“They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.” (Acts 14:22)
Some background information: Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the apostles as missionaries. (Acts 13:1-3) They traveled to Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, Perga, a city in Pamphylia then returned to Perga and went to Antioch in Pisidia preaching in those towns and in the synagogues. (Acts 13:4-14) It was at Antioch in Pisidia where they came across persecution and left for Iconium. The same thing happened in Iconium. The Jews stirred up trouble for them. When they learned that they were to be stoned, they left for Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the surrounding territory where they preached the “Good News.” (Acts 14:1-7) Some Jews came from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium to Lystra where they stoned Paul and left him for dead. But the next day Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News at Derbe and returned to Lystra, Iconium, and on to Antioch in Pisidia to strengthen the believers in those towns. (Acts 14:19-22)
Paul knew in his heart what he had to do, what God had commissioned him to do and nothing was going to deter him. Because of the persecution they would go through, Paul taught them that they must pass through troubles to enter the Kingdom of God. Now Paul was not talking about when Christians go through afflictions and difficulties that we all have in life here on earth. He was talking about having afflictions and difficulties because of their faith in Jesus. He was talking about persecution because of their testimony and witness of Jesus. The Name of Jesus will always stir up trouble with those of the kingdom of darkness. So, if you belong to Jesus, expect this persecution.
Paul wrote to Timothy about persecution. “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;” (2Timothy 3:12) We are blessed here in the U.S. that the persecution is not that grievous. We are not stoned as of yet. There may have been cases here and there, where preaching about Jesus may have caused bodily harm, but for the most part it’s limited to ridicule and scorn. It’s more overt in politics where the words, “under God” are attempted to be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and where there are attempts to make the Bible a hate book. In colleges around the country, Christian students are demeaned and threatened to lose their accreditation for their beliefs by colleges and their non-believing professors. Some schools have denied students the right to read their Bibles or to pray going as far as to suspend students as young as kindergarteners for drawing a picture of Jesus. Some high schools deny the students the right to have a prayer at their graduation even if the students want to pray. And I’m sure you’ve heard about Christian businesses targeted by non-believers because they refuse to act against their beliefs.
“My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when His glory is revealed. Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you. If you suffer, it must not be because you are a murderer or a thief or a criminal or a meddler in other people's affairs. However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name.” (1Peter 4:12-16) Persecution of any kind, whether you suffer physically, mentally or are stripped of any right, is not fun. We dread it. But we cannot escape it. You have to know that it will come. And you must be prepared beforehand how you will react.
In nations across the globe there is persecution of the believer. Christians have lost jobs, families, homes, country and their lives also because of Jesus. They have converted from Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and atheism. And in some countries, it is against their law to convert. But their salvation and fellowship with the Lord is so precious to them and so real to them, they would rather die than deny the Lord.
We have a promise that comes with persecution. “Since we are His children, we will possess the blessings He keeps for His people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for Him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share His glory.” (Romans 8:17) Now for some questions we must ask ourselves. How will we react to persecution? Will it be with the Love of Christ, knowing these persecutors will suffer a horrific end if they don’t come to know Jesus? Will we represent Jesus boldly, yet in a way that glorifies Him? Will we stand courageously for Jesus no matter the consequences? Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of Me and of My teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
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