Just Do It Anyway

“JUST DO IT ANYWAY!”

ACTS 4:8-20; 5:25-29

David P. Nolte

There are things in life that are hard to do, but if they are important enough, and if they are right, we do them anyway. There are sacrifices we are called upon to make that we find inconvenient and excessively costly; but if we are convinced that God is calling for such a sacrifice, we do it anyway. We may be called., as was Abraham, to leave home, family, friends, and security to go where God leads even if we can’t see even one step ahead. But by faith, we go anyway.

Thinking about doing it anyway, my dad told about a nephew of his who, at about 5 years old, thought Dad’s mother was a very nice lady. He told Dad, “When I’m all growed up, I’m gonna marry grandma!” Dad said, “People can’t marry their grandma!” The kid folded his arms and said, “I don’t care! I’m gonna marry grandma henyhay!”

Many times in life we need that “I’m gonna do it henyhay!” attitude. Martina McBride wrote, about that, saying:

“God is great, but sometimes life ain't good

When I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway;

I do it anyway!”

The apostles were a group who, though opposed for preaching Jesus and the resurrection, did it anyway. Peter healed a lame beggar and caused a stir at the Temple. The religious leaders were livid and put him in jail. The text says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.’ and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, ‘What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.’ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’" Acts 4:8-20 (NASB).

And the apostles preached Jesus anyway, and, someone came and reported to the religious leaders, “‘The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned). When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:25-29 (NASB).

The apostles set the bar high. We know that for their courage all but 2 were martyred (the 2 being John and Judas Iscariot). They had an “Anyway” faith. An “Anyway” faith? What does it do in our lives? It will compel you to “Do It Anyway!”

I. IF YOU ARE OPPOSED WHEN YOU DO GOOD, DO IT ANYWAY!

A. The Apostle Peter had healed the crippled man. Nobody objected to that. Peter did something good.

1. People were glad he wasn’t lame anymore nor did he have to continue to beg.

2. He was so overjoyed that he did his happy dance all over the place right at the Temple, “walking and leaping and praising God.”