“I Wanna Be Guilty!”
: Acts 8:1-6, 4:19-20. 5:27-29
David P. Nolte
It’s a human tendency to defend our innocence when we are accused even if we are guilty. We may even attempt defending the actions we cannot deny. We may rationalize, minimize, justify or even lie about our actions. We may try to shift the blame.
There is, however, an area of life where, when accused by the world, we should boldly and confidently prove our guilt.
The question has been asked, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” That’s one accusation to which we should be happy to reply, “Guilty as charged!” But even then, it should be a life, not lip confession; it should be walk not talk evidence; it should be genuine not gilded proof.
The song by The Newsboys, and sung by the Boyer Bunch, said,
“If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury.”
Consider the boldness of the early followers of Jesus Christ. We read that when Stephen was stoned for preaching Jesus, “on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.” Acts 8:1-6 (NASB). Being scattered furthered the cause as scattering seed increases the harvest.
And when they were warned not to talk about Jesus, “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 4:19-20 (NASB). So they kept preaching, and the high priest said, “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 5:27-29 (NASB).
To be found guilty when accused of being for Jesus we need to present the evidence Just as the disciples and apostles did. What enabled them to live lives that convicted them? THEY PUT GOD FIRST AND THEY HAD
I. AWARENESS OF ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY:
A. When ordered to shut up, “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’”
1. Now, ordinarily we are commanded to obey the laws of the land:
a. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. .... Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.” Romans 13:1-2 and 5 (NASB).
b. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.” 1 Peter 2:13-15 (NASB). That’s true, like it or not!
2. But is equally clear that when man’s laws contradict God’s Law then the former must yield to the latter.
3. There are levels of law, and higher laws always override lesser laws. For example, the law of gravity holds a plane to the ground until the higher law of aerodynamics lifts it 10 miles into the sky.
4. The apostles knew God is King; God rules; God is in charge; GOD IS BOSS!
B. The people of the world try to ignore the authority of God and want to be a law unto themselves:
1. As in the days of the Judges, “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” But, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 (NASB).
2. Some say, “I’ll choose my own path,” but Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB).
C. The problem with modern society is rejection of God as God:
1. God said, “Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.” Proverbs 1:29-32 (NASB).
2. And Paul wrote, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:22-25 (NASB).
3. That boils down to this: mankind rejected God in favor of a godless society and that is what we have today – God is not to blame for the awful things that happen – those things are the inescapable consequence of shutting out God and thus losing His blessings. You can’thave it both ways:GOD GET OUT AND GODBLESS US!
D. To be in God’s will, and blessed, we need to be acutely aware of His absolute authority, and to obey it. A young boy illustrates that: Many years ago in England, a farmer was at work in his field when he saw a party of horsemen riding about his farm. He had one field he especially wanted to protect.
“Shut the gate to the field,” he said to the boy, “and on no account let it be opened.”
The boy was hardly at his post before the riders came up and ordered the gate to be opened. The boy refused to do it, stating the orders he had received. Threats and bribes were offered to no avail.
One of the huntsmen said, “My boy, I am the Duke of Wellington, and I command you to open that gate that I and my friends may pass through.”
The boy lifted his cap and stood before the man and answered firmly, “I am sure that the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey orders. I must keep this gate shut and not allow anyone to pass.”
Greatly pleased, the old warrior lifted his own hat and said, “I honor the boy or man who can neither be bribed nor frightened into doing wrong,” and he handed the boy a gold coin. Then the old Duke put spurs to his horse and galloped away. The boy knew who was in authority, and he obeyed.
MAY WE HOLD GOD’S AUTHORITY IN THAT HIGH ESTEEM! THAT WILL PRODUCE:
II. BOLDNESS OF BIBLICAL BELIEF:
A. When severe persecution flared up, “Those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.” And the apostles plainly declared, “we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” They knew what they believed and stood up for it!
