Living Like a Jesus Freak
“If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” This familiar question always provokes reflection. Will our witness be enough? Or will we just live in a Christian culture? Some will think we are out of our mind to live passionately for Jesus. Living like a Jesus freak won’t just be believing something. We will do something about what we believe.
Bible Reading: Acts 25-26
Paul’s passion and boldness convict us to earnestly live out what we say we believe. There was no ambiguity about what he believed. He was not trying to satisfy a religion or a denomination. He was sold out, living for Jesus. And . . . He was a Jesus freak.
Living Like a Jesus Freak—How to Be a Jesus Freak
I looked up the definition of this term, first coined by D.C. Talk, I believe. A Jesus freak is a fervent evangelical Christian. Paul was so fervent in His love for God and in spreading the Gospel, that he was willing to die for it. This was not just religious zeal. This was a passion that comes from a relationship with God who chose to die on our behalf.
When we get it – really understand what Christ did for us, we are consumed with incredible joy and want to share the salvation that rocked our world and changed our lives with others. We have the cure for cancer!!! How can we keep it to ourselves?
But there will be hurdles that stand in our way. How will we handle those? Paul teaches us a few things about being a Jesus freak.
Living Like a Jesus Freak—Even if it means being tried
If you have never stood in a courtroom while being falsely accused, it might be hard to fully relate to what Paul was enduring. I remember being in a courtroom while someone falsely accused me of things. Assumed motives. Tables turned. But God. What is particularly painful is that Paul was a pharisee. He was a Jew among Jews. And it was his own people who were accusing him. All because of what he believed and spoke about.
Acts 25:24
“24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.”
Paul stays on mission. This is about God’s glory. Not about him.
Friends, what about us? There may come a day when we are hated for what we believe. When we are persecuted because we do what Christ commanded—tell others the good news about salvation. What will be our response? What is our response now when people accuse us? Do we have a defense for what we believe and why we believe it? Or are we defensive?
Living Like a Jesus Freak—Be Bold
Paul appealed to Caesar. He was bold. He did not shrink back in the face of fear and testing. Festus did not find anything worthy of a charge against Paul. And as Paul made his case before King Agrippa, he also agreed that Paul had not done anything deserving of death.
But Paul was after something more than just his own deliverance. He wanted the people to be delivered from their sin, so they could know God.
Sometimes we get trapped in the pursuit of comfort. We don’t want to be persecuted. Paul cared more for the souls of the very people trying him than he did his own freedom.
Living Like a Jesus Freak—Know Why You Believe.
Simply put, know the God You Believe In and know how to communicate that faith.
4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.
8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.”
Paul shared about his conversion experience. Paul shared his testimony. Friends, we would not have a testimony if we did not first have a test. Don’t be afraid of tests. Being a Jesus freak will be hard, but it is what we are called to.
Scripture of the Day: Acts 26:17-18
“17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Friends, God is sending us, too. People will think we are crazy. Even from within the church sometimes.
24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad. 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.”
Living Like a Jesus Freak—Know What You Believe.
Be able to communicate what you believe, friends. The world is desperate for truth.
Application
- Living like a Jesus freak is not being religious.
- Are you willing to share what God has given to you with others?
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #356 (Acts 25-26)
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Acts 26:17-18
“17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
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