Be bold! A. Lionel
Fear is the antitheses of courage. The devil uses this fear to topple us. Fear cripples us. It makes us ineffective. It causes our knees to shake.
“ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“ Peace be with you!””( John 20:19). The disciples were, at that time, trembling with fear. Even today, we feel threatened by events that happen around us. If the Bible is juxtaposed with the newspaper, several events of these last days frighten us. A pastor in Chhattisgarh was brutally tortured and murdered. The States of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, why, even Tamil Nadu also, have seen pastors being persecuted. Violence against Christians has become fairly widespread across India. How do we respond?
“ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him,“ Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied,“ Go tell that fox, ' I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day-for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!”( Luke13:31-33) Yes, unless the Lord permitted it, no one could lay a hand on Jesus.
“ Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them,“ Who is it you want?”“ Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.“ I am he,” Jesus said. And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.( John18:4-5) Who would be so daring?
“ For you died, and your life is now hidden with
Christ in God.”( Colossians 3:3). Even a sparrow does not fall to the ground without our Heavenly Father ' s will.“ Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”( 1 Timothy 6:12-14). We are disciples of our Lord Jesus, who boldly testified before Pilate.
All of us remember the anti-Christian riots that happened in Khandamal district of Odisha, a few years ago. Missionaries were forced to leave the place immediately. Our Working Committee meeting was going on then. We prayed for them. Everyone prayed. Praise God that missionaries acted boldly.
Today, where are the Nehemiahs who would boldly say,“ Should a man like me run away?”
The words,“ Fear Not!” appear in the Bible 366 times. We can appropriate one for every day of the year.“ The sluggard says,“ There ' s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!””( Proverbs 26:13)“ The sluggard says,“ There ' s a lion outside! I ' ll be killed in the public square!”( Proverbs 22:13). Do not heed these words. Do not fear when the devil says,“ Don ' t go to the village, they ' ll kill you!” Be steadfast. Courage is your best companion!
I love young people. The reason is that they are more daring.“ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one ' s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in the gate”( Psalm 127:4-5).
What is the testimony people gave of Jesus ' disciples?“ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”( Acts 4:13).
Yes, my Jesus was a courageous man. In fact, He is the embodiment of courage.
( This is Part III of the transcript of Bro. Lionel ' s message at the 45th General Body meeting of BYM on 28th August, 2016)
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