STANDING STRONG IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION

STANDING STRONG IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION

The story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr documented in Acts 7 really inspires us to stand strong in the face of persecution.  Reading through that passage of scripture, we all regardless of age or status will find ourselves sometime or the other being persecuted for what we believe. Such a situation requires that we be strong, stand our ground based on our conviction and trust God to eventually turn the situation around and use the occasion to draw others to Himself.

Persecution is defined by the Oxford dictionary as: to grieve, afflict, harass, punish or put to death for one’s race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.

Pressure on the other hand means capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect; power exerted against will or consent; anything that is able to make a big change in a person or thing, for instance, the effect of heat on plastic or metal.

Everyone on earth has been and will be pressured and persecuted, whether they like it or not. When you’re pressured by family, friends/peers, or some other circumstances and you refuse to give in, the next thing that happens is that you’re persecuted.

The aim of persecution is to make you change. Change your standards, values, beliefs and conform to standards which most times are lower than what you hold on to. Persecution makes use of pressure as a channel to achieve its goal.

Jesus in Mark 14:61-62 was persecuted for claiming his authority as Messiah, yet he stood his ground.

What do I do when pressure and persecution arises?

The first thing to do is to practice God’s presence. In Hebrews 13:5, God promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He gave the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever (John 14:16, 17). So, cultivate a relationship with God and His spirit. His Spirit will strengthen and energize you in the face of persecution.

The second thing to do is to emulate the rock-solid faith of martyrs such as Stephen, Jesus and the disciples, both in life and someday in death, particularly if we are ever faced with the choice they had to make.

We must live by the life-changing truth that death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. Eternal separation from God is.

How can God turn the pressure and persecution around to draw others to Himself?  The truth is that people are watching as you go through all of the pressure and how you handle the persecution. But as you stand strong as strengthened by the Holy Spirit, you discover that living for Christ is worth dying for. Your willingness to boldly proclaim your faith In Jesus, both as you walk through life and as you knock on death’s door someday will no doubt inspire others to love your God and commit themselves to Him.

 Reference: Shannon Ethridge. (2007). Completely Irresistible. Day 3.

Silas Emovwodo is Vice President, Rebraining Nigeria Group, an NGO and a youth minister and teen counselor in Foursquare Gospel Church, Transfiguration Center, Opa, Ile-Ife.