Some of us simply run hide. We put our light under a bowl and make our Christianity “private.” Others run to friends whimpering looking for consoling and sympathy. Still others run to the courts wanting their rights upheld and the “enemy” silenced. While others rally support attempting to inundate governmental authorities with letters pleading with them to take up our side, our “cause,” and uphold our right to speak and live as we want. But, where are we to run?

   The early church faced horrendous opposition. The authorities often were exasperated by the bold courageous unflinching early church. In Acts 4 there is an account of one such incident. In this case the opposition came from the very people who should have been joining in, but their refusal to accept Jesus Christ placed them on the opposition’s side. The rulers and elders of Israel had arrested Peter and John for healing on the Sabbath. After intense interrogation they “commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” and “after further threats they let them go.” Upon their release where did Peter and John run? The answer to this question is crucial not only to the history and advancement of the Church, but is an example to us of how we should respond to the threats and attacks upon us.

   “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.” (Acts 4:23-24)

   This may be construed as the men running to their friends or a hiding out, but listen carefully to the text. The accounting makes it abundantly clear what really is happening here. They “went back to their own.” They returned to the church. Not the building, the church! Their “own!” And “together they lifted their voices in prayer to God.” (This can also be translated, “with one voice they prayed to God.) Peter and John understood, as did the early church, that hiding out was not an option and threats and attacks upon the church required something far more powerful than mutual commiseration, more than political action, and more than court action. It required a falling on their knees before God seeking divine unction! Nothing less than a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and divine empowerment would do! They cried out to God asking not for the opposition to cease, or for punishment to rain down on the adversary. They prayed in one voice, “Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.” (29-30)

   “After they prayed, the place the where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word boldly.” (31) The account goes on to tell us that the church enjoyed blessed unity and witnessed amazing growth, despite continued opposition.

   Beloved the opposition we face here in the United States is no where near that which the early church faced or those in other parts of the world face. Nonetheless it is not a matter of the amount, type, or power of the opposition that is the issue. It is how we respond to any opposition. This is not to suggest that court and/or political action do not have there place when applicable. But our first and continuous response must be to “run to our own and together lift our voices in prayer to God!” Filled with His Spirit the world will not be able to silence us. Filled with His Spirit our lives will be lived so boldly they will be unable to extinguish the light. History reveals that the world’s attempts to put an end to the Church fail. The only way they will succeed is for the church to run anywhere else than to God in prayer. Let us run to our own at every opportunity and with one voice pray to God. Then let us step out into the world filled with the Holy Spirit to speak the Word boldly through word and life!

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry