FEAR! A WORD THAT IS ONLY 4-LETTERS, BUT ONE THAT CAN REAP DEVESTATING CONSEQUENCES. FEAR IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT CAN PARALYZE, CONTROLL, AND MANIPULATE US. FEAR CAN COMPELS US TO DO IRRESPONSIBLE THINGS AND CAN EVEN HINDER US FROM LIVING RESPONSIBLY AND LIVING FRUITLESS LIVES.
THIS IS WHY I THINK THAT FEAR IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE ARE NOT AS BOLD OR INTENTIONAL WITH SHARING THEIR FAITH AS OFTEN AS THEY SHOULD.
THAT IS WHY I WILL “GO AHEAD AND SAY IT” BUT I’LL TRY TO DO SO AS GRACEFULLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IT CAN BE RATHER ABRASIVE: CHRISTIANS NEED TO OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT GOD DOES NOT LOOK FAVORABLY ON HIS CHILDREN WHO, IN THE FACE OF SPIRITUAL OPPOSITION AND PERSECUTION, GO “SILENT” OR BECOME TIMID AND ASHAMED TO SAY ANYTHING WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY IS PRESENTED TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
WE HAVE THE GREATEST MESSAGE TO PROCLAIM, SO WHAT ARE WE AFRAID OF? PAUL ENCOURAGED TIMOTHY IN 1 TIMOTHY 1:7-8, “FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR AND TIMIDITY, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE. SO NEVER BE ASHAMED TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT OUR LORD.”
YES, GOD IS LOVING, PATIENT, KIND AND SLOW TO ANGER, BUT HE CANNOT LOOK UPON SIN NOR CAN HE TOLERATE APATHY AND UNWARRANTED FEAR. REVELATION 21:8, SAYS "BUT FOR THE COWARDLY AND UNBELIEVING AND ABOMINABLE AND MURDERERS AND IMMORAL PERSONS AND SORCERERS AND IDOLATERS AND ALL LIARS, THEIR PART WILL BE IN THE LAKE THAT BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH."
THIS IS WHY ONE OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE IS TO HAVE A BOLDNESS THAT ALLOWS YOU TO STAND FIRM IN THE PRESENCE OF OPPOSITION AND PERSECUTION.
WE MUST REALIZE THAT GOD’S KINGDOM CAN ONLY BE ESTABLISHED BY FAITHFUL AND COURAGEOUS PEOPLE WHO WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD, FACE TO FACE AND TOE TO TOE WITH AND AGAINST THE OPPOSITION.
THERE IS SOMETHING AMAZING ABOUT THE ENCOUNTER PETER AND JOHN HAD WITH THE SANHEDRIN BEFORE THEY WERE RELEASED FROM PRISON. IN THE FACE OF THEIR ACCUSERS THEY SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
WHEN PETER AND JOHN WERE BEING TRIED BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THEIR AIM WAS NOT TO GET OFF THE HOOK. THEIR SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO BOLDLY DECLARE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST EVEN THOUGH THE SANHEDRIN HAD THE POWER TO PUT THEM BACK IN PRISON, SEVERELY PUNISHED OR EXECUTED.
THIS ACT OF COURAGE BECAME THE HALLMARK OF THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN ACTS AND IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. IT IS THE SAME COURAGE WE MUST USE TODAY.
THE GOSPEL IS SUCH URGENT NEWS THAT WE MUST USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. WE MUST SEEK EVERY OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY WILL TRY TO STOP IT.
THE FACTS REMAINS THAT THE TRUTH OF GOD IS TOO RADICAL FOR ALL PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO PASSIVELY. SOME WILL TRY TO STOP IT WHILE OTHERS WILL IGNORE IT, BUT, PRAISE GOD, SOME WILL TAKE IT TO HEART AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
THE BOOK OF ACTS CHALLENGES US TO ANTICIPATE SUFFERING AS AN INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. WE CANNOT SUCCUMB TO THE FEAR THAT BIDS US TO PICK UP OUR CROSS ONLY WHEN IT’S IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
WE CANNOT BREAK UNDER THE WEIGHT OF FEAR THAT TRIES TO PRESSURE US TO LAY DOWN OUR CROSS THE MOMENT WE FEEL THE HEAT OF PERSECUTION BLOWING OUR DIRECTION.
