So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. - Acts 25:23, ESV
How Does God Use Persecution to Advance the Gospel?
What role does persecution play in the life of the church? Yesterday, we saw that persecution is neither something so dreadful that we should be willing to compromise the truth to avoid it, nor is it something so wonderful in itself that we should go out of our way to seek it. It is a reality that sometimes persecution is unavoidable, for the world hates Christ and His kingdom. But what good comes from persecution?
The Gospel advanced because Paul was faithful to consistently and fearlessly tell the truth about Jesus, no matter who his audience was. Paul preached the same Gospel to a slave girl and a jailer as he did to King Agrippa and Governor Festus. Later, Paul would end up in Rome, where he would continue to testify and see the Gospel advance. He wrote to the church he had founded in Philippi with the unexpected good news of his imprisonment:
"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." - Philippians 1:12-14, ESV
When God grants His servants courage, and His people respond with faithfulness, the persecution of Christians is a powerful tool for the advancement of the Gospel. As Paul stood fearlessly before Felix, Festus, Agrippa and Bernice, watching eyes took note. As he remained steadfast in Rome, the imperial guard took note. People who would never have paid any attention to the Gospel were hearing the good news about Jesus from the imprisoned Apostle Paul.
Heavenly Father, we don't face imprisonment for our testimony, and yet we still pull back and compromise so readily. We need You to empower us with wisdom, eloquence and faithfulness, that our words might reflect Your truth and might bring honor to You. Make us faithful ambassadors, with Your Gospel always on our lips. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Prayer Based on Proverbs 27:1-8:
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
Heavenly Father, keep us from prideful boasting,
from the self-deception of self-reliance
and from the glory-stealing vanity of self-exaltation.
May we always seek to honor You with our lips.
A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
One who is full loathes honey,
but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
Heavenly Father, we belong to You,
and we should imitate You as dearly loved children.
Give us the grace to be faithful in all of our relationships.
keeping our promises and loving others with humility.
Let us rest in Your provision, satisfied with Your good gifts.
Let us never stray or long for the false promises of Satan's temptations.
In Jesus' name, Amen,
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