PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DISCREDIT BELIEVERS BY LYING ON US

PROCLAMATION

“You can easily verify … I went up to Jerusalem to worship.  My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.  And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.  However, I admit that I worship The God of our ancestors as a follower of The Way …”  Acts 24:11-14 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

The apostle Paul was arrested and escorted to the governor for a hearing.  After the elders and their lawyer, Tertullus, had presented their case against him to Felix, the governor, Paul was allowed to speak. (Acts 24:1-10)  Paul basically said that the charges against him were false.  He said that he was in the temple when they seized him but that he had done nothing wrong.  He said that he was on trial because he publicly declared that he believed in the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 24:17-21)  When Felix had heard Paul, he sent him back to prison.  Felix called for Paul frequently and talked with him, and yet still kept him in prison for two years as a favor to the Jews. (Acts 24:25-27)

 

APPLICATION

As believers we are encouraged to share The Word of God with others and tell them about Jesus, The Christ.  However, when we tell some non-believers about The Lord Jesus, we will offend or upset some of them.  In an effort to keep us quiet and to keep others from believing us, some people will lie on us or about us in order to discredit us.  The Bible says when men persecute us and say all manner of evil against us falsely that we should rejoice because great will be our reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)  So, let us keep on spreading the gospel in spite of what they say.

 

PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DISCREDIT BELIEVERS BY LYING ON US

Proclamation:

“… I went up to Jerusalem to worship.  My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.  And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.”  Acts 24:11-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

The apostle Paul was arrested and escorted to the governor for a hearing.  After the elders and their lawyer, Tertullus, had presented their case against him to Felix, the governor, Paul was allowed to speak. (Acts 24:1-10)  Paul basically said that the charges against him were false.  He said that he was in the temple when they seized him but that he did nothing wrong.  He said that he was on trial because he publicly declared that he believed in the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 24:17-21)  When Felix had heard Paul he sent him back to prison, but he called for him frequently and talked with him, and yet still kept him in prison for two years as a favor to the Jews. (Acts 24:25-27)

Application:

As believers we are encouraged to share The Word of God and to tell others about Jesus, The Christ.  However, when we tell some people, especially non-believers, about The Lord Jesus we will offend some of them.  In an effort to keep us quiet and to keep others from believing us, some people will lie on us or about us in order to discredit us.  The Bible says when men persecute us and say all manner of evil against us falsely that we should rejoice because great will be our reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)  So, let us keep on spreading the gospel.

VINDICATE US REDEEM US AND BE MERCIFUL UNTO US

Proclamation:

“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in The Lord and have not faltered.”  Psalm 26:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm was written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  There are four succinct prayers within this psalm.  “Vindicate me, Lord …” (Psalm 26:1), “Examine me, Lord …” (Psalm 26:2), “Do not gather my soul with sinners … (Psalm 26:9), and “… Redeem me and be merciful to me.” (Psalm 26:11)  David is not clamming to be perfect nor that he has led a sin free life, just that he is innocent of the accusations against him.  Bible scholars believe that this psalm, like psalm 7 verses 1 to 5, refer to King Saul who wanted to kill David when he had done nothing wrong. (1 Samuel 18:5-9)  Saul accused David of plotting against him.

Application:

There will be time when we will be falsely accused and we will not have any witnesses to verify our innocence.  Those are the times when all that we can do is trust in The Lord God to vindicate us.  Some people have to put others down so that they can look good.  They will lie and present false witness against us so that they appear good by comparison.  Those are people that we have to pray for and we will be blessed for not doing unto them as they did to us. (Matthew 5:11 and Luke 6:27-28)  Just as David said, we do not want to be included in that group of people who falsely accuse and intentionally do wrong to their fellow men. (Psalm 26:4-5 and 9-12)  Let us pray to The Lord to help us to walk, talk, and behave in a Christ-like manner, especially when those around us are doing otherwise.

Rewarded For Being Persecuted For Doing Good

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV)

According to the Apostle Matthew, in The Sermon on The Mount Jesus taught that those who were persecuted because of righteous behavior would be blessed and they would be granted access to heaven.  He also said that when they were physically or verbally abused, or lied on because of Him, that they should rejoice and be very glad, for they will be greatly rewarded in heaven.  Remember that Christ and the prophets were persecuted.

There are places in the world today where Christian behavior is not tolerated.  Some Christians are still being physically abused because of their belief, and others are verbally and emotionally abused.  Those who are ostracized, persecuted, or abused in any way for exhibiting Christ-like behavior will be blessed. (James 5:10-11 and 1 Peter 4:12-16)  We should not be surprised that the world hates us for being Christ-like, because the world hated Christ. (John 7:7, John 15:18, and 1 John 3:13)  While it is not pleasant to endure, we should delight in persecution and abuse for our belief in Christ, just as the Apostle Paul did, when we recognize that Christ suffered for us, He is always with us, and He will reward us for persevering through it. (2 Corinthians 12:10)  It is not easy to turn the other cheek, to patiently and humbly endure abuse and persecution, but that is what we are taught to do. (Matthew 5:39)  However, for doing so, we will be blessed and great will be our reward in heaven.