Fear Not Their Intimidation

[Christsfreeservant]

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” (1 Peter 3:13-17 NASB’95)​

If we, who believe in Jesus Christ with God-persuaded faith, are zealous for what is good in the sight of God, you might think that people would like us and want to be around us, and that no one would want to harm us or to do evil against us. But that is not the case. It wasn’t for Jesus. It wasn’t for his prophets before him, nor for his apostles after him. All who serve God with sincere hearts, in obedience to his will and purpose, they will be persecuted.

And who were Jesus’ greatest persecutors and opposition? Yes, most of them were Jewish, but aside from just that they were those who served as rulers and people of influence and teachers of the Scriptures in the temple and in the synagogues. And they hated Jesus and wanted him dead because he spoke the truth that they did not want to hear, and he confronted them in their sins, and he told them they must die to sin and obey the Lord.

And so some of our greatest persecutors and opposition may be those who are pastors, elders, and/or Bible teachers in the gatherings of what are called “churches.” And they may be ordinary professing Christians who are in no positions of rule, authority, or influence. And why would they be against us? For the same reasons they were against Jesus, because we speak the truth of the Scriptures that the people, in their sins, do not want to hear.

So much of today’s “church” has gone the way of the world, and they have become like the world in order to attract the people of the world to their gatherings. So they shape their gatherings and their teachings around being attractive to the people of the world who they want to draw into their gatherings. And so they dilute the character of God/Christ, of his church, and of his gospel message of salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

So, if you are a person of integrity, who holds to the tenets of the faith, who is not wavering from the truth in order to appease the flesh, but who speaks the truth of the Scriptures (in context) to the people, for their salvation from addiction to sin, so that they can serve the Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, then you will probably not have a great following, and you may face much opposition and persecution or just being cast off as unwanted.

But we are not to shy away from speaking the truth just because we will face opposition and rejection and persecution. We are not to fear those who want to do evil against us or who speak evil against us. But we must stay the course, and keep persevering in sharing our faith, even to the point of having to defend our faith, sometimes. And we are not to do this with anger nor with hostility, but with kindness, and yet standing fast to the truth.

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus died on that cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, will die with him to sin, and live to him and to his righteousness in walks of surrender and in obedience to his commands. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to God, in his power, then we have eternal life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

Should I Not Preach Jesus

An Original Work / July 4, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Based off 1 Corinthians 9:16-10:13

Woe to me should I not preach Jesus.
I’m compelled to preach the full gospel.
I make myself a slave to ev’ryone
To win their hearts to Christ.
All this I do for my Lord Jesus,
And for the sake of His Name;
Do it for the sake of His gospel,
So that I, its blessings gain.

Scripture notates the sins of others;
Written down for us as examples
To keep us from setting our hearts
On evil as did those of old.
Do not worship other gods of man;
Do not give your hearts to them;
Not partake in immorality.
Do not test your Lord and King.

So, be careful if you think you are
Standing firm in your faith in Jesus.
God has given his word to warn us,
So through faith we will not fall.
No temptation has o’ertaken you
Except what is commonplace.
God is faithful to not let you be
Tempted past what you can bear.
He gives the way of escape.

Fear Not Their Intimidation
An Original Work / March 10, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[Hoping2]

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” (1 Peter 3:13-17 NASB’95)​

If we, who believe in Jesus Christ with God-persuaded faith, are zealous for what is good in the sight of God, you might think that people would like us and want to be around us, and that no one would want to harm us or to do evil against us. But that is not the case. It wasn’t for Jesus. It wasn’t for his prophets before him, nor for his apostles after him. All who serve God with sincere hearts, in obedience to his will and purpose, they will be persecuted.

And who were Jesus’ greatest persecutors and opposition? Yes, most of them were Jewish, but aside from just that they were those who served as rulers and people of influence and teachers of the Scriptures in the temple and in the synagogues. And they hated Jesus and wanted him dead because he spoke the truth that they did not want to hear, and he confronted them in their sins, and he told them they must die to sin and obey the Lord.

