Theme: Unconditional Faithfulness in God (Revelation 2:10)
Text: Acts 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
Introduction
I became a Christian when I was thirteen years old. Before my conversion, I was a Muslim. I had memorized a huge portion of the Quran and led public prayers at the Mosque. After studying the Bible with World Bible School and learning about God’s plan of salvation, I was baptized, though unknown to my family. I knew if they found out that I was baptized that I would suffer for this decision. Every Sunday, I went to meet with the church without permission. I would wait until no one was around and literally escaped to worship. Every time, I would return to a fine spanking from my eldest brother. This continued for two years. I remembered one Sunday my brother stood behind the gate and waited for me to return. As soon as I entered the yard, he clutched me by the collar and gave me a slap to the face. One slap was all it took to throw me onto the dirt floor. As I lay there, I saw him lift his right foot to kick me. What made him hold back is still unknown to me, but I was glad that he didn’t kick me. However, after two years, my family and the Muslim community were convinced that I was determined to follow Christ, and the persecution was withdrawn.
I couldn’t understand back then why God would allow me to suffer even though I was trying to do His will. However, now, as I look back over the years, I begin to understand the reasons for such experiences. If things were easier, I may not have been here as a Christian and Gospel preacher today. What is our attitude toward being persecuted? Do we let it get us down? Or, do we use these experiences to grow stronger in our walk with our Lord Jesus?
The Letter to Diognetus dates back to the 2nd century AD. An anonymous writer described a strange people who were in the world but not of the world:
Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or dialect… They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the unusual form of their own citizenship. They live in their own native lands, but as aliens… Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country. They marry and have children just like everyone else, but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are passing their days on earth but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the laws in their own lives. They love everyone but are persecuted by all. They are put to the death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. Their names are blackened, and yet they are cleared. They are mocked and bless in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility.
Jesus Taught About Persecution
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. (Matthew 10:16–17 NIV)
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. Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. (John 15:18–21)
The definition of “persecute” is “to afflict constantly so as to injure or distress; to harass; to inflict harm or evil.” Here are some questions to think about: What kind of opposition have you faced because of your faith? Have you faced any opposition because of your faith? Jesus said if we’re His followers, we would face opposition. It’s not a matter of if persecution comes but when! “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2).
How do you usually respond to opposition? Does it derail you, or does it make you stronger? Persecution can make you bitter or better. A wise man once said that when persecution comes, it is like being plunged into a pot of hot, boiling water. If you are an egg, you will come out hard boiled and tough. If you are a potato, you will emerge soft, pliable and usable.
And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (Acts 8:1–4)
God Is Sovereign & Often Uses
Persecution to Advance His Purposes
On January 9, 1985, Hristo Kulichev, a preacher in Bulgaria, was arrested and put in prison. His crime was that he preached in his congregation even though the state had appointed another man the preacher whom the congregation did not elect. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment. During his time in prison, he made Christ known every way he could.
When he got out, he wrote, “Both prisoners and jailers asked many questions, and it turned out that we had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free” (Herbert Schlossberg, Called to Suffer, Called to Triumph, 230).
There are thousands of stories like this to tell today, and even more over the centuries of Christian history. The lesson comes true again and again: God uses the persecution and suffering of His people to spread the truth of Christ and to bless the world (Luke 21:12–13). Everyone I know who has suffered in the cause of “the faith” said that great good came from it. God rules over the sufferings of the church and causes them to spread spiritual power and the joy of faith in a lost world. It is not His only way, but it does seem to be a frequent way.
God spurs the church into service by the suffering she endures. Therefore, we must not judge too quickly the apparent setbacks and tactical defeats we suffer. If you see things with the eyes of God, the Master strategist (Who cannot lose because His omnipotent), what you see in every setback is the positioning for a greater advance and a greater display of His wisdom, power and love. For instance, God makes persecution serve the Great Commission. “On that day [the day of Stephen’s murder] a great persecution arose against that church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).
Moving into Judea, Samaria and Beyond
Up until now, in the book of Acts, all the evangelism had taken place in Jerusalem. No one had moved out to Judea and Samaria. Yet, Jesus had said in Acts 1:8 that the coming of the Holy Spirit was to empower evangelism in Jerusalem and beyond. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 8:1 uses exactly those two unreached areas in that order: “…they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria.” So, whether the church may have awakened to her calling eventually without persecution, the fact is that God used persecution to move His people into the mission He had given them. To confirm this missionary purpose of the persecution, look at Acts 11:19. “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.”
However, in Antioch, some spoke to Greeks also. In other words, the persecution not only sent the church to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1) but also beyond to the Gentiles (Acts 11:19).
The Danger of Comfort, Ease and Prosperity
There is another lesson for us here. The lesson is not just that God is sovereign and turns setbacks to triumphs. The lesson is that comfort, ease, affluence, prosperity, safety and freedom often cause tremendous inertia in the church. Inertia is the tendency of something that is standing still to stay standing still and of something moving to keep moving.
