As the world grows more and more reluctant to receive the truth, there is a rising hostility towards true Christians. Jesus Christ warned those that followed him would be hated by the world. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved,” Matthew 10:22. The apostle Paul stated in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Christians in the first century church not only expected to be hated and persecuted by those who did not believe, they embraced persecution with great joy. They were honored to be counted worthy to suffer with Christ. “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name,” Acts 5:41.
Often the greatest persecution faced by the disciples came from the Jewish religious leaders of their day. In the absence of supernatural strength, such persecution would cause anyone to cower down. In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were threatened and ordered by the religious rulers to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. These were very serious threats. However, Peter and John knew it was far more important to obey God rather than man. They were keenly aware of their need of the Holy Spirit’s help, if they were going to continue to spread the gospel, as Jesus had commissioned them. How did they respond to these threats?
They, along with the church, prayed and asked God to give them boldness to continue proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus,” Acts 4:29. As a result God supernaturally filled them again with the Holy Spirit and gave them boldness! And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness,” Acts 4:30. They did not cease to declare God’s word even though they knew it would cost them their lives. They did not focus on those who would reject the gospel. They focused on those who would received it, which resulted in the salvation of many.
Today Christians throughout remote parts of the world still face harsh persecution because of their faith. As of now, this is not an issue for Christians in the United States. Our persecution comes in the form of rejection, which can be very disheartening at times. It is particularly difficult to face rejection from those who profess to know Christ but deny Him in their actions. As many pastors, preachers and even entire denominations are apostatizing at rapid speeds, there is a need for true born again believers to earnestly pray (just as the disciples) for boldness to speak the pure unadulterated word of God. We must not cower down to false doctrines and seeker friendly church systems that comfort people in their sins and offer a distorted grace. “They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord,” Jude 1:4.
We must gird our lions and stand on God’s word. Now more than ever we need holy boldness.
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