And so some of our greatest persecutors and opposition may be those who are pastors, elders, and/or Bible teachers in the gatherings of what are called “churches.” And they may be ordinary professing Christians who are in no positions of rule, authority, or influence. And why would they be against us? For the same reasons they were against Jesus, because we speak the truth of the Scriptures that the people, in their sins, do not want to hear.

So much of today’s “church” has gone the way of the world, and they have become like the world in order to attract the people of the world to their gatherings. So they shape their gatherings and their teachings around being attractive to the people of the world who they want to draw into their gatherings. And so they dilute the character of God/Christ, of his church, and of his gospel message of salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

So, if you are a person of integrity, who holds to the tenets of the faith, who is not wavering from the truth in order to appease the flesh, but who speaks the truth of the Scriptures (in context) to the people, for their salvation from addiction to sin, so that they can serve the Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, then you will probably not have a great following, and you may face much opposition and persecution or just being cast off as unwanted.

But we are not to shy away from speaking the truth just because we will face opposition and rejection and persecution. We are not to fear those who want to do evil against us or who speak evil against us. But we must stay the course, and keep persevering in sharing our faith, even to the point of having to defend our faith, sometimes. And we are not to do this with anger nor with hostility, but with kindness, and yet standing fast to the truth.

The truth of the gospel is that Jesus died on that cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, will die with him to sin, and live to him and to his righteousness in walks of surrender and in obedience to his commands. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to God, in his power, then we have eternal life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

Amen.

 

[1Tonne]

Well said.
When I first started sharing the Gospel publicly outside of Church, I had many people who opposed what I was doing. Some said that I was scaring unbelievers away from the church, some said that I did not have the Holy Spirit, other said that I was scaring my kids away from Jesus, I have been called a false teacher because I believe we should show people their sin when saying the Gospel, and there have been many other incidents where people who should be supporting, were against sharing the Gospel outside of Church.
When this happens, pray for those who persecute you. Ask that God would give them wisdom. Then continue to share the Gospel. Over time, those who spoke against you will soften.
I now have some who were against me sharing, now encouraging me. So, pray for them.

NOTE: I have found that, in some ways, persecution from within the church can be harder than the persecution that is from outside. So, do not be scared of the outsiders. Get out there and share.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Well said.
When I first started sharing the Gospel publicly outside of Church, I had many people who opposed what I was doing. Some said that I was scaring unbelievers away from the church, some said that I did not have the Holy Spirit, other said that I was scaring my kids away from Jesus, I have been called a false teacher because I believe we should show people their sin when saying the Gospel, and there have been many other incidents where people who should be supporting, were against sharing the Gospel outside of Church.
When this happens, pray for those who persecute you. Ask that God would give them wisdom. Then continue to share the Gospel. Over time, those who spoke against you will soften.
I now have some who were against me sharing, now encouraging me. So, pray for them.

NOTE: I have found that, in some ways, persecution from within the church can be harder than the persecution that is from outside. So, do not be scared of the outsiders. Get out there and share.

Nearly 21 years ago, after many years of being rejected by "the church," the Lord called me to the internet just to share what he was teaching me from his word each day, and I have been doing that ever since then. This is what I do full-time, about 60 to 70 hours per week, at the age of 75. This is my mission field, and not on this site only, where I share the message of the gospel and the truth of the Scriptures. And these writings (and video devotions, too) are reaching people in many different nations all over the world. All glory to God. And I still get persecuted sometimes, but my life is surrendered to the Lord to doing what he has called me to do, regardless of how I get treated, in return. Sue Love

 

[1Tonne]

I believe that God allows us to be persecuted. It creates character and strength in us. This builds us up so that when really hard times hit, we are ready for it.
When I first started evangelising, if someone got angry or flipped their lid, it would stun me. But now if it happens, I can laugh at the situation.
It reminds me of soldiers going into battle. At the start, every bomb landing around them made them absolutely afraid. But as time goes on, the bombs don't worry you.