Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
The above scripture tells of many Christians that died painful deaths as a result of their faith. These ones faced danger and death squarely in the face, not caring to denounce their God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. They took to the Lord's side, and stayed there till they took their last breath.
These ones did not deny the Lord in spite of the death threats, and the slow painful death sentences on them. Can you imagine being sentenced to be sawn into two, or stoned?
In this age and time, some of us may not be persecuted in the same style and fashion, however, we may daily face situations that will test our faith to see if we really are on the Lord's side. Let us take a look at Peter. Peter after witnessing the arrest of Jesus, was confronted by three different
people that identified him as being with Jesus. Peter possibly fearing an arrest as well, was quick to deny ever knowing Jesus.
Sometimes, we face situations where we are prone to ridicule, or even demotion, should we speak the truth about Jesus. I remember a day at work when a Christian colleague decided to share Christ with a couple of workmates. These workmates were mostly atheists, they jeered, ridiculed and taunted him, laughing at him so loudly and provocatively. There was one guy who believed in God, but when asked if he did, denied it because he could not stand being laughed at. My Christian colleague urged this guy on to reverse his negative confession, but he stuck to it. All because he could not dare to be different and dreaded being taunted.
Peter acted in a similar way in Galatians 2: 11 -13 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
In Acts 15, we realise that Peter, after Paul's confrontation, put his fear of man aside, and did the bidding of his master, Jesus Christ, that is to teach all the truth of the Gospel, that Jews and Gentiles alike have been saved by grace not works. Peter made a u-turn to obey the voice of God as he had been instructed in Acts 10. The fear of man can cause us to act untrue to our beliefs. It can make us hypocrites of the highest order, and turn us into liars. Jesus warned us - Matthew 10:33 But everyone who denies (disowns) me here on earth, I will also deny (disown) before my Father in heaven.
The words of Jesus sums up the fate that awaits all who deny or disown Him, or anything that concerns or belongs to Him. We must always remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but that of power, love and a sound mind.
The above scripture tells of many Christians that died painful deaths as a result of their faith. These ones faced danger and death squarely in the face, not caring to denounce their God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. They took to the Lord's side, and stayed there till they took their last breath.
These ones did not deny the Lord in spite of the death threats, and the slow painful death sentences on them. Can you imagine being sentenced to be sawn into two, or stoned?
In this age and time, some of us may not be persecuted in the same style and fashion, however, we may daily face situations that will test our faith to see if we really are on the Lord's side. Let us take a look at Peter. Peter after witnessing the arrest of Jesus, was confronted by three different
people that identified him as being with Jesus. Peter possibly fearing an arrest as well, was quick to deny ever knowing Jesus.
Sometimes, we face situations where we are prone to ridicule, or even demotion, should we speak the truth about Jesus. I remember a day at work when a Christian colleague decided to share Christ with a couple of workmates. These workmates were mostly atheists, they jeered, ridiculed and taunted him, laughing at him so loudly and provocatively. There was one guy who believed in God, but when asked if he did, denied it because he could not stand being laughed at. My Christian colleague urged this guy on to reverse his negative confession, but he stuck to it. All because he could not dare to be different and dreaded being taunted.
Peter acted in a similar way in Galatians 2: 11 -13 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
In Acts 15, we realise that Peter, after Paul's confrontation, put his fear of man aside, and did the bidding of his master, Jesus Christ, that is to teach all the truth of the Gospel, that Jews and Gentiles alike have been saved by grace not works. Peter made a u-turn to obey the voice of God as he had been instructed in Acts 10. The fear of man can cause us to act untrue to our beliefs. It can make us hypocrites of the highest order, and turn us into liars. Jesus warned us - Matthew 10:33 But everyone who denies (disowns) me here on earth, I will also deny (disown) before my Father in heaven.
The words of Jesus sums up the fate that awaits all who deny or disown Him, or anything that concerns or belongs to Him. We must always remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but that of power, love and a sound mind.
