“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.”
If someone makes the decision that they are purposely going to do something that they know is wrong or illegal, then isn’t it right and just that they should be punished for their crimes? Isn’t it right that someone should be punished if they willfully commit an act such as murder that they should be put into prison?
These types of illegal actions certainly are deserving of punishment because it is just. But there may be times as a Christian when the things of God’s Word come into conflict with the laws or mandates of the world, so what should we do if we are faced with a situation like this?
Let us first start by reading a part of a passage from Acts 5. Earlier in this chapter, Peter and some of the other apostles had been put into prison for doing something that had been deemed “wrong.” Their crime? Healing the sick and casting out devils. That was their “crime” according to the high priest and the Sadducees, and because of this they were punished. Well, later in this passage an angel of the Lord opened up the cell doors of their prison and instructed them to go and preach in the temple, which they did. The next morning when the high priest and chief priests heard that they were back preaching and teaching again, they brought the apostles before them again.
Acts 5:27-29 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
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.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
We ought to obey God rather than men. While the things that they were doing may have been wrong in the sight of the religious leaders, it was right according to the Lord’s command. And this is something that we all need to understand, because in our faith, God is first and above anything else. Certainly we are commanded in the Bible to obey every ordinance of man (1 Peter 2:13), but if those ordinances are in conflict with the teachings of the Word of God, then we must obey God over anything else.
This type of a stand for our faith may cause us to be at the receiving end of hate and persecution, but if this happens then we must do as the apostles did: rejoice.
Acts 5:41-42 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Persecution is something that we should expect to happen at some point in our faith, and truly embraced, because we can know that when we are persecuted for our faith in Jesus that we are doing His will. Suffering because of our love for the Lord is nothing to be ashamed of. They persecuted the Lord Himself because He did amazing, wonderful, loving things, and if we are made to suffer because we are following the Lord’s commands for us then we should rejoice that we can be counted worthy to suffer shame for Him.
1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
If someone is able to endure this type of persecution the Lord will bless them and reward them in Heaven. This is a promise from the Lord Himself.
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
In all things, keep Christ first. Even when the world may say that you are wrong, obey Christ. Even when you have to suffer because of your faith, obey Christ. Everyone around you may tell you that you are wrong, but as long as you are doing what God’s Word says, rejoice! Your reward will be great in Heaven!
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 