All of us can vividly remember the day we became a Christian. It was the best day ever! To confidently face God at the Judgment knowing that all our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by Him is to know joy and peace to the fullest. As a new Christian you want others to know of your joy and how they can experience such for their lives. But have you noticed since your conversion that your excitement and willingness to share the gospel has dwindled, if not ceased all together? Have you been able to figure out why? It usually comes down to the fact that someone has placed a wall of opposition in our path of enthusiasm and conviction. And that someone can be a member of the church or a faith group in your community. It can be devastating. You feel like someone has “burst your bubble.”
Opposition, how do you handle it? Paul wrote to Timothy about spiritual opposition.
He states, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (opposed)” (II Timothy 3:12). Timothy had known how much Paul had been opposed through persecutions and sufferings (Vs 10-11).
Timothy didn’t like opposition, Who does? He was afraid of it (II Timothy 1:6-18). Paul had to remind him of his purpose and to rekindle that spiritual spark; to keep on keeping on; pushing through the opposing thoughts, words and actions of others. Paul reminded Timothy that God had given him a spirit of power, love and discipline and that he shouldn’t be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul’s imprisonment. Rather, the apostle invited Timothy to join him in suffering; in being opposed for Christ’s sake who had saved them (Vs 7-11). He would need this reminder because “evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13). In other words, things were going to get worse; opposition would greatly increase.
Jude speaks of such times as well (Jude 1-19). Whenever Christians face opposition Jude offers some advice that may not necessarily get rid of opposition but enable them to get through it (Vs 20-23). It is a thought for them to dwell on during those times of discouragement.
The firstthing he mentions is they are beloved. They are beloved of God and beloved of their brothers and sisters in Christ. When people don’t agree with our thoughts, or ridicule and mock, it can leave us with a lonely feeling. Especially is this true when it is a majority of people who are opposing us. Paul knew this feeling well, but he reminded himself that the Lord stood with him and strengthened him (II Timothy 4:16-17). As long as he spoke what was right and true then he knew he was not alone. Jesus felt the same way. He said, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29; 16:32).
Secondly, Jude advises Christians to build themselves up on their most holy faith. Reaffirming one’s faith can only make one stronger in it. Jesus said to His disciples that if they had faith as a mustard seed they could say to a mountain to move from here to there and it would move (Matthew 17:19-23). Paul mentions that Christians are no longer to be children (in their spiritual knowledge and convictions), tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine (false teachings), by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). To build yourself up is to reinforce and reaffirm your faith; to make it stronger than ever before; full of unwavering conviction. And one of the best ways to do this is to have God reaffirm your faith by comparing it to what He tells you in His word (Romans 10:17).
Is what you believe, based on His words alone and not those of others? Regardless of opposition, if God is for us then who can be against us. Not even opposition to the truth will ever separate us from the love of Christ. This was Paul’s conviction and it should be ours as well (Romans 8:31-35).
Thirdly, Jude encourages us to pray in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our prayers are more self-centred than God-centred. We may want all opposition to be removed from us whereas God may want us to remain in it, endure it and use it so as to develop a more persevering, steadfast spirit within. He may use opposition to prepare us, maturing us for what might lie ahead.
Praying in the Spirit is to pray in accordance with the will of the Spirit. It does not include asking God for revenge on those who oppose us, but rather that their heart will be open to the truth. Jesus instructs us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us in order that we may be sons of our Father who is in heaven. Since God sends the sun on not only the good but also the evil should not His children display that same attitude to all mankind? God’s expects all of His children to share in the perfection of His love for mankind (Matthew 5:43-48). Our goal in everything that we do and say should be to reveal that God is clearly abiding in us. Part of the Christian armour is to pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).
Fourthly, it is absolutely imperative that Christians respond to opposition and persecution by remaining in God’s love. This is quite a challenge and one I’ve failed to practice on a number of occasions. If there was anyone who was so mistreated and opposed by others it was Paul. Yet God uses him to teach us how to respond to false teachers and anyone who tries to hinder us from teaching the truth.
Here’s what the apostle says to us: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is (not who is) evil; cling to what is good…Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:9, 17-21).
With God’s help, let us look for opportunities when His love can be extended to those who oppose it. All Christians needs to extends God’s love in whatever way they can to all those who treat them in an unloving way. God will always work with us when we’re willing to allow Him. Remember, God’s love is the greatest gift of all (I Corinthians 13). It can be such a powerful influence upon any who receive it when they don’t deserve it.
Fifthly, we need to remember that Jesus is coming back for us. Rather than focusing on the here and now (all our trials in living the Christian life) we need to focus on being ready for His return. It would be such a victory for Satan if Christ returned and found us responding to opposition and false teaching in an ungodly way. Each of us are responsible for keeping ourselves in the love of God during all situations. That’s where we all belong and it’s only when we remain there, that God will be able to accomplish His will through us. Only there, will we be able to please Him and be the exact representation of Jesus Christ our Lord – as He was of God (Hebrews 1:3).
The sixth thing that Jude encourages us to do is to have mercy on some who are doubting. It can be very difficult to remain faithful under duress or when facing fearful opposition. As mentioned earlier even Timothy needed encouragement when he saw the suffering and imprisonment that Paul experienced for teaching the truth and standing up for it. (II Timothy 1:7-8). Paul stated, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,”
Finally Jude wants us to save those who have given in to opposition and stand under God’s condemnation. No one really knows how they will stand against the schemes of the devil, until that moment arrives. Some are confident that they’ll stand firm. Others are afraid they’ll be unable to stand because of doubt. Every Christian needs to extend mercy to those who doubt, fearing that that person might lose their soul because he/she was unable to face the devil’s deception. Also, they need to fear that the devil might even win them over to his way of thinking. In that regard Peter warns us, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (I Peter 5:8-9).
The best way to fight sin is to hate it. Sin is of the devil (I John 3:8). Love is of God (I John 4:7). Where are you in your struggles against Satan? Paul is cheering us on. We can face any opposition through the strength that only God can supply (Philippians 4:13).
“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’ which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you” (I Timothy 6:20-21).
Owen Sound, ON