Have you ever asked yourself whether you would be able to stand in
the face of persecution? Every week we pray for Christians around the
world who are suffering for their faith. This week in our
Voice of the Martyrs
prayer update we read of a pastor who lost an eye when Islamic
extremists threw acid in his face for his evangelism efforts. We also
read of a church in China that meets outside because the police
discourage those who would rent them a space from doing do. Yet they
continue to meet outside, year around, facing persecution and inclement
weather.
What is the Fear of the Lord? – SERMON AUDIO
For the people of God, facing persecution is nothing new! Since 64 AD
and even before it has been going on. Peter tells his readers in Asia
Minor exactly this as he writes to them at that time;
1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice
to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His
glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Yet even before this, the people of God were persecuted and
threatened with extinction. All the way back in Exodus, about 1,500
years bef0re Peter’s time, we see that Pharaoh had very strong ideas
about what he would like to see happen to them;
Exodus 1:8-14
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And
he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are
more and mightier than we; 10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them,
lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also
join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their
burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.
And they were in dread of the children of Israel. 13 So the Egyptians
made the children of Israel serve with rigor. 14 And they made their
lives bitter with hard bondage–in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of
service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve
was with rigor.
Despite his greatest efforts, the children of Israel grew stronger
and increased their number. That is when he stepped things up to the
most despicable of actions against them.
Exodus 1:15-16
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name
of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said,
“When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them
on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it
is a daughter, then she shall live.”
Pharaoh was the most powerful man in the known world at this time. He
was regarded as a god among his people and was king over the mightiest
empire in the land. He simply told the midwives what to do and I am
certain that he was not used to being ignored. Yet.
Exodus 1:17-18
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt
commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 So the king of
Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this
thing, and saved the male children alive?”
These women stood against the most fearsome king in the world and
refused to do his bidding. But we read, “But the midwives feared God….”
They did not respect the power of the great king when it was compared to
the power of their God. They had seen Him multiply His people in the
midst of their enslavement. I believe that they knew the promise of God
to Abraham, to multiply his descendents. They had been faithful to
protect and care for his offspring, faithful to their people and to
their God. Fear really comes down to respect of power. We can fear men
or we can fear God. With the fear of God also comes honor of His Person.
I believe that these ladies were faithful and feared God (respected
His power and His Person) in the small things from day to day. When the
day came for them to be tested,
by the grace of God, they
passed! Their faithfulness to His faithfulness allowed the covenant
people of God to continue until the one who would redeem those people
was born (See Exodus 3). God’s timing impeccable! So, to answer that
question about standing in the face of persecution. If I was the pastor
who’s eye was burned out by acid would I continue to preach the Gospel?
If I had to go to church outside because the local government refused to
allow me a place to worship, would I show up? If the government ordered
me to perform an immoral act, could I refuse like Shiphrah and Puah?
The Grace of God is at the heart of it, yet, our own faithfulness our
“fear of God” will also play a part. If we are not faithful in the
little things that we encounter day by day, I do not believe we have
much to hope for on that day.
There is much more to be said on the subject. I encourage you to
listen to the sermon audio by clicking the link below to hear it. Before
I stop typing this out, I need to ask you, how are you doing in the
little things? Are you faithful when the world tries to impose itself on
you? Do you fear men and their opinions or do you fear the Lord?
What is the Fear of the Lord? – SERMON AUDIO
In Christ!
Kevin
