But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with [Stephen]. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
We should expect opposition from Satan anytime we begin to make a difference for the cause of Christ. Satan's opposition comes in many forms - discomfort, criticism, illness, political pressure, threatened persecution, abuse, church quarrels, or even martyrdom. However, we can take hope in this opposition. Sometimes, as in the case of Stephen's death in
Acts 7 or the problem with the neglect of Greek-speaking widows in
Acts 6:1-7, the results can lead to a great advance for the message of Christ. We must remember two essential resources we have as followers of Christ: prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. These two spiritual tools help make the message of Christ unstoppable!
Father, I pray today for all of your servants sharing the Good News of Jesus in hostile circumstances and facing opposition. Empower these servants of your word with the Holy Spirit. Open doors for your message to be heard. Deliver your servants from the evil one. Break down barriers that Satan has placed in their path. Give us courage, Lord Jesus, to believe that your message of grace is unstoppable. Amen!
![Illustration of Acts 6:9-10 NLT — But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with [Stephen]. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/24667.jpg "Illustration of Acts 6:9-10 NLT — But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with [Stephen]. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.")
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