DO NOT BE AFRAID OF PERSECUTIONS

_“The apostles ... rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.(Acts 5: 41)_

In today’s text we read that the Sadducees arrested the apostles and put them in the jail.  It was not a mistake that the apostles had made, or any evil that they had done which aroused the enemy.  They had been healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits.  They had been doing a work of great value among people of Jerusalem.  What made the persecutors furious was the apostles’ success and the rapid growth of the church.  As the popularity of the church increased the popularity of the Sadducees waned.  They saw that they must soon lose their power if the people continued to believe in the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.  It was jealousy which stirred up the opposition.  Since they had not succeeded by threatening, they used a more adverse method and they put the apostles in the jail.  If we read the history, we will know that if the church continues to do her work faithfully, that if she is kind and charitable and conducts herself judiciously, she will meet much opposition.  Yes.  Satan is always aroused when the church is making an increased impact upon the world.  We have more reason to be concerned for the vitality and welfare of the church when Satan is not aroused, for then the church must be asleep. There is an old legend to the effect that Satan called in his evil messengers to learn what success they had met with.  When he asked one what he had done, he replied that he sent forth a wind which caused such a storm at sea that a missionary ship drowned.  Satan said, “What of it, their souls were all saved.”  Another told of the persecution which he had aroused against a Christian until he was put to death.  But again Satan replied, “What of it, his soul was saved.” Then another said he had spent several years trying to put a single Christian to sleep and he finally succeeded.  Then Satan shouted joyfully.

Dear friends, are you facing ridicules and persecutions for your faith in Jesus?  That means Satan is working actively and taking all efforts to stop you doing God’s work.  Never be discouraged.  “Never sleep off”. Continue to work for God till your last breath.

*PRAYER* :  Dear Lord, the devil uses various ways to stop me from doing Your work.  He demotivates me  by raising people against me to oppose me.  But let me continue to proclaim the news of salvation with zeal and commitment.  Empower me with Your Spirit for Your work.  Amen.