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We all go through fearful times. Even as Christians we do encounter lot of fear. Fear of Persecution, Failure, Challenges, Changes etc. When our lives are filled with fear, we do not enjoy our Christian lives. When we overcome our fears we feel much more relieved and happy.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
God wants us to fear him alone.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Love drives out fear. There is no fear in love, since fear is to do with punishments.
1. Prayer for Boldness
Acts 4:23-31
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The believers had to speak the word of God. But because of the persecution by the Jews they were fearful. So they raised their voices together and prayed to God for Boldness. The place where they prayed shook and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and great boldness.
When we pray God gives us the strength to overcome our fears.
What are some of your fears? Do you fear to speak boldly about Christ? Are you bold in your evangelism? What if persecution arises? Are you ready to die for the sake of the Gospel?
Let’s pray for Boldness so that we can see God work in our lives in an amazing way.
2. Believe to be Bold
Mark 4:35-40
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
The disciples and Jesus were travelling in a boat, when suddenly a furious storm arose and the waves broke into the boat. The disciples were filled with fear. But Jesus calmed down the storm.
Here we see that Jesus is in total control. When we trust God and cast our anxieties on him he will protect us and lead us.
Do you believe that God is in complete control of everything? In which area of your life do you find it tough to believe that God is in control? Let’s decide to trust him.
Challenge
Invite atleast 5 people by whom you were generally intimidated.
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