Church history tells us that the church underwent different kinds of persecution

Film: Richard Wurmbrand

The move of God among his people

1. The Hand of God in/Ang Kamay ng Dios sa:

EXPANSION/PAGLAGO

EXODUS 1.1-10
Ito ang mga anak ni Jacob na kasama niyang pumunta sa Egipto, kasama ang kani-kanilang
sambahayan: 2 sina Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, 3 Isacar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4 Dan, Neftali, Gad at
Asher; 5 silang lahat ay pitumpu. Si Jose ay matagal nang nasa Egipto noon. 6 Paglipas ng panahon,
namatay si Jose, ang kanyang mga kapatid at ang kanilang salinlahi. 7 Ngunit mabilis ang pagdami ng
mga Israelita kaya't sila'y naging makapangyarihan at halos napuno nila ang buong lupain. 8 Lumipas ang
panahon at nagkaroon ang Egipto ng ibang hari na hindi nakakakilala kay Jose. 9 Sinabi niya sa kanyang
mga kababayan, “Nanganganib tayo sa mga Israelita. Sila'y patuloy na dumarami at lumalakas kaysa
atin. 10 Kailangang gumawa tayo ng paraan upang mapigil ang kanilang pagdami. Baka salakayin tayo ng
ating mga kaaway at kumampi pa sila sa mga ito, at pagkatapos ay tumakas sa ating lupain.” 

EXODUS 1.7
but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so
numerous that the land was filled with them

The expansion of God’s children is a threat:

Politically-war breaks out
Spiritually-gods of Egypt

The expansion of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham

Joseph and his brothers died, and the children of Israel multiplied in the land of Egypt. They held
important positions and played an important role in the political, cultural, and economic life of Egypt.

It is not surprising that they stirred the jealousy of the native Egyptians who felt outshone by the
"foreigners."

The friendly Pharaoh to the Hebrews died, and a new king ascended the throne.
He had no sympathy or love for the children of Israel and chose to forget all that Joseph had done for
Egypt.

He decided to take action against the growing influence and numbers of the children of Israel

In his commentary on Acts, John Stott identified three ways Satan attempted to hinder the church’s
advance: suppression, corruption and distraction. In chapter 3, Peter and John healed a crippled man and
used this platform to preach the gospel. Subsequently, chapter 4 relates how the religious leaders
imprisoned Peter and John and charged them to cease preaching about Jesus

Ang Mga Hadlang na Ginagawa ni Satanas laban sa Gawain ng Dios:

Suppression
corruption
distraction

The expansion of God’s children is a threat:

Politically and Spiritually
Satan dislikes the growth of God’s children
In the Acts we can see this

The growth of the church is being hindered by Satan

SUPPRESSION
The Suppression or Persecution today is not like before. The Persecution today in our country is more of
Social Persecution. People look at you as insane.

As leaders we should lead our congregations in prayer and continued boldness in preaching Acts 4:23-31

SUPPRESSION
When Peter and John healed a crippled man at the gate of the Temple
Acts 3 instead of giving alms, they gave healing
Acts 4.1-4

Acts 41-4
Nagsasalita pa sina Pedro at Juan sa mga taong bayan nang dumating ang mga paring Judio, ang kapitan
ng mga bantay sa Templo at ang mga Saduseo. 2 Galit na galit sila sa dalawang apostol dahil itinuturo ng
mga ito sa mga tao na si Jesus ay muling nabuhay, at iyon ang katibayan na muling mabubuhay ang mga
patay. 3 Kaya't dinakip nila ang dalawa, at ikinulong muna hanggang kinabukasan sapagkat gabi na noon.
4
Gayunman, marami sa nakarinig ng kanilang pangangaral ang sumampalataya kay Jesus, kaya't umabot
sa limanlibo ang bilang ng mga lalaki.

CORRUPTION
In chapter 5, Satan tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the church (ultimately to the Holy Spirit) about
the amount of money for which they sold their property. Satan wanted to corrupt the church. In an
astonishing story of God’s demand for holiness, Ananias and Sapphira were immediately struck dead for
their sin.

DISTRACTION
In Acts 6, Satan incited complaints within the church seeking to distract the church from its purpose.
Certain widows were being left out of the daily distribution of food. This caused the apostles to gather the
church, decide as a body to elect the first deacons, and address the problem directly. This move resulted
in effective ministry and gospel advance (6:1, 7).

