Biblical way of handling threats against your faith.

Biblical way of handling threats against your faith

Acts  5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.  5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,  5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.  5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.  5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Acts  5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Whenever you stand to live according to God’s unfailing words in the Bible. 

There will be opposition from those who do not share your faith. 

You must not succumb to threats coming from them. You must stand your ground and be willing to endure persecutions that might come up, because of your decision.

This was what happened to the apostles.  Even though they threatened to kill them, God intervened. 

They were severely beaten, but they never regretted standing for what they believed.

Many others faced the same challenges. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was not spared.

He Himself faced the same challenges and that was what informed His ultimate crucifixion.

The following saints were persecuted severely because of their faith .

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Daniel  3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel.

Daniel  6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.  6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.  6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.  6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Stephen 

Acts  7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;  7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.  7:47 But Solomon built him an house.  7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,  7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?  7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:  7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.  7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Paul.

Acts  22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.  22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.  22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.  22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.  22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.  22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.  22:10 And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.  22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.  22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,  22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.  22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.  22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.  22:17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;  22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.  22:19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:  22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.  22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.  22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.  22:23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

Our Lord Jesus Christ 

John  8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.  8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.  8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.  8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.  8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.  8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?  8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.  8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?  8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.  8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.  8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.  8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.  8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?  8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:  8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.  8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.  8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us on the consequences of denying our faith because of these threats.

But encouraged us never to give in, but to defend the truth at whatever cost.

Warning of Jesus.

Matthew  10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Luke  21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.  21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

John  15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

He assured us of rewards, if we will not give in to the threats from our persecutors because of our faith 

John  16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Revelation  2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation  3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The blessed Holy Spirit exhort us to endure the persecutions.

Acts  14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

James  1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The good Lord will help you never to compromise your faith, but to defend the truth at whatever cost 

You have a great reward in heaven.

1 Peter  1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Let us pray.