Stand your Ground – Heb 10:32-39
Gladstone Baptist Church – 12/9/04 pm
Read From Jesus Freak p. 167 - Tsehay Tolessa - Ethiopia circa 1980s
"They forced my hands under my knees and tied them there. Then they put a stick through these ropes and hung me upside down. They filled my mouth with dirty rags. I almost suffocated. They beat me, breaking my bones. Great pieces of skin hung from my body.
"Then they freed me from bonds and forced me to run with bleeding feet over a path with sharp stones.
"Next, they put me in a small cell containing 62 people. There was only room to stand. Stand on what? On bleeding feet, on broken bones. The cell was completely dark and there was no air. Don’t ask how prisoners fulfilled their bodily needs. There was only one hole serving as a toilet, but no one could get to it.
"All had to stand pressed against each other to give a few the opportunity to sleep a bit lying on one side. Because of the limited space, no turning was possible."
Her cuts bled, but there was no medicine. Tsehay could not even hold a cup, so others had to help her drink.
Tsehay Tolessa was tortured by the Ethiopian Communists for her faith in Jesus Christ. She stayed in that cell for over a year, spending a total of ten years in jail. As a result of spending such a long time in darkness, she has not regained full vision.
As they tortured her, the Ethiopian Communists mocked: "Where is your loving Jesus?"
But Tsehay only pitied the blindness of her torturers. She knew that her Lord was always with her, alive in her heart. "Jesus was there, in the midst of human waste, in the humiliation, in the blood and stench. He is more than a King ruling in heaven, a Bridegroom. He is the One tortured in prison."
Read From Jesus Freak p. 92 - Peter, 8 years old. Philippines 1992
"We have your nephew," said the handwritten note. "If you surrender to us, we will return the boy to his parents." Brother MT stared at the message. It was from the leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines. People in many parts of the Philippines have been threatened and persecuted for years by this group of terrorists.
Brother MT is an evangelist in the Philippines. He travels regularly into the mountains to preach to the terrorist groups. Peter, his eight-year-old nephew, frequently went with Brother MT on his evangelistic trips. He was a special help to him in children’s meetings in the mountain villages.
Because of pressure from the NPA, Brother MT was often forced into hiding. Still, as a result of his ministry, some of the NPA soldiers had given their lives to Jesus Christ and left the organization. MT had counted the cost and was prepared to give his life for the Gospel, but he was not prepared for this! He knew there was no hope that his surrender would save his nephew. He knew they would both be killed; still, he hesitated.
The boy’s parents insisted that MT ignore this order and continue his evangelistic outreach. As a result, the parents gave their son for the Gospel. Peter was killed on Good Friday, April 17, 1992. He was tortured for three hours and suffered very much. His hands were tied with wire, and the terrorists struck him in the legs and head with an axe. Finally, he was beheaded.
The abductors have warned the boy’s parents and MT that if they do not stop their ministry, they will return and torture them. Brother MT is continuing his dangerous work in the mountains among the terrorist groups.
Christians have always been subject to persecution. We are told of Stephen who was the first person killed for his faith in Christ in Acts Chapter 7. After that there was a great persecution of all Christians. Many were killed by the Roman emperors. James was one of them.
Read From Jesus Freak p. 193 - James, Son of Zebedee Jerusalem, Israel 44 AD
Several years after Jesus died, King Herod Agrippa decided to stop the spread of Christianity by striking its leaders. He had James arrested and sentenced to death on the basis of one man’s testimony. However, when this accuser saw James’ extraordinary courage and steadfast joy, even when condemned to die, the man was deeply touched in his heart. There on the spot, the accuser made a decision for Christ. He boldly cried out, "I want to follow Jesus also. I am a Christian."
The soldiers led James to be executed. Along the way, his accuser stopped the apostle and fell down at his feet. "I am so sorry for what I have done," he cried. "The blood of an innocent man is on my hands. Please, please, before you die, please forgive me."
James paused for a moment, then said, "Peace be to you, brother," and gave him a holy kiss.
Then the man said, "You should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. I will die with you." He was immediately sentenced to death and they were both brought to the place of execution.
Minutes later, the two were beheaded together.
Persecution and the challenge to people is not a thing of ancient history. The two accounts I read earlier are far more recent. And tonight I will be sharing quite a lot of stories with you about what is happening in this world. Christians everywhere are being asked to stand their ground against those who would oppose. And tonight I want to ask you the same question – Will you Stand your Ground?
Would you open your bibles upto Heb 10:32 …
The writer to the Hebrews was writing to a group of people who had suffered some incredible persecution. The last time we talked about Hebrews, Des spoke on a passage from chapter 10 which encouraged the Christians to persevere in their faith and stop sinning so that they wouldn’t be judged.
In the next part of Hebrews, the writer goes onto encourage the readers to stand their ground for 3 reasons. Firstly they need to stand their ground because what they believe in is worth it. Secondly, their reward is so close. Thirdly, if we don’t stand our ground God will be displeased and that is scary.
