Dealing with people who are Against You

Continuing to learn from the lives of characters in the Bible, as I wrote earlier, today, I would like to share what I have learned from the life of Stephen and that’s about How to deal with people who are against you, people who hate you, criticize you, create troubles for you…?

In Acts Chapter 7, Stephen who was a servant of God, is seen speaking to the people and telling them about God, but the people did not appreciate whatever he was saying and they wanted to kill him, kill him for no reason but because he spoke to them about God and His favor. They condemned him of blasphemy and wanted him to be punished. Later in the chapter we see Stephen was stoned to death.

v54 to 60 talk about Stephen’s last moments on earth. He was not doing any wrong to anyone, he did not speak a single evil word or sentence if you read his speech in chapter 7. But the mob was angry with him and it is written “they were furious and gnashed their teeth”(v54) and what did Stephen do in return? Did he also get furious in return? Did he gnash his teeth? No, he didn’t.

[Please read below, the verses 54 to 60:

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.]

This is what Stephen did instead:

1. He was full of the Holy Spirit

2. Looked up to Heaven

3. Saw the glory of God

4. Saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God

5. Proclaimed what he saw and believed

(He proclaimed but people did not give ears to it, they rushed, took him of of city, stoned and killed him.)

6. Stephen surrendered his spirit to God

7. He seeked forgiveness for the sin of the people (same as Jesus did when he was hanged on cross)

8. And He died peacefully

Can you notice the similarity between Stephen and Jesus here? Stephen’s reaction to people who were against him is similar to the way Jesus reacted to people who were against Him, when He was hung on the cross and died, Jesus also sought forgiveness for the people and gave his life to God.

Such kind of haters, criticizers, mockers are there in everyone’s life, yours and mine too. This is how God asks us to react to such hatred, criticism, opposition or mockery.

There will be or there are people in your life who also stone you, like they stoned Stephen, perhaps not with the real stones but with their words, actions or deeds. Hold on to God when this happens, be like Stephen, be like Jesus, forgive them and do not be revengeful for God said in Romans 12:19 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””

When such people enter our lives, we end up asking God, “God, what am I supposed to do with such people?” But, God has already given us the answer to this; follow the same path as Stephen did, as Jesus did: 

1. Be full of the Holy Spirit (for this one needs to be in constant connection with God and with the Holy Spirit. You cannot be away from Him and then expect to be full of spirit in moments of troubles and tribulations, it needs commitment towards God)

2. Look out for God, seek him (as Stephen gazed into heaven, he was probably searching for God, seeking Him, read Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”)

3. And then you shall be able to see the glory of God yourself

4. You shall be able to see and experience the presence of Jesus in your life

5. Proclaim to the world what you see and believe (Mark 16:15 says “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation””)

6. Surrender yourself completely to God, your will, desires, emotions etc. Give it all to him.

7. Seek forgiveness for your enemies, give them into the hands of God

8. Receive eternal life with God

This is what God wants you to do when you are surrounded by such people. Are you ready to implement this answer into your life Today? It’s difficult? Yes, it is, but God never told us that following His path is easy, that’s the path leading to Jesus, leading to eternity and it is full of thorns, it is the narrow path, it is difficult. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Now, you cannot do this in your own capacity but we have His Amazing Grace and his strength with which anything is possible, 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.””. Also, Philippines 4:13 says “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” So, with His grace you can definitely do it.

All the Best!!!