Conquering the Spirit of Fear

September 11

(Acts 18:9-11 NIV) “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. {10} For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." {11} So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”

(Luke 12:4-5 NIV) “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. {5} But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

(1 Peter 3:13-15 NIV) ““Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? {14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." {15} But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,””

Even apostles need reassurance now and then. How many times must one be beaten up and run out of town before they consider changing their tune? Paul must have been dealing with some fear, because the Lord came to him in a vision, telling him not to be afraid, and to keep on speaking the truth. Paul believed God and obeyed the Lord. He never stopped sharing the gospel, even though he continued to suffer persecution for his faith. He shared Christ boldly wherever he went, at great risk to his personal well being. If we are going to be faithful disciples of Jesus and obey our calling, we too will need to conquer our fears. We must not allow fear to silence us. We must rise above our earthly anxieties. Conquer the spirit of fear that haunts you! Stop running from it. Turn and face it in the name of Jesus. Stare it down with the help of the Holy Spirit. Trust God and walk by faith. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Finding Our Niche

September 10

(Acts 18:6-8 NIV) “From now on I will go to the Gentiles. {7} Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. {8} Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized."

(Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV) “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, {7} to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

(Galatians 3:8-9 NIV) ““The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." {9} So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.””

Paul came to a fork in the road, and decided to target a different audience in Corinth. He would take the gospel predominantly to the Gentiles. He had found his niche. He didn’t leave town or head for a foreign land -- he went next door. God calls a few to take the gospel across the sea, but all of us are called to take it across the street. Most will never take the gospel overseas, but we can take it to our next door neighbor. We won’t be able to look God in the eye and say, “I never had a chance to take the gospel next door.” We can never say, “I was too poor to take the gospel across the street.” You don’t have to be a genius to find your niche. There’s a good chance that your “niche” is your neighborhood. Jesus says to all of us, “Take the gospel over there”, and our “over there” is very likely next door or across the street. Find your niche. You shouldn’t have to look too far. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

When Enough is Enough

September 9

(Acts 18:6 NIV) “But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.”

(Matthew 10:12-15 NIV) “As you enter the home, give it your greeting. {13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. {14} If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. {15} I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

(Luke 9:5-6 NIV) “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." {6} So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.”

Sometimes in ministry, we must say, “Enough is enough.” Paul shared the gospel with the Jews in Corinth. He argued God’s case well, but still they opposed him and would not believe. Finally, Paul threw up his hands and said, “That’s enough. I have fulfilled my responsibility to you. I have shared the Good News and you have rejected the truth. I am not responsible for the judgment that awaits you.” Some may recoil at the thought of writing anyone off, and certainly we are called to have patience, love, and faith as we pray for and witness to unsaved family, friends, and neighbors. But there comes a time when we must decide how to best spend the limited amount of time and energy, we have as a disciple of Jesus. At some point, the Holy Spirit may prompt us to move from the rocky soil to a more fertile soil. Even Jesus instructed His disciples about this. Pray, and listen for the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Preaching Exclusively

September 8

(Acts 18:4-5 NIV) “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. {5} When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

When Paul arrived in Corinth, he worked all week making tents and preached every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy arrived, he was able to return to preaching the word every day. We don’t know if they both got jobs to support Paul’s ministry, or if they brought an offering along with them from Macedonia. What we do know is that they made it possible for Paul to devote himself full time to preaching and testifying about Christ. This was Paul’s passion. Knock him down -- he gets back up. Run him out of one town -- he moves on to the next one. Take away his funding -- he gets a job and preaches whenever he can. There was no stopping this guy! Paul lived to preach that Jesus is Lord. He was also very good at it -- the record speaks for itself. What are you good at? What are you passionate about? Use it to advance the gospel in some way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day