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We may think that times have gotten exponentially harder – or that our day and age presents more evil than in generations past. While I have no doubt that sin and evil are constantly before us – presented in the movies, social media, television, and entertainment – the truth is when we read about the culture of the early church we gain the perspective and understanding that few of us have truly yet experienced. Persecution for my faith (at least currently in America) looks like mocking, treating me as though I am crazy, or needing a crutch. Persecution for the faith of those in the early church looked like torture, stoning, imprisonment, crucifixion, being made into a human torch or fed to wild animals in an arena.

While I am not trying to make light of what we are experiencing today as followers of Christ, I do want to challenge us to remain bold in our faith. Even when our persecution is at its worst, we have hope. The situations we find ourselves in may seem hopeless, but for those of us who know and love Christ, our reality will never be absent of hope.

How do I know? Well, this morning as I was reading out of the book of Acts – a book that is written describing the early church, I found multiple opportunities where things went wrong. Massive things. Mobs. Beatings. Demonic attack. Prison. Chains. False accusations. This one chapter of Acts holds so many forces of attack that it would be easy for us to understand why the leaders of the early church might choose silence. We would have understood why they gave up. The persecution factor was way up – but surprisingly – it appears so was their hope! So was their strength!

Paul and Silas have been preaching the gospel in Philippi. They had received a vision from God directing them to go there and they had gone in an act of obedience. Through teaching and praying, these men began to impact some of the people living in that city.

Let’s just stop here for a second: These men of God were doing what God called them to do and for a good reason. God was ready to move in the hearts of this specific community. They were primed and ready to receive the hope that is found in Christ alone. Paul and Silas were beginning to impact that city and it is then that things began to go south. Why? Well, God’s heart has always been to win others to Himself. He loves us. Wants relationship with us. Desires us to live with Him. Satan hates that. When God’s kingdom is growing, so is the attack against it. And so, Paul and Silas begin to experience an attack.

It starts with a demon-possessed girl who follows them around. Wherever they go she is shouting and interrupting. She does this for days. Finally, Paul has had enough and he casts the demon out of her. Instantly the demon leaves her. (Reminder: Demons have power. But they cannot defeat the power of God nor the power that God gives to His people over them.) And so, with the demon gone from the girl, the owners of this child become angry over the loss of wealth this demon girl had been earning them. They start an uproar against Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas are now brought into yet another level of persecution. They are stripped by the mob and severely beaten with wooden rods. As if that weren’t enough, following that experience they were then thrown into prison – an inner dungeon within the prison. Their feet were clamped in the stocks. They were going nowhere. Awaiting a trial that would no doubt be a rigged joke, things must have seemed overwhelming. Hopeless. Right?

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off.” (Acts 16:25-26) What appeared to be a hopeless situation – one devastating situation after another in that one moment shifted.

The jailer who was responsible for watching these men and ensuring their capture is overcome with fear. He knows who will be held accountable for these men’s escape. Without hope, he gets ready to end his own life – rather than face the shame, and consequences that the day will hold for him. But even for this jailer – hope has arrived on the scene. Paul and Silas have been freed, but have not left. They had a divine appointment and purpose before them. The jailer’s physical life was not only saved that night but so was his eternity! He and all those within his household heard the word of God and accepted the message of the gospel.

The next morning, instead of things continuing to feed into what seemed like sure plans for the jailer to be executed, Paul and Silas to have to face the expected trial – God altered the situation. “The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said that you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” (Acts 16:35-36)

Paul and Silas were free. The jailer was free. The demon-possessed girl was free. Three hopeless situations – yet every one of them bathed in hope that comes from Christ alone.

Friend, I have no idea what circumstances are trying to rob us of the hope that is available to us in Christ. I know that this life – a life lived where Jesus is our top priority and serving Him is our mission is not an easy path. It just isn’t. It will push us beyond what we have to give. It will require of us that we put our desires to the side and focus on the desires of another. It costs. But friend, make no mistake – we do not do this life alone. We have the hope of the world even in the most hopeless situations. My circumstances are too big for me – but not for Jesus. My situation may seem hopeless – but because of Jesus, it can change in a minute. We are never without Him, and therefore we are never without hope. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Fall into the arms of the One who has already provided a way through.

Blessings!