(A) Acts 8: 1 – 8
Paul was in complete agreement with the killing of Stephen. And a great wave of persecution of the believers began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled into Judea and Samara. (But some godly Jews came and with great sorrow buried Stephen).
Paul was like a wild man, going everywhere to devastate the believers, even entering private homes and dragging out men and women alike and jailing them.
But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus! (The Living Bible).
(B) John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
(C) John 15:18 – 23
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
(D) Rom 12: 14, 17 – 21
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse … Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge: I will repay” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (NIV)
(E) 1Chr 16: 13 – 22
O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, unto thee I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
And when they went from nation to nation, from one Kingdom to another people; He suffered no men to do them wrong: yea, he reproved Kings for their sakes. Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm (KJV).
(F) 1Pet 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, a perculiar people: that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Brethren, these are Words of God for a traumatized church undergoing persecution. It is not easy to comprehend these admonitions when bombs are detonated in places of worship and people die for no other reason than for the fact that they decided to worship God in obedience to His admonition that believers must not forsake the assembly of God’s people.
How can a man explain to a traumatized church who has just lost loved ones to the cold hands of death, who is tending to the injured in the hospital that it is not right to seek revenge. But that is the truth! And that is the expectation of God upon our lives. This is hard teaching, but it is the truth and that is why many left from following Jesus in his days.
The Church in Nigeria had become complacent and lookwarm. A great many of us have become artists and show Business impresario telling the people what they want to hear and warming their way into people's pockets. The allure of filthy lucre has drawn a great many away from preaching righteousness and holy living. The business of prosperity on earth has overtaken the desire to lay our treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves do not break through or steal. Matt 6:19-20.
In most churches, the great commission has been left to a motley group referred to as EVANGELISM TEAM as if other members are not supposed to engage in evangelism.
Christianity has been relegated to an urban phenomenon in Nigeria where men of God built giant overcrowded edifices to the neglect of evangelizing the larger population in the rural areas. Whatever happened to Christ directive for us to go to the” uttermost part of the earth”.
This is the scenario of Spiritual laxity that saw to the resurgence of the enemy of the church to wreck havoc. Let no one think that geographical location is a protection from the wiles of the evil one.
The church must arise as one and claim our heritage in the Lord. We must not use the arm of the flesh for it will fail. We must arise knowing that our weapons of warfare are nor carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of stronghold
(2 Cor. 10:3 – 4) for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
Brethren this being the case what must our response be?
The Church of God in Nigeria must in response to the present circumstance embark on a series of actions immediately. Let no Christian by reason of geographical location think that he is safe when brethren are attacked for no other reason but for their faith. The church must bind together as one to protect and defend one another as a protection for all in Nigeria.
The following actions are therefore recommended:-