Lets Read Heb 10:32-39 and see if you can pick our these three reasons.
1) Stand your ground because what you believe in is worth it.
In vs 32-34 the writer to the Hebrews starts to remind them of their past. They had just become Christians and were so convinced about the truth of their faith and so thankful to their new found Saviour that they stood their ground. They were suffering, yes, but they stood their ground. Against insult, against, persecution, against imprisonment, confiscation of property. They were associated with others who were persecuted and so were tarred with the same brush. Some even died. They still stood their ground – why? Because they knew that what they had – forgiveness and Salvation - were so much better than anything this world could offer. It would outshine and outlast anything they could achieve themselves. Their suffering and pain was worth it considering what awaited them.
1 Pet 1:3&4 says
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,
Plenty of people are subject to these same persecutions, but are standing their ground because they too recognise the value of the salvation they have been given. And others are standing with them.
Read From Jesus Freak p. 103 - Orson Vila, Cuba, 1995
At 9:00 A.M. on May 24th, 1995, Cuban police surprised Pastor Orson Vila at his home and took him prisoner. The next day, thousands of believers filled the streets in front of the government offices in Camaguey, protesting the unjust arrest.
It was the latest move by Castro’s government to implement a new law designed to close down house churches everywhere. Orson, who pastors a large house church with a congregation of 2,500, is also superintendent of the Central District of the Assemblies of God Church in Cuba.
During the previous four years, in an apparent opening up of religious freedom, the Communist government permitted the development of these house churches. But upon seeing the unstoppable growth of new believers, they changed their point of view.
The church in Cuba was in revival as never before. There were eighty-five new house churches in the area of Camaguey alone! The government leaders were furious, and proclaimed that these house churches "threatened" the Cuban government. They tried to force the leaders, like Orson Vila, to close all the house churches.
None of the churches were willing to close.
Despite the tremendous demonstration of support by believers, Orson was not given a fair trial. His lawyer had no opportunity to provide a defense. On May 24, he was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison.
His story reached believers around the world who prayed for him, his family, and his church. On March 2, 1996, he was released early and placed under house arrest.
We have the same forgiveness and salvation as those who have suffered in the past. Some of us may have suffered in the past, but we are getting weary of standing our ground today. The taunts, the abuse, the alienation are wearing us down. Being associated with other Christians who themselves are ridiculed and held in distain. The writer the Hebrews encourages us to remember the earlier days when we became Christians and were steadfast. Don’t lose sight of it – stand your ground with your brothers and sisters.
Read From Jesus Freak p. 124 - Pastor Kim and. his congregation, North Korea, 1950s
For years, Pastor Kim and 27 of his flock of Korean saints had lived in hand-dug tunnels beneath the earth. Then, as the Communists were building a road, they discovered the Christians living underground.
The officials brought them out before a crowd of 30,000 in the village of Gok San for a public trial and execution. They were told, "Deny Christ, or you will die." But they refused.
At this point the head Communist officer ordered four children from the group seized and had them prepared for hanging. With ropes tied around their small necks, the officer again commanded the parents to deny Christ.
Not one of the believers would deny their faith. They told the children, "We will soon see you in heaven." The children died quietly.
The officer then called for a steamroller to be brought in. He forced the Christians to lie on the ground in its path. As its engine revved, they were given one last chance to recant their faith in Jesus. Again they refused.
As the steamroller began to inch forward, the Christians began to sing a song they had often sung together. As their bones and bodies were crushed under the pressure of the massive rollers, their lips uttered the words:
"More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee,
Thee alone I seek, more love to Thee,
Let sorrow do its work, more love to Thee
Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
More love, O Christ, to Thee."
The execution was reported in the North Korean press as an act of suppressing superstition.
2) Stand your ground because your reward is so near.
The second reason why the writer to the Hebrews says to stand your ground is because God’s reward is close at hand. Vs 35 says ..
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while,
“He who is coming will come and will not delay.
We do have a reward that awaits us, a reward for those who have been faithful. James 1:1 says that
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When we are promised that God will come again soon and deliver us from all our trials and pain. Our reward is not long coming – Will you stand firm like so many others in this world?
Read from Jesus Freak p. 118 - Haim and his family, Cambodia, circa 1970s
All during the night, the members of Haim’s family comforted each other. They knew they only had a few more hours to live on this earth. The Cambodian Communist soldiers had tied them all together and forced them to lie down on the grass.
Earlier that day, Haim’s whole family had been rounded up for execution. Because they were all Christians, the Communists considered them "bad blood" and "enemies of the glorious revolution."
In the morning, they were made to dig their own graves.
The killers were generous. They allowed their victims a moment of prayer to prepare themselves for death. Parents and children held hands and knelt together near the open grave.
After his family finished their prayers, Haim exhorted the Communists and all those looking on to repent and to receive Jesus as Savior.
Suddenly, one of Haim’s young sons leapt to his feet, bolted to the nearby forest, and disappeared.
