Acts 8

And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Persecution will come to all believers, in some form or another.  The important thing to understand is that in so many instances, persecution can actually strengthen one’s faith and ultimately lead to furthering the Kingdom of God.  In this passage we see one of the many ways that God can fulfill the promise found in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  In this instance, the persecution of the early church in Jerusalem actually led to the gospel being spread more quickly and to a greater number of people.  The Good News of salvation spread like wildfire to many nations as disciples of Jesus were scattered.  Because the disciples had to flee for safety, even despised regions such as Samaria were exposed to miraculous healings and the life saving message of Jesus.  Only God could use something that was meant for evil and turn it into an effective tool for bringing more people to Christ!  Be prepared as you go throughout your life serving God and living out your faith.  Once you become a follower of Christ, you become an enemy of Satan.  He will tempt you, persecute you, and attempt to turn you away from God and the path that God has planned for you.  Anticipating an assault of the enemy and knowing what to expect will help you be victorious when you are under attack.  “…in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

There are two main ways that the devil will try to attack you: 1. An outward attack.  This is a serious daily reality for Christians living in countries such as North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other places where Christian persecution is high.  It does not mean that just because we have religious freedom in America that we are exempt from an outward attack from Satan, however.  “Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  You may experience an attack in the form of someone harassing you, mocking you, shunning you, or even threatening you because of what you believe.  When this occurs, follow the advice of Paul: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

2. An inward attack.  For many of us, this is the more common way that Satan attacks us.  He can quietly slither into your thought life, like a venomous snake.  He can try to pollute your mind with unproductive, negative, or sinful thoughts.  He may give you some specific ideas for how you can lie, cheat, steal, gossip, complain, or hurt someone.  He may set up situations to tempt you in areas where you are weak.  He may fill your mind with thoughts of self-loathing, self-pity, and lack of confidence.  If you find yourself being attacked from within, the first step is to recognize it immediately as being from Satan and not from God.  As soon as you realize that you are being attacked, you can equip yourself with the power of prayer, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the authority of God’s Word.  2 Corinthians 10:5 is especially useful in these situations:  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  Oftentimes God will show you how to overcome these inward attacks from Satan so you can then help others in the same situation sometime in the future.  You can offer the best advice and genuinely empathize with someone who is being attacked in an area that you have experienced yourself.  The important thing to keep in mind is that God is sovereign over everything and everyone, including Satan.  

No matter how clever the devil’s schemes are, remember“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Trust in that promise!