Unashamed
I have been spending a lot of time in the book of Acts for the past few months. It is due to being involved in a play at Spiritual Twist Productions. It is called Empowered and is all about the Holy Spirit. The play asks the question why doesn't the modern day church have the same power the New Testament Christians did?
The play is based on the book of Acts and has caused me to really study the book of Acts and ask some very tough questions of myself. Some of these questions I have asked before and others are brand new ones.
The other night, our director, Natalie Snapp, read an article, well more of a confession of faith, that a local pastor had read on Sunday morning. It was entitled, Fellowship of the Unashamed. Other than scripture, it was one of the most convicting things I have ever heard. I suggest that each and every Christian look it up online and read it. By the time our director was finished with reading it and another director had prayed there were quite a few of us rushing back to the tissue box.
I have been thinking about it ever since, along with the blog post I shared the other day. Several questions have arisen in my heart.
Can people tell that I have spent time with Jesus?
Would I really be willing to do whatever and go wherever Jesus called me? Even if that meant discomfort or even death?
Not easy questions to ponder.
I got to thinking about the fact that in our play we have several guys who are portraying the disciples. I just really hit me this morning that each and every guy up on the stage is portraying a man who died a martyr. Except for John, who was boiled in oil but survived to be banished to the island of Patmos, every disciple died a horrific death while proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter was crucified upside down
Andrew preached while being tied to a cross for 2 days before he died.
Thomas was pierced through with spears from 4 soldiers.
Philip was hanged upside down from iron hooks impaling his ankles.
Matthew was either stabbed to death or crucified.
Bartholomew was flayed with whips and then crucified.
James the Greater was the first one to be martyred and was beheaded.
Simon was crucified.
Mathias was either crucified, beheaded, burned to death, or stoned.
James the Lesser was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and when it was found that he had survived he was beaten, stoned, and hit in the head with a club.
John, the brother of Jesus, met the same fate as James the Lesser.
Jude was either killed with arrows or crucified.
Other New Testament leaders met similar fates.
Paul was beheaded.
Luke was hanged.
Mark was literally dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Timothy was beaten to death.
Many others died in the persecutions that arose after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Most of the people who were present at Pentecost later lost their lives for proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. The very New Testament character that I am portraying on stage probably was among those martyred. It kind of puts things in perspective.
It just got me thinking that if I was given the choice of denying Christ and live or proclaiming Him and death, what would I choose? The words come out of my mouth that I would never deny Christ but would I? If someone came and told me that I did not deny Christ that they would kill my children, what would I choose? Would I be strong enough to truly stand for my Savior? That decision needs to be made now. I need to raise my banner for Christ and walk in it securely. I am a child of God and I will not deny him for any reason.
That is what so many Christian martyrs have done through the ages. They lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Just read Foxes Book of Martyrs and you will be astonished at the ways Christians have been tortured and killed through the ages. It is very sobering. And convicting.
If you could go and ask each of these people who gave their lives in the name of Jesus Christ they would probably each tell you that they did not make their decision is their own strength. A decision like this and the power to follow through can only come from the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly bodies would fight for self preservation. I would try and save my child at all costs. The decision to stand with Jesus comes from walking so close to Him and tapping into the Helper that He sent us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do the impossible and the unexplainable and the miraculous. It is not us. God gets all the honor and glory when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows us to submerse ourselves in Christ and it is when we do this that we can do things that can change our world and bring glory to God.
The play is based on the book of Acts and has caused me to really study the book of Acts and ask some very tough questions of myself. Some of these questions I have asked before and others are brand new ones.
The other night, our director, Natalie Snapp, read an article, well more of a confession of faith, that a local pastor had read on Sunday morning. It was entitled, Fellowship of the Unashamed. Other than scripture, it was one of the most convicting things I have ever heard. I suggest that each and every Christian look it up online and read it. By the time our director was finished with reading it and another director had prayed there were quite a few of us rushing back to the tissue box.
I have been thinking about it ever since, along with the blog post I shared the other day. Several questions have arisen in my heart.
Can people tell that I have spent time with Jesus?
Would I really be willing to do whatever and go wherever Jesus called me? Even if that meant discomfort or even death?
Not easy questions to ponder.
I got to thinking about the fact that in our play we have several guys who are portraying the disciples. I just really hit me this morning that each and every guy up on the stage is portraying a man who died a martyr. Except for John, who was boiled in oil but survived to be banished to the island of Patmos, every disciple died a horrific death while proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter was crucified upside down
Andrew preached while being tied to a cross for 2 days before he died.
Thomas was pierced through with spears from 4 soldiers.
Philip was hanged upside down from iron hooks impaling his ankles.
Matthew was either stabbed to death or crucified.
Bartholomew was flayed with whips and then crucified.
James the Greater was the first one to be martyred and was beheaded.
Simon was crucified.
Mathias was either crucified, beheaded, burned to death, or stoned.
James the Lesser was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and when it was found that he had survived he was beaten, stoned, and hit in the head with a club.
John, the brother of Jesus, met the same fate as James the Lesser.
Jude was either killed with arrows or crucified.
Other New Testament leaders met similar fates.
Paul was beheaded.
Luke was hanged.
Mark was literally dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Timothy was beaten to death.
Many others died in the persecutions that arose after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Most of the people who were present at Pentecost later lost their lives for proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. The very New Testament character that I am portraying on stage probably was among those martyred. It kind of puts things in perspective.
It just got me thinking that if I was given the choice of denying Christ and live or proclaiming Him and death, what would I choose? The words come out of my mouth that I would never deny Christ but would I? If someone came and told me that I did not deny Christ that they would kill my children, what would I choose? Would I be strong enough to truly stand for my Savior? That decision needs to be made now. I need to raise my banner for Christ and walk in it securely. I am a child of God and I will not deny him for any reason.
That is what so many Christian martyrs have done through the ages. They lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Just read Foxes Book of Martyrs and you will be astonished at the ways Christians have been tortured and killed through the ages. It is very sobering. And convicting.
If you could go and ask each of these people who gave their lives in the name of Jesus Christ they would probably each tell you that they did not make their decision is their own strength. A decision like this and the power to follow through can only come from the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly bodies would fight for self preservation. I would try and save my child at all costs. The decision to stand with Jesus comes from walking so close to Him and tapping into the Helper that He sent us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do the impossible and the unexplainable and the miraculous. It is not us. God gets all the honor and glory when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows us to submerse ourselves in Christ and it is when we do this that we can do things that can change our world and bring glory to God.
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