Saturday April 26, 2015

Read Jeremiah 1:19, 2 Tim 4:18

I was asked once to conduct the funeral for a Bikie gang leader’s mother. The particular gang was feared throughout the land for its violence and brutality. I was afraid of the implications and potential threats.

 But I shouldn’t have been afraid. I shouldn’t have been anxious. Jeremiah was told he would go into a far worse situation and he was promised in verse 19,

They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

God makes a similar promise to us through 2 Tim 4:18. Do you know the reality of that promise? Does it allow you to strive forward and to step out in faith especially in dangerous and life threatening situations? Have you taken this promise to heart and memorised it?

In 2 Tim 4:18 God promises us;

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord will rescue you from every single evil attack. Evil will not prevail. Evil will not win the day. God will deliver you safely into HGis heavenly kingdom no matter what happens in this life. Jeremiah found it out to be true. Paul knew it to be true. Paul was in jail and had been betrayed by people he thought were friends. He could be beheaded at any moment but he still trusted in the Lord God Almighty.

Whatever situation we find ourselves in, God will rescue us from every evil attack. That doesn’t mean we will come through unscathed or unharmed. I have just finished reading ‘The Heavenly Man’ where Brother Yun endured great torture and suffering for Christ but came out stronger in the Lord and closer to Him. God rescued him time and time again. In other testimonies I’ve read that Christians have given their very lives in the Lord’s service.

God’s promise does not mean that He will wrap us in cotton wool and give us a cushy and easy life. It means that God will use whatever we suffer for our good and for our growth and for the blessing of others in the church. It means that God will protect our eternal salvation and should we die in service to the Lord we can be 1 billion trillion squad-zillion percent assured that we will be with Jesus in His blessed presence for all eternity. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

I had nothing to fear that day, even though several bikie guards were posted around the chapel. God was in control and indeed, it was a good work which He had prepared in advance for me to do. My job was to faithfully proclaim the gospel, not to fret and worry about what might happen.

Prayer Points:

Using today’s Bible passage and reading notes spend time in adoration, confession, thanks and supplication.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Pray that your church service tomorrow will be faithful to the Word of God and that the Word will be powerfully proclaimed. Pray that God would be powerfully at work among your congregation so that the saints are edified and so that the world sees Christ in us.

· Pray that fear would be cast asunder as believers take up wholesale trust in God and turn to Him for protection.  Pray that this would cause a great outpouring of the gospel so that thousands, even millions of people hear the gospel and many repent and believe in Jesus for salvation.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Why do Christians give way to fear?

2. What is the antidote to fear?

3. How can we encourage each other away from fear?

4. What would your church look like if no one had any fear except the fear of the Lord?