WE MUST MAKE IT OUR LIFE’S AMBITION TO BE FAITHFUL TO OUR CALLING AND TO GUARD AGAINST THE TEMPTATION TO TONE DOWN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO MAKE IT “LESS OFFENSIVE” OR “MORE POLITICALLY CORRECT.”
WE CANNOT DOWNPLAY THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRISTIANITY. AFTER ALL, JESUS IS THE WAY AND NOT JUST “A” WAY! WE NEED TO OWN UP TO OUR IDENTITY AND REDEEM OUR SUFFERING SO THAT, AS CHRISTIANS, WE WILL LEARN TO THINK BIBLICALLY ABOUT SUFFERING AND ANTICIPATE THE RICH HARVEST OF BLESSINGS THAT SUFFERING CAN YIELD.
WE MUST ADOPT THE BIBLICAL ADVICE OF JAMES 1:2, TO “CONSIDER IT PURE JOY…WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS.” JOY CAN BE FOUND IN THE DEPTHS OF SUFFERING.
SO, INSTEAD OF DIVING HEAD FIRST INTO THE LAKE OF PANIC AND CONFUSION, PLUNGE INTO THE WORD OF GOD AND REDEEM YOUR SUFFERING. LET’S LOOK AT FIVE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT!
THE FIRST STEP TO REDEEM YOUR SUFFERING IS TO NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO THROW IN THE TOWEL WHEN PERSECUTION, CRITICISM AND SLANDER COMES OUR WAY NOT ONLY FROM THE LOST, BUT FROM YOUR LOVED ONES AND CHURCH FAMILY.
THERE MAY BE THOSE WHO DO NOT LIKE YOU OR LIKE HOW YOU DO THINGS. NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY IT JUST WON’T MEET THEIR “STANDARDS.” NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN CONFLICT WITH THEM.
YOUR FIRST REACTION MAY BE TO CONFRONT THESE PEOPLE TO REDEEM YOURSELF, BUT YOU SHOULD FIRST GO TO GOD AND CLAIM HIS PROTECTION, WISDOM AND GUIDANCE.
PSALM 46:1-2, “GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, ALWAYS READY TO HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE…SO WE WILL NOT FEAR….” PSALM 91:9-11, “IF YOU MAKE THE LORD YOUR REFUGE, IF YOU MAKE THE MOST HIGH YOUR SHELTER, NO EVIL WILL CONQUER YOU; NO PLAGUE WILL COME NEAR YOUR DWELLING. FOR HE ORDERS HIS ANGELS TO PROTECT YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.”
ONCE YOU GO TO GOD CONCERNING YOUR SITUATION YOU MUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF OVER THE SITUATION YOU’RE INVOLVED WITH. IF THE SITUATION INVOLVES VALID OFFENSES THEN GO TO THAT PERSON TO BE RECONCILED. MATTHEW 18:15, “IF ANOTHER BELIEVER SINS AGAINST YOU, GO PRIVATELY AND POINT OUT THE FAULT….” GO AND BE RECONCILED.
BUT IF THE SITUATION INVOLVES THOSE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO STIR UP TROUBLE AND CAUSE DIVISION WITHIN YOUR FAMILY OR CHURCH FAMILY LEARN TO JUST LET IT GO AND LEAVE THEM ALONE. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO “TAKE THE BAIT!” DO NOT GO FOR THE BATE THAT THEY HAVE PLACED INSIDE THEIR TRAP.
ROMANS 16:17-18, “…WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS AND UPSET PEOPLE’S FAITH BY TEACHING THINGS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. SUCH PEOPLE ARE NOT SERVING CHRIST OUR LORD; THEY ARE SERVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS. BY SMOOTH TALK AND GLOWING WORDS THEY DECEIVE INNOCENT PEOPLE.” THE FIRST STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED.
