No Guts, No Glory

As I preach through the book of Acts, I am also taking some time to blog about passages that I may not have time to get to on a Sunday morning. My sermon series on Acts is more of a "Highlight Reel" rather than a word-by-word study of all 28 chapters. This upcoming Lord's Day I will be preaching on Acts 4:23-31.

Last week, I preached on Acts 3 as Peter and John preached to the crowd in the temple after healing the lame man at the gate. 2000 people were added to the number of Christians after that sermon. The leaders of the temple observed that "The Way" was gaining momentum and that something needed to stop this new Messianic movement--and so the persecution of the Christian Church began.

Peter and John were hauled in to the same court that had convicted Jesus a few weeks earlier. They demanded that Peter and John stop preaching the name of Jesus Christ. They feared that the people would realize what a great crime this court had committed. Peter and John had a choice...relent and go on living comfortably, or, proclaim and risk further persectuion. Both of these men not only stood their ground but preached the name of Jesus Christ to the court.

No guts, no glory. But this was not glory for the disciples. This was glory to God for the great things he had done. This was glory for the servant of God, Jesus Christ. Peter and John needed to have the guts so that God would have the glory. They were on a divine mission for Jesus Christ. They were willing to proclaim the true Gospel no matter what the cost.

What about us? How do we measure up in the court room where the Gospel is on trial? The Gospel is on trial every day in our circle of influence. If the people who know us, know what we believe, than they are watching. What do they see in us? The better question is "who" do they see in us? Do they see a selfish, inconsiderate, self-centered, greedy, lustful, loud person? Or do they see the humble servant who boldly proclaims Jesus Christ and lives out their faith in their action. After all faith without action is surely dead.

We have got to stand up for the Gospel. We have to posess spiritual intestinal fortitude as we proclaim the Gospel. When we are in the court room of life, who gets the glory?