Having Done All Stand!

In these days of political correctness, we have been taught that everything is OK. That you go along to
get along. They are even having prayers in the Christian Churches to Gods other than the One True God,.
This is not right. Tonight, we are going to look at how and why men and women of old as well as men
and women of today hazard they lives to move the Word of God.
We have many examples of people who stood to proclaim and protect God’s Word in the Bible, but, I
would like to focus on just a couple. First, we will look at how Peter was changed.
John 21:1-3 (KJV)
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this
wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They
went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
You have to build this picture in your mind. The great Apostle Peter, the one who walked on
water, who travelled and learned from Jesus Christ himself, who, also, wrought miracles and
who had seen Jesus Christ in his resurrected body. This same Peter got to the point after ALL of
teaching and experience in Christ’s presence, says to six other disciples, some being Apostles, “I
go a fishing.”
What did Peter do BEFORE he started following Jesus, before he was called to the ministry? He
was a fisherman! What he was saying was “boys I’ve had enough. I don’t know what Jesus is up
to and as for this ministry, Jesus is gone. So, I am going back to my old ways – I’m going
fishing.”
If you read further you will see Jesus comes along and gets Peter back on track for the ministry.
Now in the Gospel of John, Peter is hiding, with other disciples, behind closed doors. Because he
was afraid.
John 20:19 (KJV)
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where
the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith
unto them, Peace be unto you.
If you read the history of Peter he was always trying to be his best, but, always falling short. Fear
and doubt always getting in the way. Now look at Acts chapter two.Acts 2:14 (KJV)
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of
Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Wow! What a change! In a little over a month Peter went from hiding behind closed doors for
fear of the Jews to standing up in the midst of the Jews and declaring BOLDLY Jesus Christ.
AND, he starts it out by saying “you listen to me!” What changed this man? We know it is by
free will that he is doing this, so, what changed him? There is only one thing that could have
changed Peter!
Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance.
THAT IS IT! On the day of Pentecost Peter spoke in tongues and at that point he KNEW beyond
a shadow of a doubt that he had the power of Christ inside! By knowing this he became a
workman together with God! (II Corinthians 6:1) On that day Peter became the man he always
wanted to be! I tell you he laid it out for those Jews that day and over Three Thousand people
were converted, born again. He changed the World by his believing.
The next person I want to look at is the Apostle Paul. Paul, unlike Peter, was a very educated
man. Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest teacher of that day. He was perfect according to
the Law and was a Pharisee, one of the highest positions in Judaism in that day. Until one day
when Jesus Christ met him on the road to Damascus. After that Paul had one purpose only.
Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Because of his stand the Jews went from loving him to persecuting him.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (KJV)
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have
been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils
by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness.All of this persecution and suffering for ONE reason, to preach the Gospel of Christ! Now you have to ask
yourself “Why did he do it?” Why did Peter stand up in the midst of the Jews when he could have just
gone along to get along? The answer is simple. They knew what they had and they knew where their
home was and they had their priorities straight.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
You are sealed when you do Romans 10:9,10.
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:1-9 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 8:15-18 (KJV)
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
Too many Christians believe that this life is the end all. I am here to tell you IT IS NOT! We
have so much NOW and so much WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK FOR US that we, like Paul
and Peter, should be working toward storing up treasures in Heaven by being BOLD and
speaking of the wonderful deliverance in Christ.1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We are Christ men and women and God has chosen you at this moment in history to do what only you
can do for Him. So having done all STAND and proclaim Christ to the World.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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