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FALSE WITNESS (ACT 6:1-15)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “False Witness” A false witness is a person who deliberately gives false testimony. We shall reflect on the fact that we may become victims of false witnesses in our service to the Lord.

Dear friend, in working for the Lord we may be greatly hated to the extent that people will willingly offer themselves to bear false witness or peddle falsehood against us. Stephen was a victim of such an unfortunate situation. We are told, “Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia —who began to argue with Stephen…Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” (Acts 6:9, 11-14) In other words, Stephen became a victim of fierce opposition and false accusations or false witnesses because the fanatics of Judaism felt insecure or threatened by his presence among them as a Christian. We are told ” Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people…10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. (Acts 6:6,10) Dear friend in Christ, beware that your anointing and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do greater works in the furtherance of God’s mission will attract more enemies and opposition onto your path. Jesus Christ remains our classic example. He came to preach the Good News and to liberate his people from the oppression of evil spirit and all manner of infirmities yet the Chief Priest and the Jewish leaders of His time conspired against Him, had him arrested, they conspired to have false witnesses to testify against him, tortured and had Him crucified but unknown to them God was using they wickedness to fulfil His salvation plan for humanity. As followers of Jesus, we should expect to go through a similar ordeal.

We shall experience opposition, hatred, false accusation and false witness because the world is full of evil people who hate the light or are opposed to the truth and the light of God. It must be an expectation and not a shock when people hate us at our workplaces, in our societies and even in the church for living a life that pleases God rather than the man, For Peter and the other apostles greatly admonished us that “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:29). Obey God and serving Him may also bring us persecution and agony, especially among ungodly and wicked people.

Again, it is important to know that some people will hate us and bring all manner of false accusations against us out of envy and the favour of God that is lacking in their lives. Stephen was hated because he was “a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8) and “…they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” (Acts 6:10) Friend, you may become a victim of hatred and conspiracy because of what you have been blessed which is lacking in the lives of other people who envious of you. People will hate us because of the anointing of God upon our life. You will be hated because of the favour of God upon our lives. When we find ourselves in the hands of the wicked and false accusers, let us remember Paul’s encouragement when he wrote ” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39” By dear friend in Christ, you not alone, Jesus is with us throughout our suffering and persecution on account of His name.

In summary, we have discovered that we may become victims of false witnesses in our service to the Lord. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Lord grant us the grace to endure false accusations and witnesses even as we offer our lives to Him as living sacrifices. Amen.