Church complaints are going to happen. Sometimes they require direct action as illustrated in this chapter.
But in reality, we discover here a paradigm for church advance that is simple and affective. Pastors must
devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:2, 4). And pastors must delegate
ministry tasks to others, staff, deacons, and lay leaders (6:3,5-6). Addressing this church problem with
clarity allowed the gospel to spread even further.

But the problem while the Hebrew is being suppressed and while the church is being persecuted-it grows
continually

2. The Hand of God in:

Persecution/Paguusig

EXODUS 1.9-14
9 
Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga kababayan, “Nanganganib tayo sa mga Israelita. Sila'y patuloy na dumarami
at lumalakas kaysa atin. 10 Kailangang gumawa tayo ng paraan upang mapigil ang kanilang pagdami. Baka
salakayin tayo ng ating mga kaaway at kumampi pa sila sa mga ito, at pagkatapos ay tumakas sa[a] ating
lupain.” 11 Kaya't naglagay sila ng mababagsik na tagapangasiwa upang pahirapan ang mga Israelita;
ipinagawa ng Faraon sa mga ito ang mga Lunsod ng Pitom at Rameses, mga lunsod na imbakan ng mga
pagkain at kagamitan. 12 Ngunit habang inaapi, ang mga ito ay lalo namang dumarami at naninirahan ang
mga Israelita sa iba't ibang bayan kaya't sila'y kinatakutan ng mga Egipcio. 13 Dahil dito, ang mga
Israelita'y lalong walang awang 14 pinahirapan ng mga Egipcio sa paggawa ng tisa at ng iba't ibang
mabibigat na gawaing bukid.

Dahil lumalaki ang bilang natakot ang mga Egipcio at inapi ang mga Hebreo

2 Timothy 3.11-12
11 
Nasaksihan mo ang mga pag-uusig at paghihirap na dinanas ko sa Antioquia, Iconio at Listra.
Napagtiisan ko ang mga ito! At sa lahat ng ito ay iniligtas ako ng Panginoon. 12 Gayundin naman, ang lahat
ng nagnanais mamuhay nang matuwid bilang tagasunod ni Cristo Jesus ay daranas ng mga pag-uusig
Tertullian, one of the Church Fathers said that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church",
implying that a martyr's willing sacrifice of their lives leads to the conversion of others

3. Ang Kamay ng Dios sa:

CONVICTION/Paninindigan

EXODUS 1.15-21
15 
Isang araw, ipinatawag ng Faraon sina Sifra at Pua, ang mga komadronang Hebreo at sinabihan nang
ganito: 16 “Sa pagpapaanak ninyo sa mga Hebrea, patayin ninyo kung lalaki ang sanggol, at hayaan
ninyong mabuhay kung babae.” 17 Ngunit dahil sa takot nila sa Diyos, hindi sinunod ng mga komadrona
ang utos ng hari; hindi nila pinapatay ang mga sanggol na lalaki. 18 Dahil dito'y ipinatawag sila ng hari at
tinanong, “Bakit hindi ninyo pinapatay ang mga sanggol na lalaking isinisilang ng mga Hebrea?”
19 
“Mangyari po, iba ang mga Hebrea sa mga Egipcia. Madali po silang manganak kaya naisilang na ang
sanggol pagdating namin,” sagot nila. 20 Kaya't patuloy na dumami at lumakas ang mga Israelita. Ang
mga komadrona naman ay kinalugdan ng Diyos. 21 Sila'y pinagkalooban niya ng mga sariling pamilya.
Conviction means strong persuasion

During times of great distress and and persecution, there are people who stand up for God

It was in this volatile climate that two women took a daring step of spiritual audacity that changed the
story forever. Two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, let the Hebrew newborn baby boys live.

The Torah says that the midwives take this risk because they “feared God” Exodus 1:17

if Shiphrah and Puah were Egyptian, then what’s their motivation to defy Pharaoh? It seems that Shiphrah
and Puah’s motives must have been pure — they genuinely did not want to kill baby boys, period. It’s a
moral compass, a deep and intuitive sense of right and wrong that motivated them, since they had
everything to risk and nothing to gain. When Pharaoh finds out that Hebrew boys are living under
Shiphrah and Puah’s watch, he confronts them. Their excuse that the Hebrew women are so strong that
they give birth before the midwives have time to arrive seems like a creative but quickly made-up excuse
(Exodus 1:19). Their bravery makes them Exodus’ first heroes.