Growing Pressure

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Acts 7:54-60 | Psalm 3 | John 12:27-43

PRESSURE-COOKER

“I knew it because the Lord informed me; at that time You, O Lord, showed me their doings.” - Jeremiah 11:18

The temple guards were so impressed by Jesus’ words that they disobeyed their orders to arrest Him (John 7:45). They said, “No man ever spoke like that before” (John 7:46). The religious leaders pressured the guards to follow the “party line.” The guards gave in to the pressure.

“There were many, even among the Sanhedrin, who believed in Him; but they refused to admit it because of the Pharisees, for fear they might be rejected from the synagogue. They preferred the praise of men to the glory of God” (John 12:42-43). They gave in to the pressure.

The apostles were pressured to abandon Jesus. Peter was pressured to deny Him three times. They all folded under pressure (see Mark 14:50, 68).

After Pentecost, once again the pressure was on. This time the apostles (Acts 4:19; 5:29), Stephen (Acts 7:55), Philip (Acts 8:4), Ananias (Acts 9:13), and Paul (Acts 28:31), refused to crack under the pressure. The Holy Spirit made the difference.

Because we live in a post-Christian society and a “culture of death,” Christians are often under pressure at home, work, school, and even at church. But Scripture teaches us that, if we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, we will be able to stand.

Prayer: Father, give me the grace to persevere.