Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Please consider the text above. The pharisees and ruling class attempted to marginalize the early church as best they could. It was a full press rejection of the name of Jesus and the Gospel. However, the disciples, believers, and followers did not drown in despair. Rather, they flourished. They were flogged and left rejoicing. They were beaten and danced their way out of their affliction.
This is an axiom of truth: Persecution is the common thread of Revival. We grow, mature, and become more fervent when there is opposition. The greater the threat and trouble, the greater the prayer. Affluent nations which boast of wealth and convenience have a difficult time calling on the Lord. The Apostolic faith thrives in the most oppressive nations. The poor, needy, and destitute are the ones who eventfully come to the banquet table.
My great concern is when people breath a sigh of relief. It occurs when “things” smooth out and the waters become placid. In all of my years in ministry, I have noticed that the hunger for God and the Harvest seems to diminish when the church becomes comfortable. The more we have; the better our environment – whether home, government, or finances – the less we cry out for God.
People find their depth in God when they are struggling. If God answered all of our prayers, where would we be? The Acts 8 church was suffering. They were persecuted and to that we might feel remorse. However, Acts 8:4 says those who had been scattered, preached the word wherever they went.
The Gospel spread when the government warred against them. As oft as the Roman Empire tried to squash the early church, they increased in number. Faith is always power pertinent and powerful in times of want. Days of plenty and peace do not make for intercession.
I pray that we will keep a fervent spirit and seek God’s face regardless of our personal or national position. We must strive for the Kingdom! We can ill afford to become “soft” or indifferent to the Harvest that surrounds us. Go! Teach! Baptize!
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole