Read Acts 6
The church is growing daily and Satan can't stand it so he sends in a little fox: the spirit of division. The Grecians are complaining that their widows are not being treated as well as the Hebrew widows. The 12 disciples recognize the distraction and realize they need help with serving the people. They bring in 7 men with good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to do this. The disciples go back to their job which is praying and teaching the Word. Taking care of widows is not the only thing these 7 men did. Stephen was one of them and he did great miracles and wonders. Stephen was so powerful in his witness that the leaders in the synagogue rose up to resist him. The only thing was, they couldn't argue against the wisdom of God in Stephen. So they hired men to falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy. These men caused such a ruckus that Stephen was finally brought before the council. They accused him of changing the customs of Moses and all of a sudden Stephen's face shone just like Moses' did.
I believe that as the day's get darker and the distinction of black and white becomes more defined we will actually shine God's glory visibly. God is pouring out his spirit once again and the church is going to grow explosively. When this happens persecution will come because the devil hates revival. He will send division, false accusations and any fiery dart he can throw. We need to remember that our enemy is NOT flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of the truth. God has given us armor to protect us and the Sword of the Word to fight the powers of evil. Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. May your church be blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world; holding the word of life; that we may rejoice in the day of Christ, that we have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Phil. 2:15
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