Our democratic system of government functions by making compromises.
One political party agrees to bend a little if the other political party
bends a little. Agreements are made which allows both sides to win a
little and also to give up a little. With that form of government you
will have a conservative politician like Newt Gingrich making a public
appearance with a liberal politician like Hillary Clinton in order for
both of them to reach a mutual goal. It’s all in making a compromise.
Our political system wouldn’t work without it.
But when it comes to Christianity … there is a clarion call for no
compromise! When Peter and John were on their way to the Temple and met
a lame man, they would not compromise their faith! We are to make no
compromise with our faith!
Acts 3:4-6
Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention,
expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver
and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Peter’s prayer was bold! Peter knew exactly what he expected to happen
when he prayed! The man would rise up and walk! He didn’t pray a prayer
of blessing over the man and then tell him that he hoped he was feeling
better the next time he saw him. Peter had a faith in which there was
no compromise with this disease! He commanded the man to be healed! He
prayed a bold prayer.
On two other occasions in the Book of Acts we see faith that has no
compromise:
Acts 9:32-34
32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country
that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he
found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years
and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the
Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately.
Again Peter is speaking with authority, giving a spiritual command
to a disease to be healed, and the man is immediately healed. Perhaps
this is a presentation of a spiritual gift such as miracles or faith
… but it is bold. Peter makes no compromise in his expectation of what
is to happen … “Arise and make your bed.”
The third occasion was with the Apostle Paul and a girl possessed of
an evil spirit. She had followed Paul and Silas for several days, proclaiming
to the world that they were prophets.
Acts 16:18
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command
you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came
out that very hour.
Paul was annoyed. This is not a syrupy, spiritual feeling … but very
man-like “annoyed.” He turned and spoke to the spirit with no compromise
in his spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out
of her.” And the evil spirit obeyed! Paul knew what he expected and he
made no compromise in his faith! “Come out!”
A life of No Compromise is a life of Bold faith speaking God’s answers.
Also, we are to have No Compromise in giving glory to God for His work in us.
Acts 3:11-16
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all
the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's,
greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men
of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us,
as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified
His Servant Jesus…16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made
this man strong, whom you see and know.
Peter didn’t stop and consider whether or not to begin a healing school
name “Apostle Peter’s School of Ministry.” Nor did he establish a church
by advertising “Miracle Sunday.” He didn’t write a book about the amazing
miracles he had done in his lifetime. Instead he said, “Why are you looking
at us, as though by our own power or righteousness we made this man walk.
He walks because of faith in the name of Jesus.” Peter didn’t have the
right to claim anything for his own glory and he knew it.
As Americans, we are all indoctrinated with the ideas about our own
personal potential and our own personal rights. While I agree that we
all have potential … the potential isn’t linked to us … but to God! And
we have rights … but those rights must be submitted to God and His Word!
Like Peter, we must not take our accomplishments or our rights as our
personal possession.
The Apostle Paul wrote about God’s work in his life:
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being
from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us
sufficient as ministers of the new covenant.
2 Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of
the power may be of God and not of us.
Miracles, healings, gifts, abilities, and all other “sufficiency” come
from God. Understand. God isn’t looking for a false humility that says,
“Oh I can’t do anything without God’s help.” He is looking for a powerful
spirit of true meekness that recognizes your strength is God working
through you.
The problem we face isn’t usually one of pride in what we have done
… but in the Rights we have over the things that we call “ours.” Our
occupation, our income, our families, our lives are all given to us as
a gift from God. When we come to Christ we relinquish our rights! It
is no longer “our” time, “our” money, nor “our” life. We have this treasure
in temporary housing … earthen vessels which now belong to Jesus.
A life of No Compromise is a life of Bold faith speaking God’s answers,
and of Giving God all of our rights. We give up our rights and we allow
God the right to direct our choices.
A life of No Compromise is also a life of deep commitment to Christ.
Peter met a crisis in the practice of his faith … it was not popular with those
in authority.
Acts 4:1
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple,
and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they
taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next
day, for it was already evening.
Acts 4:7
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what
power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders
of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless
man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all,
and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this
man stands here before you whole.
Acts 4:18
18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach
in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether
it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God,
you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen
and heard."
Peter faced a dilemma which has been a difficulty from the beginning
of Christianity until this present day. There are governments and religious
rulers who will not allow Christians to freely practice their faith.
Peter would not compromise the practice of his faith when ordered by
authorities to change his teachings. He would make no compromise.
The first Christians to have a government take action against them
were under the reign of one of the Caesar’s, Domitian (AD. 81-96). Although
other Caesar’s were worshiped as god, Domitian was the first emperor
to take his divinity seriously and to demand Caesar worship. As a political
move to consolidate the Roman Empire he demanded that once a year everyone
would come to his temple, kiss the toe of his stone image, and declare,
“Caesar is lord.” He didn’t ask anyone to give up their religion, nor
to stop practicing it, you could worship any god you liked, but for that
one time a year you were required to make a public announcement that
“Caesar is lord.”
Is there a dilemma? Doesn’t God forgive if I just “say” those words
to stay out of trouble? After all it’s demanded of me and I don’t really
believe it. What can it hurt? I can say “Jesus is Lord” every other day
of the year!
But martyr after martyr would not bend before Domitian’s stone image
nor declare that Caesar was lord. History runs red with the blood of
those who have followed Peter’s example and declared “Jesus is Lord.”
What about you and me? We live in a democracy. We are used to making
compromises in order to get things done. If it’s a “win-win” situation
… shouldn’t we make just a little compromise? Do we always know when
we should stand up and be counted as a Christian and when we should sit
quietly and not make waves?
In a Christian magazine, I read a story of a young man who always wore
a cross. He worked on staff at a radio station and was eventually asked
by his boss to not wear it in the work place. He complied and was able
to continue being a witness to the other employees in the office and
the author of that article praised his wisdom. Was it a compromise or
was it wisdom? We are being asked to make that kind of judgment call
on a regular basis in our society.
At the local graduation there were public prayers led by some of the
students and it resulted in a complaint letter in the newspaper by someone
who said he was offended. Do we stop having public prayer because someone
is offended? Is it compromise of is it wisdom?
The world we live in lives by compromise. Yet, it is impossible to
compromise with someone who believes that there is only one way to get
to heaven and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. It is impossible
to compromise with someone who believes the Bible is the absolute truth.
We are not to be obstinate or belligerent, but we must know when its
time to have no compromise.
Peter lived a life of no compromise in his faith, in his rights, and
in his commitment. We are called to live a life like that as well!
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