07/14/2021
We are meant to deliver the gospel of Jesus to all those who have not heard, and in this way we are snatching them from the fire of damnation, but are we afraid of those who don’t know Him? Do the very clothes they wear, and the lives they lead, cause us to recoil, and fall short of God’s Will for us? We are told to be afraid as we show them mercy, but only in that we do not become stained by their iniquities; we are to remain secure in our faith. Our fear should not diminish our mission, or stop us from obeying the will of God in this… in delivering His mercy.
“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Jude 1:22-23 ESV
Delivering the gospel might come in simple conversation and be held in safe and comfortable places. I remember the couple who led me to my profession of Christ as my savior. I was a boy, and the conversation was a loving one. It started in a classroom during Vacation Bible School, and culminated in our praying together on a couch in their living room. They had nothing to fear from me, and this is the nature of most gospel conversations.
““See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 18:10 ESV
But there are those people, and places, we need to fear. Sometimes we go into terrible and sinful places to rescue a lost soul. We enter into the lair of Satan himself, and come against hard and cruel people. When we look at the twelve apostles we see that each one of them died a horrific physical death, but they also faced enormous spiritual danger too. Their physical deaths came as a result of their not relinquishing their faith. Going into such places, and facing such adversity, requires incredible courage, and faith. There are three enemies we face, we are confronted by Satan, the world, and our greatest threat… ourselves, or in other words, our flesh. All three of these should cause us to fear as we deliver the gospel, but none is greater adversary than our own flesh… this should be our greatest fear.
By our faith in Jesus we receive protection against the world. Listen to His words that assure us…
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
In scripture we find our defense against Satan. Listen as Jesus defends Himself against the dark one…
“for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’””
Luke 4:2-4 ESV
Jesus speaks of our flesh as well, but His words give us reason to fear because He confirms the fact that our flesh is indeed weak…
“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””
Matthew 26:40-41 ESV
Our greatest fear as we go into the world, or come face to face with the likes of Satan, is our own fleshly weakness. In bars, houses of ill repute, being offered glory by Satan, and other such places, and occurrences, we are tempted, and we know that our flesh is weak, but we are not without help. To secure ourselves in our faith we are told to pray…
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV
So as we find ourselves having these hard, dangerous, and uncomfortable gospel conversations, don’t let fear prevent you from going into the world as you obey God’s Will by delivering the gospel of Jesus. Don’t let the fear of Satan’s lies frighten you and prevent you from making the case for God’s mercy and grace. And, most of all, dress yourself in the full armor of God to protect your flesh as you will certainly be challenged through fleshly temptation.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for mercifully sending us into the world to rescue the lost. Thank you for arming us with your Word against Satan, and thank you most of all for the full set of armor that protects us against all spiritual harm and temptation. Lord we pray for the courage to do what you ask of us, and for the strength of faith our calling will require. We are grateful for the easy and comfortable gospel conversations that prepare us for the harder battles ahead, and ask that you lead us as we go into these spiritual battles. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who goes before us, and with us, into every battle, and whose strong arm knows no defeat. We praise you for securing us as we serve you, and we shout of your glory as we march triumphantly to and fro before your throne bearing on our shoulders the prodigal sons and daughters that are now home.
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’”
Luke 15:6 ESV
Rich Forbes