Biblical Theology for Transformation - 14th Posting

"But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Phillipi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict." -1 Thessalonians 2:2



I wonder how you would respond if I asked you if you have ever been shamefully treated and suffered. I think most of us would say that we have been shamefully treated and also suffered. However, I don't think we can compare that to the type of shame and suffering Paul endured in his life. He was beaten beyond recognition, shipwrecked and stoned to the point where those who stoned him thought he was dead (imagine what he must have looked like if they thought he was dead). In spite of all this, Paul still says, "we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God". Notice how Paul still has boldness after enduring suffering. So as we reflect on our own sufferings in our lives; are they bad enough to prevent us from declaring the gospel?

One key, perhaps the greatest, to this verse is in three words; in our God. The gospel they claimed was the gospel of God. Also notice how Paul's confidence or boldness to proclaim the gospel was not given to his own pride or self-righteousness but his boldness was in our God. See how when it is His gospel, He provides the means for it to be preached, BOLDLY. Even after suffering and shame, God gives the messenger the strength, means and boldness to continue to proclaim the Truth.

So what is stopping you? Have you suffered to the point of shedding blood(Hebrews 12:4) or even to the point of death(Philippians 2:8)? These verses in Hebrews and Philippians are in reference to Jesus Christ. He DID suffer to the point of shedding blood and He DID remain obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. So, as both of these contexts encourage us to see our own lives in light of what Christ has done, I wonder if we really do. Do we consider the little amount of suffering we face as an excuse to not boldly proclaim the gospel?

Let Paul be an example to us that we are to boldly proclaim the gospel even in the midst of suffering. Let Jesus be an even greater example as He died in suffering for our sins. I often hear people say, "well I don't have the gift of evangelism." True, we don't all have the spiritual gift of evangelism, but we are all charged Biblically to share the good news (or as I call it, the greatest news ever) of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. So again I ask; What is stopping you?

I often try to give Biblical charges as they are in the Sciptures. In fear of leaving you without any equipping for this MOST important task, I will give you a few points to consider before you are done reading.

#1-Pray that God would give you the boldness to share the Truth. Most-likely you have someone in your mind right now that you are thinking about who doesn't have a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that God would provide the means and the opportunity for you to share His Truth with that person or persons. Remember our boldness is in Him.

#2-Get the gospel right! We often don't share in fear that we won't have the right answers for their questions. Spend time getting the most important basics down. Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. Jesus lived a perfect life which made Him worthy of bearing our sins on the cross. He died with our sins so we wouldn't have to, burying our sins once and for all in His death. Then He was raised from the dead to show His power and thus conquered death by rising to live forever and conquered sin once and for all, for all who believe. Your responsibility is to recognize your sin and see a need for salvation from it's consequences. You must repent(turn towards God in sorrow for your sin). And finally BELIEVE. If the Holy Spirit is at work in their hearts they will begin to believe and realize all this as truth.

#3-What if they say 'yes'? Sometimes we get scared that they may actually accept the Truth and want this salvation in Jesus. Are we prepared to help lead them to this? Prepare, in your mind, how you will respond to them when they accept the Truth. Lead them in prayer. They can pray with you out loud or in their hearts. I was blessed to be an instrument of God when He lead a young boy in my youth group to the Lord. I remember telling him, "this was the first time you prayed to God as your Savior!" What an INCREDIBLE moment when someone communicates to the Lord for the first time and He is IN THEM! I promise, you will be blessed!

So, what else is stopping you?