For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
Romans 1:16 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.1.16.NLT
What things do we do that demonstrate to the world and even to ourselves that we are not ashamed?
What things can we do to grow bolder and more confident in the Word of God, in the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Will we do them?
If it is the power of Christ who lives in us, are we aware of the changes in our lives?
Do we have a testimony or excuses?
Are we bearing fruit of the Holy spirit through His power during our trials?
Whether we are seeing changes and fruit, and whether others are seeing a living testimony in us, isn’t it because of our belief, our faith?
His grace is available to everyone. It doesn’t matter your past. It doesn’t matter if you have not been faithful in the past. It doesn’t matter what sin you have fallen prey to in the past. It doesn’t matter what chains and demons and wicked influences you have let into your life. It doesn’t matter how much you have let your fleshly desires guide your life. I bring Good News, friend! His power is sufficient to deliver you, and if you believe, you will find freedom.
But if you are seeking only the freedom from consequences and the freedom to continue in your sins, you are not seeking Jesus Christ. In fact, you are still ashamed, you are still denying the very power that could raise you from death. You are still clinging to the very thing, when it is sent into the eternal flames at judgement, will drag you down to your final destination.
But I do not condemn you friend. I pray that God will have mercy on your soul and will lead you to repentance – that He would convict you, and chasen you, and discipline you, so that you might have the opportunity to see the light before it is too late.
And you who do not know how to love your children might say, that doesn’t sound very loving at all – shouldn’t you let us enjoy our wickedness and sin? Who of you who loves a child would not remove it from a busy street where it is certain to be destroyed? Which of you would not give a stern warning? If the child did not listen and did it again, which of you would not discipline that child in order to make sure that it learned not to go into the street? Or is it more loving to let it have its way for a moment, only to see it destroyed?
He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
Luke 1:17 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.1.17.NLT
You see, this Word of God is turning my heart to the children – not the young in flesh, but the young in spirit. Many who should be mature and strong and teaching others by their life example by now are – still on milk, still ashamed, not walking in the power of Christ. But this Word of God, this power of the Holy Spirit in me, it WILL cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the Godly. They will know the truth.
So the question then becomes what will they choose once they’ve accepted it? Will they continue to listen to the lies of their deceitful heart and it’s selfish desires? Or will they believe?
Do you know the truth?
Do you believe?
Pray for wisdom, pray for faith, pray that you might believe and know Him and know life abundantly in His will – seek, knock, and ask with persistence:
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Luke 11:5-13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.11.5-13.NLT
If you don’t know how to pray, examine this as an outline, as a framework, and think about the purpose of each line. Pray and let your Hope eventually turn into Faith, and let your Faith eventually turn into a Love, and let your Love light the fires of Love in the hearts around you as you share the Good News unashamedly.
You’ve heard the call. Will you go?
Harold J. Ballinger 