaded that there cannot be a church that will be free from persecution and the like of Saul will always be, who do not know their purpose in life and keep chasing their shadows, there is a need to warn those who directly or indirectly have made it their hobby to persecute the church to stop. There is the need to warn those who are using their government positions to oppress the church either by government policies or other indirect ways to stop. Those who are killing people to force them to convert to their religion should stop.
Those in the West, Canada, America , Europe who randomly take their guns, enter churches and slay innocent Christians should stop.Those who made legislation to inhibit the preaching of the gospel are destroying the church, they must stop. The Holy Spirit is warning you all to stop. There is too much shedding of blood whether by direct killings or indirect killings (for example through abortion, particularly government sponsored abortions across the globe).
The Holy Spirit is saying the killing of Christians in Asia ( especially Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia etc) should stop. If you’re like Saul, using one means or the other to go to different houses irrespective of the country, dragging people to prison, you are killing them, stop it now.
Maybe you are even pretending to be a member of the church by attending one service or the other but you are destroying the Church in your corner by committing sin, adultery, fornication, corruption, lying and spreading falsehood, gossips, murmurs , taking the accursed things like Achan (Jos 7: 19) to the church to retrogress it, stop it. The Holy Spirit says your plans cannot succeed. Jesus says I should tell you: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Matt 16:18b. Another step you need to take is to accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour. “But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went” Acts 8:4” Join the vanguard of believers to continue to preach the gospel. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the life. As Jesus said to Saul- “Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:5.
Conclusion: Ask yourself this hour am I like Saul destroying the church? Going from house to house with my phone, my social media dragging people to hell? If your spirit affirms that then stop it now! Heaven is wide enough to accommodate all of God’s creation. Today the Holy Spirt is saying to you, whichever way you are destroying the Church whether on a high scale or on a low scale, stop. Rather join the vanguard of people propagating the gospel. COVID-19 season is another opportunity to team with believers to build the church and repair our world.
Shalom .
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