Stephen in Acts Chapter 6 starting in verse 8…Was called and full of faith. God pour downs blessings upon Stephens life. And due to Stephens wisdom and Stephens call by God, Stephen is persecuted but the Cyrenians, Alexandreians and those from Cilicia and Asia.

But they were NOT able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (VS 10)

So they basically made up lies and and brought Stephen before the council and they saw his face and the face of an angel (Vs 15)

Then in Chapter 7 Stephen brings up the Story of Abraham and Abraham's obedience to leave his family and to GO…and Abraham listened to God and Abraham moved him to a new land.

As you continue to read…you see that as we are called to Christ, and we come…typically we are then blessed by God…Then comes persecution…

Many Preach today about the blessings, but do not talk about the Persecution. There is Persecution everyday against Christians and when you commit your life to God and you are obedient to God…You must understand that Persecution will also come.

I have experienced this in my life and it can be Gut wrenching and VERY difficult when the persecution comes. Most of us struggle with the persecution and fall away for become Carnal Christians. This is the route of many. I have had incredible persecution come against me from my own son…who did NOT like me when I turned to Jesus and became a Christian. At that Time I had a transformation and I changed in that moment. My own son, was sick and tired of my ways of walking with the Lord and the revelation that God brought into my life. 

This persecution became too much for me at a certain time and I allowed sin to come back in and old habits to re-surface as I moved away from God due to the persecution.

How many Christians are ready for the persecution that will come?

Are you ready?

It will come…When you are obedient to God and you will get blessed, the enemy will come against you and persecution will come into your life…But, If you persevere and face this persecution and STAY obedient to God, there will be greater blessings that will come into your life. YOU may not even see them in your life time. They may not come right away..them may come through your descendants lives.

Are you willing to walk through the persecution and trust GOD?

I hope you are…Ask God for strength doing those times and press in closer to God and do NOT turn away. Trust me, it is NOT the way to go…I know it is a hard road and it will come with many trials and difficulties…But what is happening here NOW is temporary and will not last…What will last is our relationship with Jesus and the eternal blessings of living forever in his Kingdom.

For more on this topic see the audio recordings done by walk in the word