DO NOT BE AFRAID PART 1

Acts 18:9-10 - Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; “for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

Hebrews 13:6 - So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Each of these verses, as well as several others, teach that as Christians we should not be afraid. We can know that God is with us and will watch over us. Even in the face of opposition, do not be afraid. Do not be a coward. Have the courage to do what is right and live for God.

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the man who received one talent hid his talent rather than using it as his master had intended. When his master questioned him he said, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). The master called him a wicked, lazy, and unprofitable servant. This was a man who was afraid to use what was given to him.

We should not be afraid to use what has been given to us in God’s service. The talents and opportunities we are given should be used to serve God zealously. Some fear what other might think. If they really devote themselves to God, others might think they are fanatical. Instead of using everything they have for God, they hold back because they fear the pressure of society.

Others hesitate to do good because they fear getting involved. Man’s history is full of tragic events that could have been avoided if someone had been willing to do good. A girl is killed when people hearing her cries refused to help. A man suffers a fatal heart attach on a busy sidewalk with hundreds of people passing by but refusing to help. “It’s not my problem. I don’t want to get involved.” The Lord tells us to get involved.

Matthew 25:41-46 - 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:42 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

There is nothing to indicate these people had committed any terrible evil. They had simply failed to do good. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to consider things of which we, as Christians, should not be afraid.
--Lamar

MORTGAGING OUR SOULS

“So Ahab said to Elijah, ‘Have you found me, O my enemy?’ And he answered, ‘I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord:’” (1 Kings 21:20). Elijah tells King Ahab that he had sold himself. How did he do this? What was the payment? Are we doing the same thing today?

Ahab took out the first mortgage on his soul when he married. “But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up” (1 Kings 21:25). While Ahab was responsible for his choices and actions, there is no doubt that his wife was an evil influence in his life. One of the greatest decisions we make is the choice of a marriage partner. Far too many Christians have sold, and are selling, their souls for the wrong person. Some people estimate that almost 80% of all Christians who marry non-Christians become minimally active in the church, with about 50% becoming totally unfaithful. I know there are exceptions, but they are just that, exceptions! It is no wonder that Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” While this does not condemn mixed marriages, and does not apply only to marriage, it is certainly a warning that needs to be heeded.

Ahab’s second mortgage was the compromise of his religion. “And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him” (1 Kings 16:31). Ahab did not want to completely reject God, so he tried to compromise. Many in the Lord’s church today are afraid of offending others so they try to compromise the truth. There is only one church (Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18). There is only one way to heaven (John 14:6; Matthew 7:13-14). There is an acceptable standard for our worship (John 4:24). Baptism is essential for salvation (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21). These are only a few things that members of the Lord’s church are trying to compromise with the denominational world. Compromise did not work for Ahab; it will not work for us.

The third mortgage for Ahab’s soul was a piece of land.

1 Kings 21:2-4 - So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

The story goes on that Jezebel conspired to kill Naboth and Ahab then took possession of the land. Others have done the same: Judas (Matthew 27:3), the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22), the rich fool (Luke 12:16-20), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10). Many today are following their footsteps. There are those who know what they need to do to become a Christian, but will not do so because it will cost them money. Others are so busy trying to maintain a high standard of living that they have no time for the Lord and His work.
--Lamar