I was sitting at the beach July 4, with my family where local officials estimate the crowd to have been in access of 100,000 people. A small plane towing a sign that said “Jesus is coming – be ready -He loves you – John 3:16 and Romans 10:13” flew by at low altitude just above the beach.
The lifeguard, my son, and yours truly stood up and one of us shouted HALLELUJAH!!

Heads turned as if we had yelled fire!!! If looks could kill……

I wondered how many of those cross wearing folks would have stood up if Christ Himself had come up the beach. (He kinda did).

Think about it, we all “stood up” for Jesus… a slightly different way. One stood with both hands in the air and was silent. One just stood and was silent and one lifted one hand and shouted Hallelujah. All stood for Jesus.

At that moment, I knew what my message would be as I was asked to deliver one in the coming months. Prior to that, I was waiting and praying about what the message would be. God truly uses people and circumstances to speak to us.
“ Stand up for Jesus” was the title of the message.
I was so exited about the message and could not wait to tell the people about the little yellow plane that seemed to be struggling as it pulled this heavy banner through the air. The message was not met with the same joy and enthusiasm I had hoped for. Many chastised me for pointing out that only 3 people had stood up. In a discussion that ensued after the sermon, many pointed out the different ways people “stand up for Jesus” I was so humbled by this that my focus was shifted away from “my” performance to “Christ’s” performance. I heard so many stories of simple humble acts of kindness that are never seen, but of God. All of the stories were about someone else and not themselves. One lady shared with us that a friend visits the nursing home every week without fail and reads to the elderly, plays games and prays with them or just sits and reminisces. Another shared that he learned of a man that without fail, every Thursday, visits an elderly man that lives alone and…. put together a team of men that visit different days of the week to share the gospel of grace. We heard of an alcoholic, sober for 30 years, that lived as if he had nothing and has adopted 7 children in South America. Another that teaches bible study at lunch where religion is prohibited. One who attends AA with a friend that is struggling.
There were those with street ministries, meal ministries, shelter ministries….. none of which were seen by the public or captured in the local news, but all seen by God. There’s not enough space or time to share so many acts of love done in the name of Jesus. All were selfless humble examples of “standing up for Jesus”. In all fairness, we do not have to stand up and shout Hallelujah to “stand up for Jesus”. But, what then does it mean to stand up for Jesus?

This is an old message that I delivered back in 2015 but feel it is so appropriate to pull it out in this unsettled time. No matter what side you’re on, we.. are… divided. And…… no matter what side you’re on, we blood bought believers are called to express Christ in all we do. As I stood screaming expletives at the local news the other night, the Holy Spirit that lives in me had to be grieved. I was not expressing Christ! Not… standing up for Jesus!
When we quench or grieve the Holy Spirit, we are not expressing Him.
(Grieve means to make sorrowful. Quench means to put down as flames of a fire. (Strongs Concordance. )
As I shouted and angrily drove past my neighbor’s house that displayed signs supporting political candidates that do not support God’s Word, I was not expressing the Holy Spirit! Not…. standing up for Jesus!
As I screamed at a friend that agreed with the Governor of a U. S. State and medical Doctor openly supporting the killing of a child that had been born alive, I was not expressing the Holy Spirit! Not… standing up for Jesus!
As I engaged in “mind porn” watching a young women walk that same beach where I shouted Hallelujah, I was not expressing the Holy Spirit! Not…. standing up for Jesus!

I cold could go on and on but I think you get the point.

Make no mistake, all of the above mentioned are sin, but my reaction to them was not expressing the Christ whom I know lives in me.
Was I seeking the things above? Not even close! Was I allowing Jesus to stand? Not even close!

We stand up for Jesus when we let Jesus stand!

Jesus always stands in and with love. Always pursuing the person’s highest good. All that Christ did on earth and now in the person of the Holy Spirit is for every human’s highest good. ( We May not see or understand it at the time)

His will is that none would perish, but all come to repentance.

Without love, I’m no more than a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV
[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

I was not expressing Christ, I was expressing the flesh and the world – pride and the lust of the eyes.
I was not standing up for Jesus, I was propping up that old dead man that was crucified with Christ, standing and walking with him, not Christ. I was not walking in the Spirit, I was walking in the flesh. I was walking with the devil. I was actually quenching and bringing sorrow to the Holy Spirit. I was saying “ I got this, I’m going to do it my way”

When we heard and believed the Gospel of Grace by which we are now saved, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), by Grace through faith we were saved
(Ephesians 2:8-9), the Holy Spirit of God moved in. The old Adamic nature was crucified on the cross with Christ. [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)

John 14:23 KJV
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Emphasis mine)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
[19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Stop and think what an amazing privilege and blessing has been given to us by our Heavenly Father!

