Stand Up For Jesus Series

Stand Up, Stand Up

John 15:18-27

Two weeks ago the well known evangelist Franklin Graham was dis-invited to say a prayer at the pentagon. Military officials ask Graham not to come on the national day of prayer because Muslims working at the Pentagon might be offended by Grahams presence because Franklin Graham has said in the past that he finds Islam offensive and desires Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins

former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow participated in a controversial focus on the family pro-life commercial which aired during the super bowl earlier this year. As a result of that commercial he lost several of his sponsors. Tim says, “ losing sponsors was a small price to pay for being able to present my beliefs about family and faith to the public”

When you take a stand for something you will have people who agree and disagree. People who like you and people who hate you but it is impossible to take a stand for something and please everyone.

Country singer Aaron Tippin sings a song about taking a stand

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

That hymn we sung this morning

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

ye soldiers of the cross;

lift high his royal banner,

it must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory

his army shall he lead,

till every foe is vanquished,

and Christ is Lord indeed.

When Christ came into the world he drew the battle line

Jesus said, “Mat 10:34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

and since that time there has been a battle between Satan and the church and those who bear the name of Christ. Jesus identified this battle when he established the church

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

He warned his disciples in this passage that being a follower of Jesus is not going to be easy, its going to create some enemies but its also going to make some good friends.

The question this morning for us is: are we willing able and ready to take a stand for Jesus?

Are we like the Apostle Paul willing to say

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We are living in a generation that refuses to take a stand for much of anything, to many people today having people like them is more important than principle or even Jesus. That's one of the reasons that we don't talk about religion, it creates division, arguments and even enemies if we state our view.

People have a natural tendency to want to be liked Thats why whenever a group of people are in a room together and a vote is taken by a show of hands many people will look around and just vote how others are voting. Taking a stand is not easy

Paul says that we are to put on the whole armor of God and then he says something interesting

Eph 6:13 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.

He didn't say you had to have all the right answers or the best lawyers., He didn't say you had to be a public speaker, Just one that was willing to stand. Standing alone if necessary, standing like Franklin Graham and refusing to compromise your faith and beliefs because it offends someone.

If I please Christ it matters not who I offend. Thats why when we come together I don't pray that everything said and done here be pleasing to everyone who came but we pray that it pleases Christ

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

the church that did not deny his name

The disciples who refused to succumb to pressure and continued to preach the name of Jesus

Jesus stood up for the father and because of that the world hated him and after only 3 years of ministry nailed him to the cross and left him there until he died