1. Threats failed to silence them.
2. Warnings went unheeded.
3. When driven away they carried the good news with them.
B. What we believe determines what we do and if we truly believe something we will boldly declare it. I’m talking about Biblical belief:
1. It is possible to believe a lie.
2. A lie, no matter how widely or deeply believed, is still a lie.
3. Belief, however sincere, does not create truth.
4. If you are going to risk your life for what you believe, make it the truth you are believing and for which you stand.
5. When we believe Biblical truth we need to be bold in sharing it.
6. As the song said,
“If saying ‘I believe’ is out of line
If I’m judged ‘cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I wanna be guilty!”
C. Boldness does not mean seeking a fight or carelessly forfeiting our lives.
1. It means standing firm for what you believe, even if you stand alone and even if it costs you.
2. It means refusing to compromise convictions for the sake of comfort or convenience.
3. It means holding firm to our faith in spite of fear or favor.
D. The Bohemian reformer John Hus was a man who believed the Scriptures to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters. He died at the stake for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus’s last words were, “What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood.” That’s boldness of Biblical belief.
WITH AWARENESS OF ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY AND BOLDNESS OF BIBLICAL BELIEF, WE CAN ACT WITH:
III. COURAGE OF CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT:
A. “Those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.” Their commitment gave them courage!
1. Courage is not being unafraid – it’s doing that to which you have committed yourself in spite of fear.
2. A person may be foolishly unafraid and daringly stand in front of a speeding train. That’s not courage – that’s stupidity.
3. But when fear breathes down our necks and we still carry on doing the right things to which we have committed ourselves, that’s courage.
B. Here are some commitments every Christian should make:
1. Be committed to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
2. Be committed to press on to the goal to which God calls us in Christ Jesus.
3. Be committed to prayer for Christ’s church as it faces a hostile world.
4. Be committed to speak about Jesus when the opportunity arises even if strongly opposed.
5. Be committed to unconditional, unquestioning, unhesitating obedience to the commands of The Lord Jesus, not to the will of man.
C. Soldiers, committed to freedom’s cause, face death daily; police officers, committed to law, order and public safety, put their lives on the line daily. How about me and my commitment– how about you and yours?
D. Let me illustrate the courage that comes from commitment. Forty young soldiers in their twenties, belonging to the Twelfth Legion, having been faithful to their beliefs and not giving in to emperor worship like so many others, they were being persecuted by the Roman Emperor Licinius. In spite of this, these forty soldiers affirmed that no torment would separate them from Jesus Christ.
When the order of Licinius reached the encampment that soldiers must participate in the sacrifice to idols, they refused without hesitation. Arrested immediately, they were locked up in prison.
They spent a long time in prison before being condemned to die. The place chosen for the sentence was a frozen lake. On this frozen lake, they were compelled to stand, naked. For some time, none of the condemned left the stretch of ice.
All of a sudden one of the condemned overcome by the cold staggered off the ice and died. Seeing this, the soldier in charge of the prisoners, decided to take the place of the one who had given in. Taking off his clothes, he proclaimed himself a Christian and went on to the ice with the other condemned and died alongside them.
THAT’S A PICTURE OF THE COURAGE OF CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT! And when we are courageous, we can say with the song,
“If saying ‘I believe’ is out of line
If I’m judged ‘cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I wanna be guilty by association
Guilty of being a voice proclaiming
Your ways, your truth, your life
I’ll pay the price to be your light!”
I want to be found guilty if accused of being a Christian!
PRAY
Ask Him to enable you to so live that there is plenty of evidence that you are a Christian.
Ask Him for grace to be bold and courageous for Jesus. Do that as we sing.
Ask God to cleanse you of anything, pride, apathy, fear, procrastination or anything else that gets in the way of boldly, courageously, intentionally living for Him!
If you dare let Him have His way, you will be at cross purposes with the world; it will indict you, try you, and condemn and persecute you – but if I’m judged because I’m a believer in Jesus, and He is Lord of my life, “Then I wanna be guilty!”