The Holy Spirit of God chooses us, the blood bought believer in which to dwell! Oh what love, mercy and grace!

We are not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV
[19] Quench not the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 KJV
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Do you see this? Don’t grieve or put down that which has sealed you until the day of redemption!!!! He that has brought you from death to life. He that has reconciled you and redeemed you. He that loves you the most. He that has adopted you into His Royal Family. He that is your friend. He that is your very life! (Galatians 2:20)
This is for…your…good!!

Think of the one that loves you the most – and the one you love the most on this planet. How do you feel when they grieve you, tell you to shut up, deceive you, show affection or give attention to someone other than you? You are broken hearted. Right?

That’s how it is with the Holy Spirit….. does He not love you more than the world? Do you not love Him more than anything? It’s about love. The ultimate show of love was that , while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Romans 5:8 KJV
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

It’s all about love! After the cross, blood bought born again believers are immersed into Christ, filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit with the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. John 10:28 KJV [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
He didn’t die so that we would be condemned (Romans 8:1). He died to pay our debt and then traded His life for ours! He took our cloak of sin and gave us His cloak of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV
[21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We never had this before the cross or before grace! [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:12-13).
This is the most precious “Gift” a human can receive!!!!!!!
God lives in us so He can live through us.
God has chosen us to express Himself through the person of the Holy Spirit.
This is Immanuel! God with us!!

Matthew 1:22-23 KJV
[22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

We are told it’s our reasonable service to present our bodies as a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). Why? So He can live in us and through us! In us, He shares His desires and mind with us in every circumstance. Why? So we can have life! His life! Real life? Life that is eternal! An abundant life of joy, peace and contentment in Him! Oh what peace we find when He is our life! Oh how our life changes when we no longer look for the world to fulfill us. Our everything is found in Him. Through us, He reaches the rest of the world. It’s His plan to use us in His kingdom, right now, today. He doesn’t make us do it, we see the love He has for us and we want to express Him.

Contrary to what popular preachers will tell you, the Holy Spirit does not leave us when we sin. He is right there with us, sad and heartbroken when we choose to not walk with Him. He is a gentleman and does not force Himself on us; there’s no love in that. He is right there and picks us up and brushes off that coat of righteousness He placed on us, removes the dirt we soiled it with and holds us, consoles us and lets us know how much He loves us! He stands “us” up and continues the war with the flesh. He may chastise us as He teaches us how to be more like Him, that’s His Job. He doesn’t fly away until we see the error of our ways. If that were the case, He would be like a ping pong ball in our lives. He loves us and wants us to prosper. He doesn’t want us to suffer the consequences of sin. That also breaks His heart.
Side-note: please do not confuse this with blaspheming the Holy Spirit – the unpardonable sin in Matthew 12:31. In context, Jesus was talking to unbelievers. The unpardonable sin is unbelief.

We blood bought believers have a choice every second of every day, who we will allow to guide us. We can choose to walk by the Spirit or by the flesh.
When we choose the Spirit, we will express His mind and emotions – His desires. You will know the difference because He will guide you. When You choose to hate, lust, lie, judge, spew ugliness or exhibit pride or fear, you will know it’s not from Him. You will be unsettled, miserable until you come in line with His desires. (Speaking of a believer here. A non – believer is comfortable in sin) He speaks to us by renewing our mind – giving us different thoughts and desires. He also speaks to us through His word. When we study and rightly divide that word, we will see the mind of God, what He is saying and to whom He is speaking. His word becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. He will continue to renew your mind until you see how much He loves you and that you can not go far enough away that He is not with you.
[7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. [12] Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139)

The Holy Spirit’s job is to bring you in and He will. You can go easy or hard. When God makes a promise, He keeps it.

Oh what beauty and peace we find in these promises.
Oh how I want to walk in Him and not cause Him sorrow.
Oh how I want Him to lead me with His full power and light and not quench Him.
Oh how I want to stand up for Jesus!

When we allow Him to guide us, we love as He loves, we forgive as He does, we have His mind will and emotions, His peace, His joy, patience, faith, kindness and self control.
We ( believers) are miserable in sin and once the shine wears off of that sin, we limp back to Him sorry, with the world’s battle scars. He’s there as coals of ember waiting to burst into a roaring flame in and through us, but He does not leave us. His Job is to fight the war of the flesh.
Christ will finish the good work He has started.
He knows the plans He has for us.

