"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” - Matthew 5:10-12 Today we delve into the stark contrast between the darkness and light in the world. We share the extraordinary accounts of Jesus’ apostles, who held on to their faith despite the most horrendous persecutions. And you’ll hear us differentiate between their genuine faith and its polar opposite of fanaticism. On that note, we didn’t make this episode to delve into the cruelty of how they were treated. Rather, we wanted to show how these apostles are the most wonderful examples of the power of faith, and the power of love. Examples that show how light always conquers darkness. Highlights: (5:53) Saul's conversion and writing of epistles (9:25) Apostles preached the message of Jesus despite Roman persecution (14:05) Why are genuine spiritual leaders an enemy of the rulers? (19:23) How a roman soldier guarding James was overcome by conviction and chose to be executed along with him (27:39) Jesus taught love, not salvationism (34:41) How we can also become strong from gradual development of spiritual love (51:24) A short story of how the most unlikely person can be the most interested Recorded on February 19, 2024. https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail