Thoughts on a Sermon 8: Through Trial and Persecution

This Sunday’s sermons focused on Acts 4:23-37, examining the reactions of the apostles after Peter and John were released from before the council, though ordered not to preach or speak the name of Jesus. One thing that particularly stood out to me was the prayer that the people prayed together when Peter and John returned, especially as they prayed with regards to the persecution they were facing at the time: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29, 30)

Pastor Bryant stressed this point as he urged us to look at what these believers were praying for. It wasn’t “Lord, deliver us from this wicked council.” Nor was it “Lord, cause us to not be persecuted for our actions.” It was not even “Father, lead us to a place where we will no longer face this persecution.” No, instead they were praying for the strength to continue doing exactly what the council had promised would bring them more persecution.

As he expounded this passage, Pastor Bryant reminded us that we should not always pray for persecution to cease. Of course, there are certainly times when the Lord will grant complete relief from persecution, and surely we praise and thank Him when those times come. However, this does not mean that our trials must necessarily disappear before we will have God’s full blessing. Sometimes the sweetest spiritual blessings come in the midst of the bitterest sufferings. We must not always ask for persecution to be completely removed. Rather, we must pray for the strength and the boldness to continue doing what God has called us to do, even if it leads to more and greater persecution. We must pray for the strength to persevere, not necessarily for the complete removal of the trial.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2 - 4)