You see, when we were born again, born of the Spirit (John 3:5-6) by faith in the finished work of Christ, our old sin nature (old man) was crucified with Christ on the cross and we became new creatures in Christ. God now sees us through Christ. We are transformed….. by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2). As you fill your mind with Gods word, you begin to think as He thinks. It’s food for this new man that lives now.
The problem is the flesh has been eating the food of the world from Adam’s menu for so long, it is programmed and remembered in our members (flesh).
We will constantly fight this until we shed this body and receive a new glorified body. Now that you are blood bought, the Holy Spirit will not stop this fight! Victory is inevitable in Jesus!!!!
Galatians 5:17 KJV
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

We stand with Him when we fight this good fight with Him. We put on the full armor given to us.

Ephesians 6:11 KJV
[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Emphasis mine)
Do you see this? That… you… are…able….to.. Stand!

We fight battles here on earth with guns, knives, flesh and blood!
But the battle is against the dark world and spiritual forces of evil.
Watch this – please read carefully:

Ephesians 6:10-19 KJV
[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [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. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; [19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Emphasis mine)

Don’t miss this: vs 11- You…have …to … PUT…ON!!

Do you see the weapons?
Truth – Christ
Righteousness – Christ
Gospel of peace – Christ
Faith – Christ.
Salvation – Christ
Sword of the Spirit- Christ, the Word of God.
They’re all Love!!

Friends, Are you fighting the good fight with these weapons? Or, using hate, pride, judgement, anger, covetousness, jealousy, slander, and the things of the flesh.
God is love and love is the message for us in this wonderful message of Grace.
Love is the weapon used against all evil. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven! Jesus answered and said: “you know not what spirit you are. I came not to destroy but to save”. (Like 9:54-55)

Love saves, anger destroys.

Love fulfills all of the law. Romans 13:8-10 KJV
[8] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Emphasis mine)

Christ’s message is just that: to love is to fulfill all the law and commandments.
Do you see this? Christ is the end of the law.
Love becomes the law! Christ dying on the cross was the final instructions to the world. It’s finished!
There is no more sacrifice for sin. He died once because only the perfect sinless lamb could satisfy the debt owed. Hebrews 10:10 KJV
[10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

To love our neighbor! Not just those we like or agree with. Christ said that’s nothing, love even your enemies !!!!

Love means wanting better for the person whom you say you love than you do yourself.
Love is wanting the other persons higher good.

Love is what Christ exhibited when He set aside His glory and took on human flesh to die for humanity, paying our sin debt.

We blood bought, born of the Spirit believers are the only Christ there is in this world.
We stand up for Jesus first of all when we allow Him to stand.
We must first go down in order to come up.
Jesus said “ unless a seed fall to the ground and die, it stays there alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.

John 12:24 KJV
[24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Do you see this? We can not on our own stand up for Jesus without the power of His resurrection. If not for His death burial and resurrection we would still be dead in our sins. A dead man can not stand up for Jesus.
It does not matter how many good works you do, if you are not “in Christ” by faith in His finished work on the cross, you are NOT standing up for Jesus. You are a good human, but you are not standing up for Jesus.
There’s many a kind atheist that does wonderful works that is not saved. One of the richest men in the world and great philanthropist spends billions of dollars feeding the poor, building hospitals and schools around the world and has admitted that he does not believe in the God of the Bible. He and his family support a major religious institution (denomination) and believe that all of Christ’s teachings are moral and good, therefore identify as Christians (satan’s greatest deception). It’s amazing how God uses this man’s resources to help the world. They are not standing up for Jesus, they are standing up for their power and intelligence through science and the world, giving none of the praise to God (Romans 1).

We can only stand up for Jesus when we are in Jesus. When we by faith hear and believe the gospel ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) we are immersed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then uses us – stands us up – to do His work. If…..we allow Him to. Oh boy, that’s a wrench thrown into the gears! That’s right, as stated above, when we grieve Him, He is still present but will not join with “your” fleshly intentions or will. He waits patiently for sin to bring you back to Him. We are all prodigal sons.
Saltwater and freshwater will not come from the same fountain.
[10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. [11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (James 3:10-11)

We are only standing up for Jesus when our actions, words, mind, will and emotions are in line with His.
All that we do must be the truth…. in…. LOVE!
He is truth and He is Love

Screaming expletives at political rivals or at a certain race, group or ethnicity is not standing up for Jesus! Hating those or excluding those who are not in agreement with you about sin or lifestyle is not standing up for Jesus.

