Over the past few years, we have heard some discouraging news about persecution that has taken place in our own country. Persecution has come in such forms as forcing companies like Hobby Lobby to go against their Christian convictions and fund abortions. There is the attack against the owner of Chick-fil-A for stating his view on Marriage. The most discouraging example might be the IRS targeting Christian and conservative based organizations by refusing them tax breaks, simply because they disagreed with their beliefs.

 

How did the early church face persecution?   In Acts 4 Peter and John were taken into custody by religious leaders and warned not to, "speak or teach in the Name of Jesus." They responded by returning to their friends and praying.  What did they pray? They prayed for boldness to continue to preach the word. The apostles had witnessed Jesus Christ and how God worked in all things to complete his plan. Watching this work unfold gave them faith that God was in control, neither Herod, Pontius Pilate, nor Caesar himself could stand in the way of the Kingdom's work. They witnessed that God had a predestined plan that no man can stop. So, with the threats they faced from the Jewish religious leaders, they simply turned to prayer. All they asked was for faith to trust in God's plan.

 

Today, as we are beginning to see persecution in our own country, we do not need to be discouraged, but instead come together and pray for boldness to trust God's plan. God still has a plan today, but many of His servants have lost faith that he is in control. We need boldness again. We have been fooled into thinking we need to change administrations, vote in better leaders, or get better lawyers to argue our case. We think we can regain control of a lost situation.  The truth is, God has never lost control. The problem is that we have lost faith. That's what led the Apostles to pray, simply asking for boldness to complete the task Christ laid before them, telling the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They refused to allow threats, beatings, or any forms of persecution deter them from the task.

 

How did God answer this prayer? First, at that very prayer meeting the ground was shaken, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. This gave them the boldness to continue to preach the Gospel. The Pharisees stayed true to their word, and once again arrested them and beat them. After being released, they once again joined their friends, not discouraged but rejoicing that they suffered alongside their Savior.  They finally understood that God was in control, and that what they needed to do was continue to follow God's direction.