Lord Jesus, teach us that we are strangers on this earth. We are here to manifest Your truth. The world may persecute us but they will know that there were prophets of God in their midst. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
What does it mean to have favour with all the people?
Romans 14:16-18 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; (17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
The Christian life is indeed a paradox. On one side, there will be persecution for those who seek to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. At the same time, when we walk in the fullness of His Holy Spirit, we will have the favour of all people. This is strange but this is reality.
Let us examine this enigma. II Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Why do we, as His church, experience the favour of the world, though they persecute us for being disciples of Jesus Christ?
The world sees purity and holiness in our lives. They see that we are not cunning, but our yes is yes and our no is no. They also see integrity in us in the way we teach and live out the Word of God. The world sees that we are living demonstrations of the truth.
By being such people, we make a positive impression on every man’s conscience in the sight of God. People may ridicule, criticize us, and blaspheme the name of Jesus but deep down in their hearts, they know that we are genuine and that we are right.
This is the favour of people. We must, as His church, seek the grace of God to truly be His church.
II Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (11) Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
We will share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whatever may be the law that may be placed on us saying that we should not take the name of Jesus.
Remember the apostles. Acts 4:18-20 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
The rulers may lay down laws, commanding us not to preach and teach in the name of Jesus Christ. Our reply needs to be the same as that of the apostles. Our position is clear, we will obey God and not man in this matter of sharing the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, we must be led, constantly, by the Holy Spirit and never operate out of our flesh.
We are not trying to convert people to increase the number of Christians but we know the terror of the Lord. We will all have to stand before the judgement seat of Christ, for He is the Owner and He is the Judge. It will be a day of terror for those who had not submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
This is the reason why we persuade people to surrender to Christ and walk in His ways. They must know that we love them and that we do not want anyone to perish for eternity, in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The world may burn us for being disciples of Jesus Christ and for sharing His message of love, but they will know that we did what we did because we did not want anyone to perish.
Our preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ are without offence to anyone or to any religion but at the same time, it is without compromise. This kind of preaching and teaching is possible only in the wisdom of His Holy Spirit. II Corinthians 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
May the Lord enable as His church to have favour with all people.