Last night in our Evening Church service, I preached a message called “Yield Not to Bitterness”. The text was out of Acts 11:19-26 focusing on the great work the church accomplished even during a period of time in which the church experienced both political and theological persecution. We looked at the political division between the Roman Empire and the Jews. The Jews were actually expelled from Rome from about 41 - 56 AD. There was such great political disunity that the Jews revolted in 66 AD. This promoted the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. There wasn’t just political persecution, there was also theological persecution.
- The disciples were arrested in Acts 4
- Stephen was stoned in Acts 7
- The church was scattered because of persecution in Acts 8
- Saul faced persecution and death after his conversion in Acts 9
- The church experienced continued persecution in Acts 11
- James was killed by Herod in Acts 12
- Peter is imprisoned by Herod in Acts 12
- Paul and Barnabas are Persecuted in Acts 13
- Paul is stoned in Acts 14
- Paul was beaten and imprisoned in Acts 16
- Paul was imprisoned again in Acts 21
- Paul had an assassination attempt against his life in Acts 23
- Paul was left in prison for two years in Acts 24
We could go on discussing the theological persecution of the early church. The church was illegal for almost the first three hundred years of its existence. The early Roman figureheads persecuted Christians unto death and tried to stamp out the early church like a boot on an anthill.
Yet, we never see the church become bitter. We don’t see Peter become bitter. We don’t see Paul become bitter. As a matter of fact, we see Paul preaching to the same political leaders and theological leaders that had imprisoned him and sought to kill him.
In Acts 11, we can see the results of a church that doesn’t let bitterness keep them from ministering to the very people who hated and persecuted them. We see an amazing revival take place! We see a city that is changing and being influenced, not because of political protests, but because of sinners getting saved! Revival is not political it is dependent upon a spiritual awakening of the lost and a spiritual surrender for saved.
We can see Seven Expectations for the Church in a Politically Strained Society in Acts 11:19-26
Expect Great Persecution (verse 19) Be ready for persecution but don’t worry about it. Don’t let fear and uncertainty keep you from serving. Persecution will come, but it doesn’t need to affect our service. We have the Great Commandment and the Great Commision to obey regardless of the persecution that you experienced or will experience. The church in Jerusalem didn’t let persecution stop them from preaching the life-changing Gospel to the lost. They didn’t let bitterness due to persecution keep them from serving God.
Expect Great Prosperity (verse 20-21) God blessed the preaching of the Gospel and a great number of people came to Christ. During political instability, people are looking for hope. There is no greater hope than that which is offered through the Gospel. While persecution is uncomfortable, it provided for an enlargement of the early church’s evangelistic footprint. If we could interview Stephen in heaven, I guarantee he would say Acts 7 and his martyrdom was worth it for the expansion of the churches reach throughout the world. Persecution will bring great prosperity if we yield not to bitterness. Phillip didn’t let bitterness into his life which allowed him to preach and be faithful from Acts 8 all the way through Acts 21. Who knows how many people came to Christ because he trusted in God.
Expect Great Power (verse 21) The hand of the Lord was with them. Romans 1 tells us that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When the Gospel is preached, people will be saved. In Acts 26, Paul didn’t argue or reason, he gave his testimony and preached the Gospel. Agrippa was on the edge of belief. God will bless the preaching of His word even during periods of political instability.
Expect God’s Placement (verse 22) God knew the church in Antioch would be there. God directed the church in Jerusalem to send Barnabas there. God is still moving and directing people today. Don’t worry so much about who is in a political office when you know who sits on the throne of Heaven! God holds the heart of the king in his hand. God placed Barnabas in Antioch at such a point in History where church maturity explodes and the church planting efforts are immeasurable. Don’t be bitter! Let God put you where he wants.
Expect Great Purpose (verse 23) Barnabas equipped the believers to believe with purpose. They were not “casual” Christians. They served with the purpose of letting God guide their lives. They were a growing church because evangelism was their purpose. Political change was not their purpose.
Expect Great Partners (verse 24, 25) Barnabas was not alone in his purpose of preaching, baptizing, and discipline believers. He went and found Paul and together they built an amazing church by the power of God. We are not alone, many churches are doing the same thing we are doing all over the world. Don’t get discouraged by the statistics of churches closing at alarming rates. There have always been churches preaching the Gospel since the establishment of the church. Matthew 16 reminds us that the gates of hell won’t prevail against God’s church. Don’t let fear and bitterness weaken your testimony in your church. There are other churches; other believers that are being faithful along with us.
Expect Great Passion (verse 26) They were called Christians first in Antioch. Why, the church there were passionate about their savior. They were passionate about their faith. They lived it and allowed it to affect every area of their lives. They were all in. So much so, that the people of the town came up with a title for them; Christian.
The early church could have gotten bitter. They could have asked God why all the problems. Why the persecution? Why the martyrdom? They could have grown bitter towards God or their oppressors and determined that they were not worthy to hear the Gospel any longer. Even when the Jews would attack Paul and he would say, “Fine! I am down with you, I am going to the Gentiles now.” What do we always find? Paul in the synagogue preaching to the Jews.
May God bless you today. Don’t let the political divisions keep you from sharing Christ with all sides of the political spectrum.
I am praying for you all.