Christian Living
The Anointing Attracts Attack
But those who know well their God
His favour will never ever lack
They will prevail and assail through God.
After defeating Goliath and cutting off his head, David turned on the light in Israel. The people were in great jubilation:
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands."
.
Little did they know they were pitching David against Saul and were sowing seeds that would trigger jealousy and hatred in Saul against David.
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns
Saul forgot how David had played musical instrument when he was tormented by evils spirits. He forgot how David removed the reproach from the face of Israel when Goliath challenged them day and night for forty days. He started pursuing David until he in end, he committed suicide.
Why was David so attacked? It was the anointing attracting attack. David was a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a man after God’s own heart. In spite of his faults he loved the Lord with all his heart. God was committed to him. and would defend him from anyone who messed with David. God fought for him.
When the disciples had received the Holy Spirit and went about boldly proclaiming the gospel with signs following, they became a threat everywhere.
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Acts 17:6
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Act4:1-7
17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
21At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. Acts 5:17-21,27-33
People conspired to kill Paul. Paul himself obtained warrant to imprison the Christians.
1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8;1-3
They were flogged imprisoned, threaten yet they continued to remain bold and strong.
Paul was attacked in various place sand on one occasion lowered in a basket via a wall. He was beaten and imprisoned in Phillippi along with Silas with their feet and hands in stock. Peter was also imprisoned to be executed the following day, but god sent His angel to release him
Stephen full of the Holy Spirit was stoned to death whist he testified powerfully to those who were stoning him to death and he prayed for them as he was dying; Father forgive them…
Stephen Seized
8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." Acts6;8-14
4When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.Acts7:54-60
We can see that Stephen was one of those elder full of the Holy Spirit chosen to serve. The anointing upon his life can be seen in the way he testified powerfully despite the fact that his life was on the line. He even prayed for them as he was dying, echoing the words of Jesus on the cross,’ Father forgive them. For they know not what they are doing.’
The trial of your faith will work for you. It is designed for the praise honour and glory of God. Shall we back off from the anointing because it attracts attack? No .rather, go for more anointing. It is the anointing that destroys yoke and lifts burden.Isa10:27
27 It shall come to pass in that day
That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck,
And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
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