In the article titled “Former Persecutor of Christians in Vietnam Now Suffers for His Faith”, we find someone who experienced what Saul experienced. Thien Nguyen did exactly what Saul did. He went around seeking Christians and then persecuting them by arresting them for their faith. Little did Thien Nguyen know that God had a plan for his life too. Read what happens to him.
A policeman in northern Vietnam who used to go to villages to threaten and arrest Christians now goes to the same villages to tell people about Christ – under threat of harsh punishment.
For years officer Thien Nguyen* had followed orders to infiltrate worship services to search for pretexts for arresting church leaders and shutting down churches.
He had cited house churches that were unregistered because they didn’t have the minimum number of members for legal recognition. He’d cited other congregations that had failed to merge with the government-designated area church. He had arrested evangelists proclaiming salvation in Christ for undermining cultural unity.
In the process, Thien had heard enough sermons that he began to see the basis for belief in Christ – and the unworldly grace and kindness that flowed from Jesus and from congregation members. After retiring last year, he put his faith in Christ, and soon he was going to the same villages to tell people how God had changed his life… read full article
Preaching The Gospel
Romans 10:14-15 KJV How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Preach the true gospel knowing someone will hear. Pray for the courageous people who stand in the face of severe adversity obeying their calling. This happened to Saul (Paul) (Acts 9). In an instant the One hated becomes the love of your heart.
Who Was Paul (Saul)?
Who was Saul (Paul)? How did Saul’s life change?
Question: “Who was Paul in the Bible?” Answer: There is much we can learn from the life of the apostle Paul. Far from ordinary, Paul was given the opportunity to do extraordinary things for the kingdom of God. The story of Paul is a story of redemption in Jesus Christ and a testimony that no one is beyond the saving grace of the Lord. However, to gain the full measure of the man, we must examine his dark side and what he symbolized before becoming “the Apostle of Grace.” Paul’s early life was marked by religious zeal, brutal violence, and the relentless persecution of the early church. Fortunately, the later years of Paul’s life show a marked difference as he lived his life for Christ and for the advancement of His kingdom.
Paul was actually born as Saul. He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia around AD 1–5 in a province in the southeastern corner of modern-day Tersous, Turkey. He was of Benjamite lineage and Hebrew ancestry (Philippians 3:5–6). His parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses—who sought to protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles. Anything Greek would have been despised in Saul’s household, yet he could speak Greek and passable Latin. His household would have spoken Aramaic, a derivative of Hebrew, which was the official language of Judea. Saul’s family were Roman citizens but viewed Jerusalem as a truly sacred and holy city (Acts 22:22-29)… read full bible teaching by GotQuestions.org
Being a Christian is not an easy road to take. Even in the bible there are countless times where they were told to stop speaking God’s word and sharing the love of Christ.
Acts 5:28-29 KJV Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Would you have stopped as they requested or would you have kept on speaking God’s word? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Are you ready to be hated because they hated Christ first?
John 15:17 This is My command to you: Love one another. 18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.… Berean Study Bible by Bible Hub
