To every Christian the Apostle Paul is certainly a hero of the Christian faith. His miraculous conversion to Jesus Christ, the impartation of the prophetic call of God into his life by Ananias (a little known disciple) (Acts 22:14-15) and the fulfilling of that prophetic word in Paul’s life, has enabled him to impact millions of people positively for Jesus Christ. Yet, when we look into the Scriptures, we see that Paul often upset the devil and the religious leaders and spirits of the day. In Acts 24 we read the words of Tertullus (who was speaking on the behalf of a number elders and the Jewish high priest): “For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”(Acts 24:5, NKJV).

Paul was accused of being a plague! What is a plague? According to Collins Dictionary a plague is “Any widespread and usually highly contagious disease with a high fatality rate. An infectious disease of rodents, especially rats . . . something that afflicts or harasses . . . an annoyance or nuisance . . . a pestilence, affliction or calamity on a large scale . . . used to express annoyance, disgust.” Paul was so effective in his walk and witness for Jesus that he upset those who had not been born-again by the Holy Spirit. He was bold enough – and loud enough – to come to the attention of those around him. He was not a silent witness. He was an “in your face” Christian - a plague to the devil and his cohorts!

How is it with us? Are we also convinced enough of the truth of the Christian message and faith, that we are not afraid to publicly stand for the cause of Christ – He Who has commanded us to take His Gospel to the ends of the earth? Has not this Jesus Christ given us “power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm us” (Luke 10:19)? Why have we Christians (generally speaking) become so silenced in a world that desperately needs to know the truth – the only truth – that can set men and women, boys and girls, free from the bondages of sin and a life estranged from the living God? We are called to upset the devil and to challenge the religious spirits that dominate in this world – not the other way round. To the devil and his kingdom we Christians should be an absolute PLAGUE!

The two greatest New Covenant examples of the Christian faith are Jesus and Paul. They both upset the devil and the religious leaders of their day. They were opposed, persecuted and ridiculed. Yet they overcame all those obstacles to do more damage to the powers of darkness than anyone else! Millions of people have been impacted by their teachings, their example, and their witness ever since. Today we stand in their place and on their behalf, representing what they lived and died for. Like them we should be an absolute plague to the devil and everything false that seeks to blind and deceive people from knowing the truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The plain simple fact of the matter is: If we do not stand for the things that Jesus and Paul stood for, then who is going to show this generation the directions to God and eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord? Let us all be infectious for Jesus today! ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  Mark 16:15-20; Acts 19; Acts 24; Hebrews 11:32-40..   

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