In the book of Acts we are given a vision of men who were divinely driven, because who could explain such bold and fearless behavior? Some would say that there are men who face discouragement and death all the time. For these men it was everyday and then to be happy about it on top of everything. Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin and refused an order to stop speaking the name of Jesus Christ. Stephen rebuked the Pharisees and praised God as they stoned him to death. Paul and Barnabas were beaten and jailed and when the Lord released them they chose to stay and minister the Grace of Jesus to the jailer and his family. But, what was there for them to really fear? Not death! I am sure that Paul would have welcomed death after being stoned and thrown from a cliff. God wasn’t done with him. The Apostles had an intimate knowledge of what their purpose really was. They sought the return of Jesus. They worked to prepare for the coming kingdom of the Lord. They all knew that there was no place for fear in the heart of a Christian. It would have been devastating for them if they had not pushed the boundaries and been put to a martyrs death. Step forward today and you find those who are afraid to wake the bear crying out for the new kingdom. If we do not regain our hope and our fearlessness I would imagine it won’t come until a more devoted generation comes to put in the work.
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