Get in the Game – Don’t be afraid to speak up for Jesus.
On May 3, 1943, air raid sirens sounded over London. People ran towards the underground stations for cover. In ten minutes, more than 2,500 people ran to the Bethnal Green station. A woman carrying a baby lost her footing on one of the nineteen steps leading down from the street. Like dominoes, people started falling on top of one another. In the end, 173 people had died. All these people were dead and yet no bombs had fallen. Bombs didn’t kill them, fear did!
Fear can be deadly! Here’s the deadliest kind; when we are timid to share the gospel. Our silence may cause some of our family and friends to enter a lost eternity without ever hearing a clear presentation of the gospel. That’s serious stuff! But fear to share the gospel is not uncommon. Even Timothy struggled in this area. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul spent time encouraging Timothy to “Get in the Game.” Let’s join Paul and encourage each other to get moving.
God has given us two incredible sources of power to make us effective in witness.
1. The power of the Holy Spirit
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of power lives in us. If we follow His leading, He’ll give us the power to witness for Him, despite our feeling of timidity.
2. The power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16 (NKJV) – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. The gospel is God’s “dynamite” that can break the hardest and stoniest heart; so don’t let Satan trick you into believing that someone is not a good candidate for the Gospel. I could share my own stories, but let me share one Pastor Hiawatha Kennedy shared at this weekend’s adult retreat. He told us about an encounter in West Philadelphia with two men about to enter a store to buy beer. They were both uninterested in receiving a tract and tried brushing him aside. Somehow something he said caused the 2nd man to stop for a moment. Bro. Kennedy was able to share the gospel with him and soon this young man broke into tears and started weeping. Shortly after, he was on his knees praying to invite Jesus into his heart. The power of the Gospel! No wonder Paul said, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Are you?
God has given us the power we need and lives are at stake. So stop letting fear hold you back! Tell God you want to “Get in the Game”… starting now. Ask Him to lead you to someone today. Let us know how we can help you.
In the Master’s Service,
Bro. Brian Grant