THE SECOND STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF YOU SPEND TIME AT THE FEET OF THE MASTER. LEARNING GOD’S WORD, PRAYING AND USING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HIM.
JUST LIKE AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE NEEDS TO BE PLUGGED INTO A POWER SOURCE IN ORDER TO WORK, SO DO WE, AS CHRISTIANS, NEED TO STAY “PLUGGED IN” TO OUR POWER SOURCE FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST.
MATTHEW 5:6, “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED.” PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7, “DON’T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING; INSTEAD, PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.
TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED, AND THANK HIM FOR ALL HE HAS DONE. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE HUMAN MIND CAN UNDERSTAND. HIS PEACE WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS YOU LIVE IN CHRIST JESUS.”
IF YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME WITH JESUS. THE SECOND STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.
THE THIRD STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO THE WORD OF GOD. WE MUST BECOME MEN AND WOMEN OF THE WORD WHO CAN FACE ANY AND EVERY CRISES WITH THE STRENGTH THAT SCRIPTURE HIDDEN WITHIN THEM CAN GIVE!
WE NEED TO BE “WALKING BIBLES.” CHRISTIANS MUST NEVER FORSAKE BEING DILIGENT IN THE DAILY STUDY, MEDITATION AND APPLICATION OF THE WORD OF GOD.
PSALM 119:11, “I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.” THE THIRD STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO THE WORD OF GOD.
THE FOURTH STEP TO REDEEM YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO OTHERS IN FELLOWSHIP. WHEN WE SPEND TIME PRAYING WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO KNOW US AND ARE COMMITTED TO US, WE WILL RECEIVE GREAT STRENGTH AND COURAGE FROM KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE!
WHEN WE ARE UNDER ATTACK, BEING PERSECUTED AND STRUGGLING IN OUR FAITH IT IS EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED, FEARFUL AND LOSE OUR BOLDNESS.
WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OTHERS WE WILL ALSO BE MORE LIKELY TO REACT AND DO THINGS THAT ARE SELFISH, DEFIANT AND DISOBEDIENCE TOWARDS GOD.
THE STRENGTH FOUND IN THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS HELPS US TO UNBURDEN OURSELVES AND WILL KEEP US FROM THE TEMPTATIONS TO ACT RASHLY, CREATE MORE PROBLEMS, OR DAMAGE OUR TESTIMONY. THE FOURTH STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO STAY NEAR TO THE SPIRIT OF FELLOWSHIP.
THE FIFTH AND FINAL STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO CLING TIGHTLY TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY. WE MUST REALIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH EVIL MAY SEEM TO HAVE WON THE DAY IT IS GOD WHO WILL ALWAYS BE THE ONE STANDING WITH YOU IN VICTORY AT THE END.
WE DON’T GIVE UP. WE DON’T GIVE IN. WE DON’T THROW UP THE WHITE FLAG AND RETREAT. WE DON’T SURRENDER NOR DO WE CALL IN AN ARBITRATOR TO CALL FOR A TRUCE.
ROMANS 8:28, “AND WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE FOR THEM.”
WE MAY NOT WIN ALL THE BATTLES, BUT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST, THE COMING PRINCE OF PEACE, WINS THE WAR. PSALM 43:5, “WHY AM I DISCOURAGED? WHY SO SAD? I WILL PUT MY HOPE IN GOD! I WILL PRAISE HIM AGAIN – MY SAVIOR AND MY GOD.” THE FIFTH AND FINAL STEP IN REDEEMING YOUR SUFFERING IS TO CLING TIGHTLY TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.
• NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED
• STAY NEAR TO THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.
• STAY NEAR TO THE WORD OF GOD.
• STAY NEAR TO THE SPIRIT OF FELLOWSHIP.
• CLING TIGHTLY TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.
HEBREWS 13:5-6, “…FOR GOD HAS SAID, ‘I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU. I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU.’ THAT IS WHY WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, SO I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MERE MORTALS DO TO ME?” DO NOT FEAR AND REDEEM YOUR SUFFERING!
