Inner Strength for Persecution 250121

[Music: "The Glory of the Lord"] Church and fellowships cannot be more spiritual than the individuals and families that constitute them. God greatly desires a godly home for all. These are words of restoration and instruction in righteousness from Family Tents Ministry. May you be blessed as you listen. Another dimension, if we must not faint, there are things we must see about this our faith. And like I said last week, the faith we were given is not a faith to change; it is a faith to defend. It is a faith to defend. If we must remain defender of this faith, then there is a need to look at these various dimension of strength. And what I want to look at today that we want to spend time on, please don't forget that it's against two important backgrounds that I raised last week. In Ephesians 3:13, Paul said, "I desire that you faint not." If people must not faint, that was why he prayed that they would be strengthened in the inner man. So we must pray to be strengthened in the inner man. And the second background is that if you faint, it is not because of adversity. It is because there is a problem with your own life. When men faint, the problem is not the situation they face. No. If you say because there was no money, there was so much lack, somebody now went and committed suicide. The problem why he committed suicide is not because of the lack, it's not because there was no money to spend. It was because there is a problem with his own life. The problem is that his strength is small. Bible say if you faint in the day of adversity, then your strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). If strength must not be small, then we must pray for strength where? In the inner man. Now we want to look at this prayer. What are the different dimensions? We want to look at examples of our fathers. We want to check it out. And today we want to look at strength in the day of confrontation, persecution. Strength. Strength. Strength. It’s a dimension of strength we need. And we are going to take examples because I really want us to pray and many of these story they are familiar stories. We may not be reading the scriptures particularly; they are familiar stories that I will be making allusion to. Now, we're talking about strength in the face of persecution. I want to show you that if men don't have strength inside, they will faint in persecution. It’s something you must pray. It’s something you must beg God for. So let's check out this. Let's check this dimension of our faith. If you look at Luke 22:31-34, Jesus was speaking to Peter. Peter. He said, "Peter, Simon Peter, Satan desire to have you that he might sift you." [unclear] what it means to sift something. When you sift something, what happens to that thing? The good part of that thing is taken away. That is, Satan want to turn you to [unclear: korofo]. Satan want to reduce you to nothing. Satan want to make you to be a non-entity as far as the purpose of God for your life is concerned. There is a strategy of hell. And let me tell you, that strategy of hell has not ended. That strategy is still going on today. The strategy to make sure that men become a shadow of themselves when it come to the purpose of God for their life. To make sure that the strength of a man, you reduce a man to non-entity, so that when you are calling men to fulfill purpose, they will be men that you cannot reckon with. They may be financially prosperous, they may be intellectuals, but they will be spiritual non-entities. That strategy of hell is still on. When Jesus told Peter, Jesus quickly added, "I have prayed for you." And let me also tell you, that prayer has not ended. The Bible says in Hebrews 7:25, therefore, he is able to save to the uttermost those who by him came to God because he ever lives to make intercession for them. He ever lives to make intercession for them. So the intercession is still going on. He's still interceding for us. Now he said, "I have prayed for you that your faith fail not." So there is a place of a man faith failing. It can happen. It can happen that a man's faith failed. It can happen. But you know, Peter was thinking it is by might, it is by power, not by the Spirit of the Lord. Peter was thinking like that. Peter did not understand it is not by power, it's not by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. Peter don't understand it that way. And Peter quickly said, "Do you know who I am? Me? Look, I am ready to die with you. Is it not me and you? Okay. No problem." The whole thing started. How did it start? Jesus was betrayed by a kiss, the people arrested him, the religious leaders, and Peter was following them from afar. All of these thing you see them in Luke 22 and 23; all of these things are there. I'm just trying to move a little faster so we can get to a point where we can pray. Because it was a prayer Jesus prayed to be able to go through and fulfill his purpose. Paul said pray for us, pray for us, that utterance will be given unto us. Pray for us so that we can fulfill this purpose. And we are talking about prayer. And like I told you that we'll be doing a lot of praying throughout this quarter. We'll be doing a lot of praying, praying, praying. We'll be taking some time apart to pray. It's about praying. He say in begging the God, he's begging that according to his glorious riches, he will grant us strength by his Spirit in inner man. It's a matter of prayer. And Peter was going with them. Then at a point, Peter sat at the fire. You know that night there was so much cold. That night Jesus Christ was arrested, there was so much cold. So Peter was sat by the fire with those people and then along the line one of them said, "[unclear: Ah, oju kan mo ri oju e ri]." Are you not one of them? What did Peter do? Peter said, "Me? [unclear: Ashipa owe]. It is not me. [unclear: Emi ko]. You are confused. You are not looking at me very well. I have nothing to do with this man." At another point again, what happened? Somebody else spoke again that, "Ah, Peter, it's you. Ah, [unclear: iwo ni], we know you now." He said, "[unclear: Emi], it's not me." Then at a point, it was now a maid. "Ah, look, even your speech is betraying you." At this time, Peter began to curse and then to swear and to do all of that thing. And at that point, the cock crew. And then Peter remembered that Jesus said that before the cock will crow, you would have denied me thrice. And that was what happened. That was what happened. But what I want to make you to see was that there was no strength in Peter to face that situation. There was no strength. The reason why now, if you look at the situation, the situation look a situation that if Peter confess that he knows Jesus, what will happen to him? What was his fear? He might be arrested alongside and of course he's likely to be killed alongside. And so Peter did not say anything. But if you look at a change of events after Peter receive the Holy Spirit and now Peter was standing before the Sanhedrin. Which situation is more serious? Which of the situation is more serious? In one occasion, he was standing before just men. He was not before the rulers. He was before some men. And it looks like that situation was too much a trial for Peter to stand for the Lord. Isn't it? In another situation, Peter was now standing before the Sanhedrin. This time around, ordinarily, what should Peter do? He would have been situation where Peter will much more the more deny the Lord. But what happened? You notice that Peter spoke. The Bible says Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost. Have you seen where the matter is? Peter filled with the Holy Ghost. This time around, there was more inside, might. There was strength inside him now. And he answered them. He said, "Who are we to listen to?" That they should judge. "Should we obey men or God?" Say, "We would rather obey God than that this gospel you said we should not preach. We cannot but preach this gospel." So you realize that what happened is that at a point in his life, Peter was empty inside. That's why we are drawing from last week that if you faint in adversity, where is the problem? Your strength is small. Now I want to call our attention to the very popular story in... okay before we get to that, I want us to also look at the episode of Stephen. What happened with Stephen? You know it was a similar thing in Acts 7. It was similar thing in Acts 7 where Stephen was killed. What was the situation this time? You notice that... please I would like us to read that because it's something that is very important for us to read. Acts 7 from verse 54. I'm reading the NLT translation. The Bible says, the Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen's accusation and they shook their fists in rage. Verse 54. [unclear] use the mic. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Do you see that? When they heard Stephen preach the gospel in a way that when they heard it, they gnashed at him. "What? You!" They were marching towards him in infuriation. Please, when you see a mob marching towards you in infuriation, ordinarily, what will you ordinarily want to do? You know wait becomes a difficult thing. Is that not? Ordinarily you may want to run or you may want to... but the Bible says, look at verse 55. Look at verse 55. What the Bible say? "But," you see the but there? May this but be our testimony in Jesus' name. Hallelujah! It says, "But," there was a but. Stephen, what did you see again? "Filled with the Holy Spirit." Do you see the same thing? I'm talking about what is inside you, inner man, strengthened in the inner man. It said, "Filled with the Holy Spirit." What did he do? Bible say he looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. I don't know whether you get this contrast. People were coming at you, charging with anger to kill you. That they're charging towards you was not a problem to you. Are you understanding me? [unclear] They carry stone, they were coming towards you. All the [unclear] that they were doing is not even bother you. You were not bothered. The Bible say, the secret... [unclear] but the secret, filled with the Holy Ghost. I'm talking of things we need to pray for today. Things we need to beg God for today. Things we need to cry to God for today. That is why somebody was speaking sometimes, he said there's need to write Acts 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. What was trying to say is that the Acts of the Apostles was the act that the Holy Ghost used some people to do. And since that Holy Ghost is still here, they should still be our own Acts. And we are showing you the secret of their Acts or else there will not be acts of God today. There will not be acts of [unclear: Fountain], there will not be acts of [unclear: Wale], except there is one, the Holy Ghost. The Acts must continue. The Acts must not stop. It must be a continuous thing. After 28, there should be 29, there should be 30, there should be 31, there should be 32, and it must get to a point that my own Acts are also entering. But if my Acts must enter and it must be a Act of power and of might, then it will be said, "But he was filled with the Holy Ghost." Filled with the Holy Ghost. The Bible is showing us the secret of their Acts. It was not by power. It was not by might. It was not because they were so courageous and strong. No. The Bible is helping us to see that there was something behind it. And that thing behind it, I keep telling people, we didn't receive the Holy Ghost so that we can be tonguing. It's not just to tongue and tongue and tongue and tongue. And then when you see issues and when you get to the marketplace where you are to manifest the life of God, you are a failure. That is not what we are talking about. It is in the marketplace, Bible say you are the salt of the earth. You enter into the earth. You begin to display that life. You begin to show it. Somebody slap you, you don't slap back. Not because you don't want to slap, but there is a might inside you that restrains you from doing so. Somebody say, "Look, [unclear: oba ya], you idiot, you fool!" and you can smile. And the person is wondering, what type of man is this? What manner of man is this? Who is this man? Somebody have done evil, evil, evil, evil so much and is expecting you to repay back with evil and you are throwing back good at him. That the person becomes afraid and say, "Ah, [unclear: ewa], I hope this good he's doing is not a trap." To show the life, that is what their Acts here is confronting situation head-long by the power of the Spirit. Confronting situation head-long in a different manner. When people were charging at you, ready to kill you, they were coming, and all you could do was to look up. Hallelujah! And you are looking up. Is that person not like an [unclear]? Is he not an unusual man? And looking up, Bible says at that moment he saw and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens open." Please, is that the response to charging at you? Maybe it would have been, "[unclear: efara bale, efara bale, eduro], wait, wait, please let's take it patiently, let's..." or the other way, when they charge at you like that, you jump over something and then you run away. Do you get the point I'm making? But it was a different thing. But what we're saying is that it was by something else. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand." Then look at what happened. Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses stood down by his clothes, by a young man's feet whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, what was Stephen doing? Calling upon God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Look at what Bible used to conclude that place. Can you see what Bible used to conclude that story? Verse 60. What the Bible say? "He knelt down and cried with a loud voice, 'Lay not this sin to their charge.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep." If men are killing you like this, do you think this is the kind of prayer to pray for them? I'm showing you Acts. Acts. This is not the kind of prayer ordinarily you want to pray for them. But I'm showing you something that happened by the power of the Spirit. Why? Because there was strength in the inner man. There was strength to face persecution. There was strength to face persecution, to face the confrontation of men. And so it becomes so important for us as believers, for us as Christians, to ask God that God strengthen me according to your riches in glory with might by your Spirit in my inner man. By your Spirit in my inner man. Strength in the inner man is something to ask God for. And I want to make reference again to another very popular story before we will take time to pray. Before we will take time to talk to God in prayer. Strength to face persecution. But before I do that, I want to call your attention to something that Apostle Paul said, which is very important for us. And I want us to see that in 2 Timothy 3:12. It's a very popular scripture. 2 Timothy 3:12. I will first I will read the amplified translation and the NLT translation, then there are other translations we can take them. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Apostle Paul wrote. He said, "Indeed, all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution, will be made to suffer because of their religious stand." 2 Timothy 3:12. I'm trying to make you see why it is so crucial that we pray in that direction before I take the last example of this demonstration of strength in the inner man to face persecution. He says, "Indeed, all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ." If that is your determination, if that is what you are planning to do, then the Bible says such people will meet with persecution, will be made to suffer because of their religious stand. The other translation from the house, do you have other translation? Use the mic. 2 Timothy 3:12. The Message: "Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble. There is no getting around it." There is no getting around it. You cannot get around it. Yes, other translation. NLT: "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ, will suffer persecution. It's a yes matter. It's not a matter of yes and no; it is a yes matter. If your desire is that I am determined to live a godly life, then be ready for persecution. And if you are to be ready for persecution, what do you need to be ready? Strength in the inner man. In that dimension and in that direction, we need strength. I will take the third example, which is the case that happened in Daniel 3. That again is a very, very familiar story that I believe we can also relate with without necessarily going to read those scriptures. Daniel 3, that is the case of the three Hebrew boys. I believe we are very familiar with that story. The story of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. I believe we are familiar with that story. Set up an image and he wanted everybody that wants to be that, wants to live, that want to continue to live, that want to continue to exist in that empire to bow to that image. And we are familiar with the story. The king made the decree and the sound of music came and everybody bow except three boys. As the story puts it, some people have said where was Daniel? That Daniel would not have bowed, but the story did not talk about Daniel. We don't know where Daniel was. Scripture was silent about that. And so we want to face what the scripture said in that place, the three boys. Now, these boys did not bow. They did not bow. And listen, please get this. They did not bow and they were not hiding it that they did not bow. It was not hidden. They openly did not bow. And so, report went to the king. And of course they were brought before the king. When they were brought before the king, the king made a statement that ordinarily should overwhelm a man. What he said is that, look, I'm giving you another opportunity to bow. But if you will not bow, you see that fire? It's awaiting you. That fire is awaiting you. Now, what I want you to see is this. And I think I don't know what we were discussing one time, I've made reference to this before. What the king told them was something that should overwhelm their faith. What he said is that if they would not bow, they would die. It was not if they would not bow, they would be dismissed from office. Are you getting it? It is not... I want you to see what was at stake was not job, was not money, was their life. If they would not bow, then you will die. But do you see the response of those boys? I'm talking about what? Strength to face persecution. Persecution is a fundamental aspect of our faith. It's a dimension of our faith. It's a thing we must have inner strength to face. There is no going around persecution. You must