I have two dear friends that claim they believe in the finished work of the cross for salvation. They are a same sex couple that consider themselves married. We are friends and they consider me their brother in Christ. At no time have I ever caused them or anyone else to believe that I agree with their lifestyle. At the same time I do not condemn them because Christ doesn’t Condemn them. It’s not up to me to condemn them or judge them. My job is to love them. I truly do want better for them than I do myself. I truly seek their highest good. I share the truth of God’s word with them and pray God will edify them… and I go on loving them.

Jesus said, marriage is between a man and a women. If I’m in Jesus and He stands for that, I’m in Him standing.

[Matthew 19: 5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Jesus said, we were made male and female. I’m in Jesus and if He stands for that, there I am in Him standing. I will not stand for one that says I know better than God what my gender should be and that God made a mistake. I will tell them the truth and go on loving them.

Matthew 19:4 KJV
[4] And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

Jesus said, love your enemies, not only those that are easy to love. If Jesus stands for it, there am I in Him standing. I will not stand for any kind of hate!

Matthew 5:44,46 KJV
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Jesus said anger is just as bad as murder, lust, adultery, covetousness, pride judging, all sin, none worse than the other, all forgivable with the exception of unbelief. Jesus in no way stood for it. Neither can we.

Many will say, don’t tell me what you’re against but what you are for.
Let’s be clear. Jesus stood against sin and we should too. It’s not good for us.
We should never stand for something that Christ doesn’t stand for.
But let’s also be clear, Jesus died for sin……Who am I to say one’s sin is different or worse than mine.
If my gay friends believe that, then they’re behavior is between them and the Savior. We both are reading the same bible. The problem comes in our identifying what sin is. Some will say their lifestyle is not sin. Don’t we have to confess (agree) with what God says is sin? Are you concerned with what “some say” or what “God says”. We must stop telling people what we think and refer them to the truth of God’s word…. and love them (want their highest good). Truth in love.
Make no mistake, one of us is wrong. Truth will never be a lie.
Can a gay couple be saved? Well, answer this: can you or I that lust, lie, judge, hate, get angry, be saved?
Only by being washed in the blood of Jesus!
[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Do you see this? The issue is are you washed in the blood? Period.

We must never dress up sin and call it love. That is a lie. We must not condone that which is not of faith- sin. We must never compromise what Jesus stands for, and we must not be silent about it, but we must do it with Love, as He did.
We can know what Jesus stood for, its clearly given to us several different ways:

One: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
God has spoken to us through creation and the prophets and it’s all there. Seek and you will find.

Two: God has spoken to us through His Son, the person of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. This is the last will and testament to humanity. There is no more a human can do to be reconciled to their creator but faith in His finished work.

Three: God has spoken to us through the Apostle Paul. He was chosen to share the “rest of the story”.
To share the mystery that was hidden throughout the ages in his writings from Romans to Philemon that are from the risen living Christ. Paul was selected to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. You, if you are not a Jew. Christ has so much more to say than He said in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Four: God speaks to us through the person of the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that raised Jesus from the grave and will raise us. He speaks through the renewing of our minds and through that still small voice if we are quiet enough to listen. He speaks through circumstances and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our spiritual eyes will be opened and we will see Him in all things.

I think of all those through history who “stood up for Jesus” and were martyred, faithful unto death. ( read Fox’s book of Martyrs).
I think of the 100,000 that have been killed recently, around the world, “standing up for Jesus”.
Oh what a cloud of witnesses we have in the Saints.
I think of all those who “stood up for Jesus” and continue to stand for Him.

I’m reminded that when we “stand up for Jesus” we must always do it in truth and in love…….in Jesus.

Friends, we must remember and share the message that no matter how big our sin is….OUR SAVIOR IS BIGGER!!!!!!

Our standing is sure. We are saved and in Him by faith in His finished work at the Cross. We are raised and seated with Him, sealed until the day of redemption.
Blood bought believers live in the Spirit but can choose how we will walk. We can choose the Spirit or the flesh.
If we are talking Jesus, we should be walking Jesus.

Galatians 5:25 KJV
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:14-16 KJV
[14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [15] But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

By the grace of God, the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I have seen how I was fighting with the wrong weapons. I thought I was standing up for Jesus and really wasn’t, because my fight was not tempered with love. What a great burden was lifted from me with this teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit!
I pray that you are edified by this writing and that you will ask yourself when you are “standing up for Jesus” : am I expressing Him and only Him?

We blood bought believers are the only Christ this world sees……..

When we “stand up for Jesus”, It should be Jesus that is seen!

Amen.

THE SINNER’S PULPIt.
Come in a sinner and leave a saint.