Dogged Determination

Dogged Determination

[Acts 5:40-42]


Dogged: obstinately determined
Determined: decided, resolute

Dogged determined people thrill us and inspire us. How many times were we moved by the dogged determination of Michael Jordan to win at any costs, to over come huge deficits in the fourth quarter, games of elimination in the playoffs, or the clock in those last seconds getting off the game winning shot at the buzzer? Many of you will remember the obstinately resolute will of Emmit Smith playing in a playoff game against the New York Giants with a separated shoulder and still gobbling yards to help the Dallas Cowboys gain the victory a few years ago. Who can forget the determined face and words of President George W. Bush after 9-11 while standing at ground zero in New York City?
Obstinate resolution is a good thing. We are motivated to take a stand when we remember the lives of Rosa Parks who refused to give her seat on the bus during the civil rights movement. We are enthralled to relive the speeches of the late Dr. Martin Luther King who fought for racial equality until he was tragically assassinated.
Why is dogged determination celebrated in most every venue of life except in the Christian church? Why have so many Christians become so disconnected with those resolute warriors of the past who refused to be intimidated, silenced, or suppressed but instead preached boldly, resisted peer pressure, faced persecutions and even certain death without flinching, and turned the world upside down? [Acts 17:6] We need obstinately resolute men in the pulpit who refuse to bow to the pressures of this age to tickle the ears and attract crowds rather than to make disciples. We need fearless men in the pulpits who will go for the jugulars of the lost masses who are being lulled to sleep and eternal damnation from self help sermons and harmless sermonettes without the fangs of the gospel attached to grip a soul and bring them to repentance.
We need dogged determined parents who will fight for the souls of their children in prayer, family devotions, and the avoidance of every appearance of evil, especially with television and the internet. We need grand parents who will resolve to pass on a Christ-like legacy to their grandchildren. We need dogged determined teenagers who will defy their rebellious generation and champion the cause of Christ even when it means standing alone.
We need dogged determined church planters to go to the hard places of this world and plant churches to give a gospel witness where there is not one currently. We must have dogged determined missionaries who will forsake the comforts of life in the States to run toward risk to the far corners of this world where the whisper of Jesus’ name has never been heard. We need them to resolutely stay the course like the great William Carey did, battling many obstacles along with personal and family trials. He stayed the course.
We need brilliant theologians to brave the prevailing watered down doctrinal winds of the day and teach and write to defend truth, even when it costs job security. We need humble teaches rather than puffed up and prideful professors who professing to be wise have made themselves fools, forsaking the Holy Scriptures in light of higher criticism.
As children of God, we have inherited a legacy of faith passed down for generations of people who were dogged in their determination to advance the kingdom of God. Just look at our text. These apostles were severely beaten, with backs bloodied and bruised, threatened not to continue their preaching and teaching, knowing these were not idle threats, and yet they rejoiced. That word seems strangely out of context with these verses. How does one rejoice when the flesh of his back has been laid open and the sinews of muscles are exposed and battered by heavy handed soldiers? How do you find courage and strength to walk away when released when the clothing on your back begins to stick to the blood drying from your wounds? How do you find vigor to rejoice and renewed determination to stay the course and when more of the same awaits? How do you worship when your wounds scream in agonizing pain? How do you resolve to keep right on doing what you were warned not to do?
These apostles, walked away from the blood splattered street where they were beaten, in worship and with dogged determination to continue their mission – spread the name of Christ. In fact, every day, in the synagogues and up down the streets of Jerusalem, they went from house to house kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. [Acts 5:42]
This mentality is contrasted today with casual church members who are easily deterred by ball tournaments, leisure days at the lake, sleeping in, and yard work in lieu of church attendance, spreading the love of Jesus with co-workers and friends, and mission involvement.
How many dogged determined Christians do you know? How many sit in your Bible Study classes? One? A dozen? How many fill the choir loft? How many dogged determined people do you have show up for visitation night?
Dogged determination is celebrated is many areas of society but not held in high esteem for the church. I was tested earlier this year with my oldest son’s football team. Because of scheduling conflicts they asked for a show of hands of people who were not in favor of practicing on Wednesday nights. My hand was the only one up among dozens of parents. Mind you, many of the parents were Christians and active in their churches (at least on Sunday mornings). When we were to play the championship game later on in the season, rumors surfaced that the game was going to be played on Sunday. Not in an arrogant way but determined to preserve that day as a holy day unto the Lord, I had to tell the coach under no circumstances would be play on Sunday.
Many of you who read this will say that is not dogged determination, that is being rigid, inflexible and narrow minded. I query, is God still not worthy of a day devoted to worship of Him? One day out of six other days? Does the infinite value and exceeding weight of His presence not deserve time to be preached, sung, meditated, and taught. Is God not worth ten percent of our money at least, leaving us with an ample ten percent to live on? Is God not worth a few hours devoted to worship and listening to Him on Sundays while ball games are left to the other days of the week? Many of you can remember when stores were not even opened on Sundays. Sundays were days of worship and enjoying the company of friends. My how things have changed. Would the apostles have accepted or resisted these changes. Would they have accepted this in stride and had a lackadaisical attitude about preserving one day of the week for God. They fought for every day of the week. [Acts 2:42, 5:42] I am challenged and inspired to be more for God by reading about these men.
The other morning I shared the story of these men with my boys in our family devotion. I asked them what they would do if their backs were beaten and they were commanded not preach Jesus anymore. Taylor, age 10 said, “I would keep on doing it.” Tanner, age 7 responded, “I would keep preaching.” Tucker, age 6 shouted, “I would keep doing it.” How I pray they would see that dogged determination in their daddy as well and not watch me wimping out when the heat comes. I pray I would be a dogged determined pastor, author, and disciple. I pray you are as well. May our resolute obstinate hearts ever beat to make a difference for our King.