WHEN YOU’RE PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT
Living And Leading With Spiritual Courage-Part 5
August 4, 2024
Pastor Daven Hee and Pastor Shayne Tauaefa
Innovative Concepts Mission:
Reaching and redeeming the Unchurched, Making Disciples,
and Multiplying Leaders who establish vibrant churches,
bringing hope and renewal to every community we serve,
to further the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
INTRO
Last week I shared a little bit about my personal situation
that I was encountering and the trials and troubles I was facing.
I’m deeply grateful for having a spiritual family where
I can be open and honest, especially during times
when I need prayer and support the most. “Priceless!”
As we continue the story of Elijah, we come upon a situation
where he’s being blamed for the boy’s death.
I’m not sure how many of you can relate to being on the receiving end
of someone’s blame storming or being accused of something
that was beyond your control.
Injustice is something all of us will experience and have to walk through
as we cultivate deep meaningful relationships in our personal lives
and the lives in the church.
Though it’s never easy, you can learn to respond appropriately
and embrace the principles God wants us to incorporate
into our lives for His glory.
TEXT
“Some time later the woman’s son became sick.
He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.
Then she said to Elijah,
“O man of God, what have you done to me?
Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.”
And he took the child’s body from her arms,
carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying,
and laid the body on his bed.
Then Elijah cried out to the Lord,
“O Lord my God,
why have you brought tragedy to this widow
who has opened her home to me,
causing her son to die?”
And he stretched himself out over the child three times
and cried out to the Lord,
“O Lord my God,
please let this child’s life return to him.”
The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer,
and the life of the child returned,
and he revived!
Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room
and gave him to his mother.
“Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”
Then the woman told Elijah,
“Now I know for sure that you are a man of God,
and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” —1 Kings 17:17-24 NLT
WHEN PEOPLE COME AT YOU FOR DOING RIGHT
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you
and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you
because you are my followers.
Be happy about it! Be very glad!
For a great reward awaits you in heaven.
And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted
in the same way.” —Matthew 5:10-12 NLT
• As disciples of Christ; Christ Followers, being persecuted
is the norm. Not being persecuted is the abnorm.
[sometimes persecution will come from your own family]
“Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers,
relatives, and friends—will betray you.
They will even kill some of you.
And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.
But not a hair of your head will perish!
By standing firm, you will win your souls.” —Luke 21:16-19 NLT
“What blessings await you when people hate you
and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil
because you follow the Son of Man.
When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy!
For a great reward awaits you in heaven.
And remember, their ancestors treated
the ancient prophets that same way.” —Luke 6:22-23 NLT
• My Reaction: “EH! YOU KNOW WHAT! I WEN TRAVEL 100 MILES…”
Elijah’s Response: “Give me your son.”
• In times of criticisms, complaints, and accusations mixed with
cynicism, how does God want you to respond?
• “What you perceive, you will receive.” ~PD
• In correction and accusation,
you will either perceive it as condemnation or conviction.
• Condemnation: you will react out of guilt, shame, anger,
or defensiveness.
• Conviction: you will respond out of grace, mercy, humility,
compassion, understanding [Fruits of the Spirit].
You’re able to receive the lesson that needs to be learned
in the moment for the bigger challenges that lie up ahead.
“A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.” —Proverbs 15:1 MSG
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer,
always be ready to explain it.
But do this in a gentle and respectful way.
Keep your conscience clear.
Then if people speak against you,
they will be ashamed when they see
what a good life you live
because you belong to Christ.
Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that is what God wants,
than to suffer for doing wrong!” —1 Peter 3:15-17 NLT
• God is not subject to our problems. He is Lord over them.
[including death, it’s not a finality for us]
Commentary:
“In the widow’s eyes the miracle proved that Elijah
was God’s true prophet.
It also served to authenticate the message
that he gave as the true word of the Lord:
the Word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.
We are not told the effect of the miracle upon Elijah,
but it must have given him an even deeper sense of confidence
in God as the Lord of life and death,
a confidence born in the midst of enemy territory.”
His courage to stand alone for God was born in these profound
experiences of the glory and greatness of the Lord.
He was now ready for the next step.
• Obedience to God instills in us the courage and confidence
to fulfill the purposes and assignments He entrusts to us.
“Spiritual courage, the capacity to stand for the Lord,
comes from commitment to the Word of God.” —Holman Bible Commentary
“They know they can’t fix what’s broken in themselves,
and it devastates them.
But in Isaiah 59:16 God shows up
and does for each man
what he can’t do for himself.
God Himself fulfills all that He requires.” —“The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible” by Tara-Leigh Cobble
BECOMING A PERSON OF GOD FOR GOD
“The prophet was able to confront the king.
But to take the next step,
he needed to deepen his confidence
in God’s power and availability.
The Lord took him out of the public eye
to build within him
an unshakable confidence in God.
The Lord trained Elijah for the most important moment
in his life the great challenge at Mount Carmel.
Each generation faces the battle
to live out their loyalty to the Lord Jesus.” —Holman Bible Commentary
In life we’re going to have to face some of our battles
and challenges by ourselves.
There may be other people to support you,
but the final decision will come from you.
One of the greatest challenges a leader faces
is making the right decision.
Especially when it affects other people.
So what do we do when we are persecuted for doing right like Elijah?
How do we continue to keep going when we’re alone
with all of the pressure and stress?
It will always come back to:
Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord your God!
Put your confidence and courage in God.
Your fulfillment and contentment should come
from following and serving the Lord.
“Then His disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
“Passion for God’s house will consume me.” —John 2:17 NLT
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord
would do what He said.” —Luke 1:45 NLT
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” —Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
“In his justice He will pay back those who persecute you.” —2 Thessalonians 1:6 NLT
APPLICATION
1) Identify the “principles” that need to be learned in the moment.
Filter out your personal emotions and preferences.
2) Listen to your core, not the crowd.
3) Submerse yourself in God’s Word.
“the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”
4) Don’t make the persecution personal. It may be happening to you,
but Jesus said you will be persecuted for following Him. He will always be beside you.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed
You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.” —Matthew 24:9 NLT
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” —Psalms 23:4 NLT
5) Stay in prayer. Ask for prayer.
SMALL GROUP DISCIPLESHIP/CONVO [Transformation Table]
When someone persecutes you or accuses you, what is your first reaction?
Where did you learn how to react that way?
What are some strategies you can use to learn how to respond
thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively?
Share some scriptures that can help guide you.
“For the Lord is God,
and He created the heavens and earth
and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the Lord,” He says,
“and there is no other.
I publicly proclaim bold promises.
I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me
if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true
and declare only what is right.” —Isaiah 45:18-19 NLT
“He does whatever He pleases, He makes the clouds rise,
He makes lightning, He brings forth the wind,
He struck down the Egyptians, He sent signs and wonders,
He struck down many nations, He killed mighty kings,
and He gave their land to Israel. He will vindicate His people.” —“The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible” by Tara-Leigh Cobble
GIVING OPPORTUNITY
