BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE

KEY TEXT: Jeremiah 1:17 (NKJV) – “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.”

Let’s look at the word ‘all.’ God commanded Jeremiah to go to all that He commanded him. Not the ones Jeremiah liked and not the ones whom Jeremiah knew would receive the message, but all.

The Lord knew that He was not going to send Jeremiah to all those who were righteous. He was going to send the prophet to the unrighteous because those are the ones who are the majority in any society. Jesus did not come to save the righteous. He came to save sinners (Luke 5:32).

God understood that there are some people who Jeremiah would minister to that are rebellious, rude, and violent. The Lord knew that not everyone Jeremiah would deal with would accept him. Some are going to reject him. God knew due to a high level of uncertainty, Jeremiah was likely to be afraid and, as a result of fear, fail to preach the truth fully and directly or worse, mix the truth with error.

If Jeremiah did this, he would have risked eternal life and the life of many others since God called him to be a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). That is why God commanded him not to be afraid, lest He makes him lose face in the face of the people he was sent to.

“Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke; for grievous sins have separated the people from God…. The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression; the trumpet does not give a certain sound. Men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God’s word….” – Conflict and Courage, Page 208.6, Ellen G. White.

These are some examples of behaviors that result from fear:

1. You are a Christian but fear acknowledging it publicly because it will make you look old-fashioned.
2. You take pride in sin to look fashionable and cool.
3. You are afraid to carry the Bible openly and be seen going to church so that your friends don’t laugh at you and see you as ridiculous, weak, and soft.
4. God has called you to open a particular business or pursue a specific career, but due to fear of rejection and ridicule, you fail to open it and thus fail to further God’s purpose.
5. You are not using your talent for God’s glory but to glorify sin because you are afraid of looking ‘holy’ and ‘uneducated.’
6. God has called you to be a preacher and you avoid preaching on ‘difficult’ truths like the Sabbath because you fear that it will make people uncomfortable.

Jeremiah 1:17 is clear that if you feel embarrassed to glorify God before men, God will cause you to be embarrassed before those same men in one way or another.

The Christian life is a life of courage. It is a life of boldness because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Heaven is for the confident, it is for the courageous, and it is for the bold. Cowardice is not from God. It is from the devil. That does not mean we go around starting fights and causing havoc.

Causing havoc and starting fights is not being courageous. It is being a troublemaker. Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV) – “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

The key phrase is ‘good courage,’ which is courage that endeavors to do the will of God and is in obedience to God’s commands.

MAY GOD GIVE YOU COURAGE!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for calling us to be Your witnesses in this world. We sometimes feel afraid, rejected, or unsure of how people will receive Your truth. Please Lord, help us to prepare ourselves, arise, and speak everything that You command us. May we not pick and choose what’s comfortable but boldly declare Your message in love and truth. Fill us with good courage, the kind that obeys You and honors Your name. Please help us not to be ashamed of the Gospel, our faith, or our identity in Christ.

Where fear tries to creep in, replace it with perfect love that casts out fear. May we never trade truth for popularity, or faith for comfort. Empower us by Your Spirit to live boldly and to glorify You with our words, choices, and talents. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Activity

• Write down ONE area or areas where you have been holding back because of fear.
  (Example: “I’ve been scared to mention Jesus at school,” or “I feel embarrassed carrying my Bible in public.”)
• Under that, write a declaration starting with:
  “I will no longer be afraid to…”
  (Example: “I will no longer be afraid to share my testimony with my classmates.”)
• Now, share your declaration aloud, either in front of a mirror, to a friend or family member, or quietly but confidently to God in prayer. Speaking it helps build boldness.
• Optional Bonus: Post a Scripture verse or truth somewhere you’ll see it daily (like Jeremiah 1:17 or Deuteronomy 31:6) to remind you to walk in bold faith.

Author: Mark Alex   

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