Acts 12:21-24 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Beloved, always remember despite the ploys and wiles of the devil to exterminate and destroy the saints of all ages, he and his cohorts have always failed. Think of the resolve of Pharaoh not to let Israel leave Egypt , yet they were set free.
Exodus 5:2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
In spite of the wicked determination of the brothers of Joseph to destroy him and hinder the fulfilment of his dream, but he prevailed ultimately.
Genesis 37:18-20. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
As you remember the tireless plots of king Saul to kill David and hindered him from becoming king. He failed. Think of Haman who was determined to wipe out Mordecai and the Jews, he ended up dying on his gallows.
Esther 7:9-10. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
Satan has his plans against the saints, but never forget this, God has great unfailing plans for His saints of all ages and you in particular. Be rest assured that, it is God’s plan for you, that shall prevail in Jesus name.
Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Interestingly, at all times, God’s people used to multiply and increase to the dismay of their adversaries in times of persecutions .
Psalms 105:23-24. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies
Exodus 1:7-12. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Proverbs 28:28: When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Beloved, do not loose hope or be dismayed at the present challenges, what God did through His invincible power and subdued great mountains and adversaries before the saints of old, He will do for you too in Jesus name. See His unfailing promises and believe them. They shall be fulfilled in their seasons.
Zechariah 4:6-7. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain:and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Isaiah 41:10 -13. ¶Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.n For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 43:1-2. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 54:14 -17 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. ¶No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This isthe heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Beloved God’s unfailing promises were fulfilled in the life of the saints of old. His words will accomplish His purpose too in your life.
Isaiah 55:10 -11. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Dearly beloved, Bible days believers were never intimidated by the might and powers of the monarchs in their days. They lived for God and defended His word and God’s words continued to multiply and increase. Jesus our Lord had said, the gospel shall be preached all over the world, despite fierce opposition.
Matthew 24:9-14. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Our Lord did not say, there would be no resistance from the devil. What He said was that, they shall never prevailed.
Matthew 16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
He had placed an open door before His church and nothing can satan and his cohorts do to close it.
Revelation 3:8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Herod the king had killed James the apostle and went on to apprehend Peter, to do same. The Lord waded in and rescued Peter, but also smite and silence Herod, for His kingdom to prevail on earth. No marvel the Bible days believers were not perturbed, knowing that all things work together for good.
You also should not slow down in your commitment to advance the kingdom of Christ, no matter the opposition or threat to islamise the whole world. Through it all, as it happened in Bible days and God’s word grew and multiply, through the help of the blessed Holy Spirit, so it will happen even today and to you in particular.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Acts 12:21-24 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 5:38-39. And now I say unto you, Refrain fro these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 6:7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 11:19-21. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Acts 19:13-20. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
All the efforts to stop apostle Paul and John the beloved proved abortive. The epistles were written in the prison by Paul, while the book of Revelation were written by John the beloved when at a very old age, he was banished to the Isle of Patmos.
1 Corinthians 16:9. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Revelation 1:9: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
What kept then going were two things.
1. They knew they were raised up to defend the gospel and they were willing to do it at any cost.
Philippians 1:17. But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
2. The prayer of the church for the word of the Lord to have a free course.
2 Thessalonians 3:1: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
They relied heavily on the blessed Holy Spirit and He strengthened them and the word kept on increasing and multiplying. See the attached video, on what the Holy Spirit is doing presently. So rise up and work for the Lord too, relying on the unfailing Spirit of the living God.
EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH AND MULTIPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD,, DESPITE FIERCE OPPOSITION, THROUGH THE GIFT OF HOLY SPIRIT FROM JESUS CHRIST, TO BELIEVERS OF ALL AGES AND YOU. CHAPTER TWELVE OF ACTS.
Friend, because you are determined to be part of the dawning rapture, you will need to depend solely on the guidance , help and comfort of the blessed Holy Spirit, to see you through. This was the lifestyle of Bible days believers and now, by the grace of God, they are with Jesus presently.
Remember while the blessed Holy Spirit will be helping you here, on this side of heaven, the intercession of our Lord for you, during His earthly ministry and His present intercession for you at the right hand of God. All of these put together shall avail for you and enable you to partake in this great looming and imminent event in Jesus name.
John 17:24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
See the expectations of both our Lord and the blessed Holy Spirit from you to help you to be ready, when the rapture shall take place:
1.Be obedient to the entirety of God’s word in spite of fearsome trials till Jesus comes.
Revelation 3:10-11. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
2. Ensure your garment is not defiled and your name still kept intact in the book of life.
Revelation 3:4-5. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
3. Be determined to endure the fierce challenges till Christ comes
Revelation 2:9-10. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
God’s grace shall be sufficient for you in Jesus name.
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