18/07/11

Having favor even with our enemies

Acts 27:43,44 - But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

We know when we walk in the ways of the Lord the world starts to hate us. People close to us suddenly are very far from us. We are side-lined from social networks for we do not do things which people of the world do. The worst reactions come from the religious people and people who are protectors of the worldly system. These people not only dislike us but become our haters, for they consider us their enemies. The Lord is telling us when His grace is upon us and when we stand in His Word even these people would not be able to harm us, more than what the Lord allows them. When times get bad from among them will unexpectedly stand someone who would have favor on us and may even land up being our protectors.

Those who are in the front of the spiritual battle zone would have numerous testimonies on this, like Paul. Even when everyone else from the Roman army had decided to kill the prisoners, all of a sudden the Centurion has favor on Paul and thus not only Paul but all others with him also as saved. The Romans take the risk to allow those who would swim to freely jump off the sinking ship and swim to land and the others who could not were given means to float on and go to land.

The Bible talks of us facing persecution as Christians, but even then we would not be crushed and would come out of them stronger when we stand in the Name of the Lord, in His Word.

So be encouraged if you are in such situations now, where all people around you are not with you, mainly because you witness Christ.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Heavenly Father, You are God and You alone are divine and eternal. You are our creator and You alone know the beginning and the end. Everything is by You and through You and nothing has power against You. It is by the sacrifice of your Son and our testimony in Him that sets us free from this corrupted worldly flesh. Lord, we thank You for the grace we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. We know even in the worst of situations our enemy would not be able to crush us for You are with us. We pray for others who are now in thus situation that they continue to keep their trust in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Acts 27:41-44
41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Genesis 39:1-5
1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

1 Samuel 14:44-45
44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."
45 But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

Luke 21:16-18
16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.
18 "But not a hair of your head shall be lost.


The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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