The Attempt to Silence - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

Watch this message here:

The Attempt to Silence

Intro: Today at approximately 3:00, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah. Charlie Kirk was shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025, and died from his injuries.

Charlie Kirk was an outspoken 31 year-old husband and father of 2 children. He boldly proclaimed that he was a Christian and that Jesus Christ was his Savior. He was fearless and he was very influential, especially among young people and college aged people. We do not have to wait for the investigation to end to know why he was murdered.

It was an attempt to silence him.

This is a common tactic of the enemy.

By the way, our enemy is Satan.

Ephesians 6

·       12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

·       13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We cannot lose sight of the real enemy.

And we cannot get lured into a carnal battle with carnal weapons.

2 Corinthians 10

·       3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

·       4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

·       5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Ever since time began, Satan has tried to silence the people of God.

Satan has attempted to silence truth.

God’s Word is truth, and it is invincible.

·       Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

·       Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The authority to speak is one that is undeniable.

Jeremiah 1

·       7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

·       8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

·       9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

·       10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Paul reminded Timothy to speak with all authority.

·       Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Sometimes the pressure gets so intense that even men that are called of God try and convince themselves to just be quiet and stop speaking.

Jeremiah 20

·       7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

·       8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

·       9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

·       10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be

Since the first martyr in the book of Acts, until now, they will never stop attempting to silence us.

But we must determine to stay true, stay faithful, keep on proclaiming truth – regardless of the persecution.

The enemy will never stop attempting to silence us.

There are three things that they cannot stand to hear.

I. The Attempt To Silence our Prayers 

I have never heard so much mockery as when there is a tragedy, and people get laughed at for saying “Our thoughts and our prayers are with you.”

The outrage is deafening.

The enemy hates prayer so bad that they outlawed it in the schools.

Prayer was effectively removed from public schools in the United States following the Supreme Court's decision in 1962, which ruled that school-sponsored prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Turn to Daniel 6:4-10

·       Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

II. The Attempt to Silence our Praise

Turn to Luke 18:35-43

·       39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Luke 19

·       37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

·       38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

·       39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

·       40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Matthew 21

·       15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

·       16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

III. The Attempt to Silence our Preaching – Acts 4:15-21

Acts 4

·       17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

·       18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:33-42

·       28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

·       40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Stephen

·       Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

The results when they tried to silence Stephen: Acts 11:19, 20

Just keep preaching!!