Take a Stand: For Others

Introduction

SCRIPTURE: But when Cephas came into Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, FEARING the circumcision party. And the REST of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was NOT in step with THE TRUTH of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

STORY:

PROPOSITION: God intends for each of us to stay IN SYNC with the gospel in all circumstances.

INTERROGATIVE: Pastor Cody, it’s hard to stay in step with the gospel when everyone around me isn’t…what do I do? Pastor Cody how do I speak out when something around me isn’t right, especially when it is another believer doing it?

TRANSITION: Which leads us to POINT 1

POINT 1: Your CONVICTION of the gospel has to outweigh your FEAR of others.

Paul was watching a situation unfold right in front of him that could AGAIN split the church in half in many different ways. And not only that, two of his friends (one very close) were contradicting the gospel because in the moment they were fearing men more than they feared God (Matthew 10:28). In the same way this can happen to us on a daily basis. Your friends say something that goes directly against the gospel whether that is gossip, bullying, inappropriate talk, etc. you have a choice to make in that moment, to stand up for what is right you to lay down and go with the flow. The gospel calls us to do HARD things. God calls us to do difficult things many times that make us uncomfortable.

But if you notice here, Paul noticed something wrong happening, he had the choice to back down or step up. We have to STEP UP and SPEAK OUT. We can’t wait on someone else to do it. God places us in situations to shine His light and this is SO PRACTICAL. Your goal in life is the same as everyone else’s that has been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is to spread the good news of eternal life purchased by the blood of Jesus. Dealing with conflict is one of the ways that we can shine the light of Christ in the world.

When non believers sin, SHARE THE GOSPEL. When believers sin, hold them to TRUTH with LOVE. Notice that this conflict is between believers, so Paul confronts Peter with hypocrisy to what the gospel says and what He knows they have both been called to (talk about Acts 10). When Paul is around non believers he shares the gospel with them because their job description is to sin. When Paul is dealing with conflict with other believers he holds them to the truth of the gospel. Because he as we should realize that our decisions have consequences.

POINT 2: Decisions have CONSEQUENCES.

Your decisions can lead other TO or AWAY from the cross. It is so important for us to understand that all of us have a responsibility to carry for the sake of Jesus. We represent HIM. These are moments that it is really easy for me to emphasize with you something that I say a lot that has backing in the Bible. YOU HAVE INFLUENCE WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHETHER YOU LIKE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT. Realize what happened with Peter when he submitted to the circumcision party in fear…other Jews that were enjoying freedom in their faith in Christ began “acting hypocritically along with Peter”.

So if you have influence with those around you how are you going to use it? Choosing to use your influence for Jesus is MINISTRY on the FRONT lines. It is this simple. Your daily life and actions matter more than you know. You condoning bullying allows it to keep happening. You saying nothing when gossip happens allows it to keep happening. However, when you stand up like Paul does here, you set the tone for the friendships around you.

Be the person of INTEGRITY that others want to be around. Everyone needs people that they know are going to be in their corner, who are going to tell them the truth, who are treating you with respect, who are encouraging you in all the right ways.

POINT 3: You are ONE step from STUPID.

Surround yourself with faithful friends that will say HARD things to you. The most dangerous place to be is in the wrong and nobody around you to tell you to give you a wake up call. We have all been Peter in this instance too guys. I know so many different moments where I was the instigator, I was the guilty one, I was the one leading others into sin, I was the one talking about someone behind their back, I was the one watching something I shouldn’t, listening to something I shouldn’t, acting like I shouldn’t. You name it each one of us has been in that situation…what do you do when you’re the one that HOPEFULLY has a faithful friend. One you need to LISTEN before you lash out. Most of the time our first reaction to someone calling us out is with harsh words and a lack of understanding (one because we are sinning, but two because it’s embarrassing to be the one out of sync with the gospel). Two seek forgiveness with GOD and OTHERS you may have hurt in the process. And third realize that God RESTORES and rREDEEMS us. So many times we do something wrong, instead of running to God for forgiveness and moving forward, we beat ourselves up and wind up spiraling into deeper sin.

CONCLUSION:

Commit tonight to doing and saying the hard things.

Commit tonight to being the change that we want to see.