Haim was amazingly cool as he persuaded the soldiers not to chase the boy but to allow him to call the boy back. While the family knelt, the father pleaded with his son to return and die with them.
"Think my son," he shouted. "Can stealing a few more days of life, as a fugitive in that forest, compare to joining your family here around a grave, but soon free forever in paradise T
Weeping, the boy walked back.
Haim said to the executioners, "Now we are ready to go." But none of the soldiers would kill them.
Finally, an officer who had not witnessed the scene came and shot the Christians.
Rev 3:11-12 says this …
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
Jesus is coming soon and He’s bringing our reward, if only we stand our ground.
So the writer encourages us to stand firm because firstly what is at stake is worth it. Secondly, our reward is not far off.
3) Stand your ground so we will not anger God.
The writer to the Hebrews states that the third reason we need to overcome trials and persecutions is that God will be displeased with us. He writes.
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Those who stand firm please God. Those who shrink back grieve God. They offend him. They deny Him. And ultimately they will be denied
Jesus himself said in Matt 10:30
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
The writer to the Hebrews therefore warns us that we need to stand our ground so that we will not anger God
Read from Jesus Freak p. 288 - Siao-Kei 5 years old, Mainland China - During the Red Guard Era, 1966-69
Over and over, a mother spoke soothing words to her five-year-old child as they sat in their dark, damp cell. The woman was in jail because she had protested against the arrest of her bishop; her child was in jail because the little girl had nowhere else to go.
All the prisoners were indignant at seeing the child suffer so. Even the prison director said to the mother, "Don’t you have pity on your daughter? Just declare that you give up being a Christian and will not go to church anymore. Then you and the child will be free."
In despair the woman agreed, and she was released. After two weeks, she was forced to shout from a stage before 10,000 people, "I am no longer a Christian." On their return home, the child, who had stood near her when she denied her faith, said, "Mummy, today Jesus is not satisfied with you."
The mother explained, "You wept in prison. I had to say this out of love for you."
Siao-Mei replied, "I promise that if we go to jail again for Jesus, I will not weep."
The mother ran to the prison director and told him, "You convinced me I should say wrong things for my daughter’s sake, but she has more courage than I."
Both went back to prison. But Siao-Mei no longer wept.
If you have denied God before friends and relatives, know this that it is not too late to repent and take your place in the front lines.
One last story
George Masih, 42, Pakistan, 2/4/2004.
The pastor of a small church in Pakistan was shot and killed in the village of Manawala, near Lahore, Pakistan.
George Masih, aged 42, was the leader of a small village church which met in his home. He and his wife, Aniata, were active in reaching out to other villagers in the primarily Muslim village in order to share the gospel with them. They were known in the village for the worship songs that could be heard coming from their house, and for ministering house to house reaching out to neighbors and praying for those who were sick—even if they were Muslims. There is only one other Christian family in the village.
The Christian work of George Masih and his family drew the anger of a Muslim neighbor named Shokat Ali who urged the landlord to kick the family out. On more than one occasion Ali threatened to kill Masih if he continued preaching, according to VOM sources in Pakistan.
On Friday April 2nd 2004 around noon, Masih, his wife and four children were watching the JESUS film in their home. When the movie finished, Aniata got up to go out of the house. When she opened the door, two masked attackers burst in. One grabbed Aniata and covered her mouth, threatening her with death if she tried to cry out for help.
The other attacker fired a shotgun point blank at George Masih’s face. As the Christian man lay dying, the assailant hit him in the head with the butt of the gun. Then both men fled.
About 300 people gathered in the home of George’s brother for the funeral, including many Muslims who had been blessed by his ministry. Pastor Mukhtar, the pastor who led George to Christ, called the martyred Christian “a true and passionate believer” and said, “he always tried to win the souls with his preaching.”
All around the world today, people are suffering and being persecuted for their faith. From these stories, you may think that we have it so easy in Australia. We don’t get imprisoned for our faith. We don’t get beaten, tortured or executed. We don’t have our loved ones killed before our eyes, but we are still called to stand our ground in the faith.
We are called to stand firm against the secular influences of this world. To oppose those things in society which would undermine God’s law and his perfect standard. Some examples may be the recent attempts to redefine marriage, the acceptance of drugs in our schools as an inevitable part of our societies tolerance, the watering down of freedom of speech rights such that Christians can no longer speak against other religions. We are called to stand firm against such things.
We are also called to stand firm against such things as materialism, hedonism (the love of pleasure and recreation) which would undermine our own devotion and faith in God. Instead of being found in his church on Sundays, we would prefer to be in a park having a picnic, or out fishing with mates. We need in Australia today people who are sold out to Jesus who can stand firm against such things.
We are also called to stand firm and preach the gospel so that people will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
I wonder if you will be willing to stand firm today. You may not be called to give up your life, but you may just be called to give up your reputation or your friends or maybe even your lifestyle. Are you willing? If you are, I invite you to stand with me as we pray.
