Acts 9: Will You Suffer For Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V16) “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
1. Slaughter (V1-9)
V1 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,”
Saul was hated Christ, and desired to slaughter and exterminate all of Christ’s disciples or the Christians. While on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians, Christ through a light from heaven questioned him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It was at that moment that Saul realised that Christ was truly the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.
V6 “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.”
2. Suffer (V10-31)
V15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
Christ told Saul that He had chosen him to be a vessel to preach His gospel of salvation to the Gentiles, kings and the people of Israel. Christ also told Saul that he would suffer much because of doing His work and will. Indeed, Christians, let us not be surprise and sad when we suffer for Christ’s sake. Christ assured Saul and all who love and preach His gospel that we shall certainly suffer for Him as well as reign with Him one day in heaven.
V16 “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
3. Sick (V32-43)
V40 “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”
During the apostles’ time, before God’s word, the Bible, was completed, God gave the apostles the sign gifts of casting out demons, healing the sick and even raising the dead, as evidence that they believed in God and were from God. Today, we do not have these sign gifts because we have the Bible with us as evidence that we believe in God and are from God. However, we can still fast and pray for God’s power, promises and miracles to cast out demons, heal the sick and even raise the dead, if it is God’s perfect will and work.
V41 “And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to endure suffering for Christ’s sake.