beg God for strength that when persecution comes and that persecution is to be a matter of dying for the faith, nothing will make you afraid. What I'm trying to show you is that death had been used as a means of persecution for fathers of this faith and we are called to defend the same faith. Which means if you are somebody who is holding back because of your job, because of money, "If I say this, they will not give me the contract." Because of... you understand me? You are somebody still far from the position of men that are called to defend this faith. Because the faith that you are called to defend is a faith that you are called to defend even if need be that you need to die. But ordinarily, nobody sees death and ordinarily want to die. You understand me? It is not... the church, look at what's happening in this country. The thought that some people will not even be given some political office will make them lie. The thought that, "Hey, if I don't... if I do this thing, I won't be promoted next year," will make some to deny the faith. Just promotion. The thought that, "Ah, if I don't do this thing, maybe I will not be allowed... they may not approve my application for a grant or for a scholarship. Let me quickly change, you know, do something contrary to my faith so I can get the application granted." That is what we are seeing around us today. Believers, calling themselves Christians, traveling abroad to do arranged marriage in court to get visa even though their husbands and their wives are here in Nigeria. They say no it's just paper. What is it that is drawing you back today? Because you want to make a little more money, your life is full of lies and hypocrisy. If then death is coming, can you stand? Let us go ahead to pray. We are asking the Lord for strength in the inner man. And you know your own life, I know my own life. You want to talk to God on this matter. Paul beg God, can you also beg God? That God Almighty, grant unto me strength in the inner man, strength, strength, strength, strength, strength, strength. In the face of persecution. In the face of persecution. In the face of confrontation. In the face, oh God, of threat, threat of men against truth. When men threatens us, when men gnash their teeth at us, when men threaten and say, "You war, you war, you say you will not do, I will show you. You say you will not do it, I will see what I will do to you. You say you will not cooperate, abi? You will see what will happen to you." When such kind of threat begin to come, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, strength in the inner man, strength in my inner man, strength in my inner man, strength, oh God, strength, oh God, that my strength will not be small. That my strength will not be small. You know one thing that I want you to see as we are still praying. In the days of the three Hebrew boys, the Holy Ghost was not yet given without measure because Jesus had not been glorified. The Bible said until Jesus is glorified, the Holy Ghost cannot be poured out. The Holy Ghost was poured out to reside in men after Jesus died and resurrected. What I want to make you see is that the Holy Spirit that operated in those boys was just a measure, not the fullness. Are you understanding me? It was a measure, it was not the fullness. The fullness came when Christ died and resurrected. What I'm saying is that if ordinary a mercy drop of the Spirit that came before Christ came could make men this strong, what do you think should happen after Christ died and resurrected? How should the measure of the Spirit make men today? If ordinary mercy drop could make men this strong, I want you to pray. It's a very serious matter. That God, if ordinary a measure, just a measure of your Spirit could make the three Hebrew boys strong, how much more we? He says in the latter days I shall pour out my Spirit. The Holy Ghost resides in us. I want you to pray and say, "God, God, God, filling of power, filling of power." He said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost come upon you." Lord, power to face, power to stand, power to stand in the face of intimidations, in the face of threats, in the face of threatenings of men, in the face of evil speaking of men, in the face of persecutions of men, in the face of those things, Lord strengthen me within. Oh precious Father, we pray for strength. We pray for strength. Strength in the inner man. Strength in the inner man. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Heavenly Father, we are grateful unto you for today. Lord, this is one thing we pray. Whatsoever you have done in the life of the fathers, particularly of the Old Testament and the kind of courage and boldness they displayed to defend the faith, Lord, Lord, Lord, much more the more can come out of our lives because we have the fullness of the Spirit. Lord God, we pray this evening, that the reality of the fullness of the Spirit may be the reality of our daily living in the name of Jesus. Lord, everywhere oh God Almighty we are still taken by fear, where there is intimidation, where there is timidity inside, where oh God we are shaking, where oh God we are fidgeting, where there are trepidations, where there are no strength, oh Lord... in the house of the Lord... Amen and amen and amen. This message is coming to you from Family Tents Ministry, a [unclear] ministry involved in reaching the lives of singles and married through preaching and teaching of God's word, discipleship, family life enrichment, social and community development, and mission heat. Our regular activities are: Discipleship class every Monday, 5 p.m., Adolescent and Singles club every first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Marriage Forum, second Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Family life seminars, regular school outreaches, and everyday counseling. For further counseling, you can reach us at our location: Life Camp by the first bridge, [unclear] community, opposite Berryjoy filling station along [unclear] road, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. You can also reach us through our social media handles: familytents@yahoo.co.uk, familytentsministry01@gmail.com, www.familytentministry.org. Our phone numbers are: 08033861136, 07033613848. God bless you all.