The Star Tribune had an article on Friday (May 3, 1991, 2A) showing that the richer we are, the less we give to the church and its mission, proportionate to our income. The poorest fifth of the church give 3.4% of their income to the church and the richest fifth give 1.6%—half as much as the poorer church members. It’s a strange principle that probably goes right to the heart of our sinfulness and Christ’s sufficiency—the principle that hard times, like persecution, often produce more personnel, more prayer, more power and more open purses than easy times.
I know it’s true, from Jesus’ Parable of the Four Soils, that some fall away during persecution because they have no root. However, it seems to be true that even more people are like the third soil, “The cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).
Persecution can have harmful effects on the church, but prosperity, it seems, is even more devastating to the mission to which God calls us. My point here is not that we should seek persecution. That would be presumption—like jumping off the Temple. The point is that we should be very wary of prosperity, excessive ease, comfort and affluence; we should not be disheartened but filled with hope if we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10). As Luke shows us here, God makes persecution serve the mission of the church.
Persecution Brings Honor
Stephen was honored and not blamed. The persecution in Jerusalem started because of Stephen. That’s clear here, and it’s clear in Acts 11:19, “the persecution that arose over Stephen.” I can imagine some cautious, prudent and well-meaning believers in Jerusalem saying:
Stephen’s speech was utterly uncalled for. There are other less inflammatory ways to defend the truth than to call the Sanhedrin ‘stiff-necked people who always resist the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 7:51). It’s always hotheads like this who get the church into trouble. Now the whole city is against us. Look at the waste of life, property and time. Look at the families who are being broken up. Look at the homes being lost and the children being taken away from all their friends. Now we have to live like refugees and exiles in Judea and Samaria. Why didn’t Stephen think before he spoke?
However, Luke recorded God’s version of the story. Stephen was a man full of grace and power (Acts 6:8). When he spoke his final words that enraged the council, Luke wrote that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55). Here in Acts 8:2, Luke penned that “devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.” Stephen was honored and not blamed for the persecution, at least by devout men. Worldly people might be more worried about goods, kindred and status, but devout people, who think the way Jesus thinks about life, “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still.” So, the encouraging truth here is this: When persecution comes because of courageous, faithful, God-honoring obedience, godly people receive honor.
We must consider it a great privilege and compliment that God would allow us to suffer. “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16). Jesus, the Son of God, God in the flesh, came to this world to give His life for us: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). If Jesus suffered so that I could be saved, then shouldn’t I be willing to suffer so that others hear the message of salvation? If Jesus really is our role model and hero, then we will count it a blessing when God allows us to walk in the footsteps of His Son, even when it comes to suffering for righteousness (1 Peter 2:20–23).
Adversaries Can Become Advocates
Our worst enemies can become our best friends. I told you about my eldest brother who beat me when I became a Christian. He passed away in 2022. However, before his passing, he was one of my greatest supporters in the work. Acts 8:3 was a great opponent of the Lord’s church. “But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” This Saul is the one who was dramatically converted and became the best friend and advocate Christianity ever had.
We need to live in this hope again and again. Fearsome enemies can become precious friends. Adversaries can become advocates. Critics can become comrades. For most of us, it’s easy to believe that an intimate disciple can become a deadly betrayer, like Judas. That’s the way the world is. However, we need to remember that a deadly persecutor can also become a great ally and partner in the cause of Christ. That’s the way God is. That’s the kind of power He has. Look on your adversaries with the eyes of faith, realizing that someday, by the power of God, they could experience a turnaround as amazing and unexpected as Saul’s turnabout.
The Word of God Is Good News and Brings Joy
Even though the Word of God brought persecution and exile, it is still good news and brings joy. Acts 8:4 says that the scattered, persecuted Christians preached the Word wherever they went. They announced the very Word, which brought persecution, as good news (euanggelizomai). Verse 8 confirms that it was good news because it says, “So there was much joy in that city.” The Word that brings persecution also brings joy—and the joy it brings is so much greater and longer lasting than the trouble it brings. The trade-off is worth it! Why? Well, verse 7 says that unclean spirits were coming out of people and leaving them free, whole and pure. It says that many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. However, the main reason there is joy is what we read in verse 5. “Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.”
Typically, when many Christians today experience some form of persecution because of their faith, they become discouraged, are really hurt and they wonder if preaching the Gospel or living the Christian life is really worth it. I have experienced the same reaction myself. So, why is it that Christians in the first century reacted differently? The words of Christ resonated and echoed in their minds constantly. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness… Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12). “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy” (Luke 6:22–23). “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake… in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Colossians 1:24).
Christ alone has the power to deliver from Satan and all his evil. Christ alone has the power to heal our bodies now and finally in the resurrection. Christ alone has the right and power to forgive our sins and make us right with God (Acts 10:43). So, if you have Christ, if you know Him and trust Him, then, no matter how severe persecution may be, no matter how great the suffering of life, you have hope and you have joy. “There was much joy in that city” because Philip preached Christ. Like the apostle Paul, we can declare with confidence, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
Conclusion
God is sovereign and often uses persecution to serve the unstoppable mission of the church. If your faithfulness brings trouble to the church (like Stephen’s did), you will be honored and not blamed—at least by God and the godly. Your worst critics can become your precious comrades by the power of Christ’s converting grace. The very Word—the Gospel—that brings persecution sometimes brings joy always and forever.
