"Believe in the Lord Jesus!"
Updated: Dec 20, 2023
Lift up Your Voice with a Shout,
Lift it up, Do Not be Afraid
Isaiah 40:9-11
(NIV)
You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
Lift up Your voice with a Shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and He rules with a mighty arm.
See, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense accompanies Him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
"Lifestyle Evangelism"
"Lifestyle Evangelism" ...that was the title of the pastor's sermon one Sunday as he recounted the story of Paul and Silas in jail from the Bible's book of Acts.
The two missionaries were stripped, beaten with rods, and jailed ...their feet in stocks as scripture tells us. The two were not deterred by this as they continued to sing and worship God even in the most dire of circumstances. I cannot help but wonder if those hymns were sung in a low volume in reverence so quiet and soothing ; or were they of joy so lively and energetic? Were they intermixed with both styles? I envision Paul and Silas bruised and bloodied from the beatings they endured. Perhaps their cloaks torn and blood soaked, mixed with the dirt of the ground now a horrid paste upon them....and yet they sang!!
Music is powerful and can evoke great emotions while communicating deep messages. What were the words of those songs Paul and Silas sang? Did God hear their worship ushering in His compassion and power? The earthquake was so violent and powerful it shook the foundations of the prison. That earthquake caused all the prison doors to open and everyone's chains had come loose.
Paul and Silas were just being themselves.They disregarded the circumstances they were in and worshiped God just the same... as they had always done. The two rested in the Peace of Jesus. As the scripture goes on to tell us, the jailer was listening and probably marveling at the faith these two believers had. An earthquake shook the prison releasing Paul and Silas from those stocks.
Wow!!---Can you just picture this?!! ---The power of God ushers in an earthquake...so powerful to shake the foundations of the prison! Then if that wasn't enough---the prison doors opened and chains fell off! But wait...the jailer was listening! Paul and Silas, unaware, were demonstrating "Lifestyle Evangelism".
Acts 16:29-34
NIV
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
He then brought them out and asked,
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds;
then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them;
he was filled with joy because
He had come to Believe in God
—He and his Whole household.
*******
When I was going through treatment for my cancer, many conversations arose about my faith, my love of God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Those conversations were with my caretakers, my friends and family, and my many different healthcare workers. Were those conversations impactful? There is an older country song by Tim McGraw that I surely could relate to -"Live Like You Were Dying". When you are going through something so intense, as is cancer treatment, it sure does feel like you may be living in your last days...and just maybe you are. There is no way of knowing the outcome of your treatments, but you can rest assured whatever the outcome God is right there with you.
"He Gathers the Lambs in his Arms,
and Carries them Close to his Heart."
Now I am on the other side of my chemotherapy, and I am living my new life. I've tried to resume my life as I once knew it, but that will never be the case ever again----Living my"new normal". I am encouraged to know that through my cancer journey somehow my experience, my testimony, may have encouraged someone else about the love of God. A friend was so encouraged by my "Witness Stand" testimony at church one Sunday she encouraged her children to view a recorded version on-line. "Train up a child in the way they should go; when they are old they will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) She was so encouraged because her children actually knew who I was--- that I wasn't some stranger who gave testimony, but someone her children actually had spoken with. I was unaware of how God was using me in the moment...I was just me being me. She was emotional as she shared this with me, which brought tears to both our eyes, each reaching for the other's hand. I didn't understand it in the moment---but through my testimony I was indeed shouting
"Here is your God!"
I now understand that my life itself is a living testimony to our Holy God.
"Lifestyle Evangelism".
Unaware...others may be watching you as well. I've heard it said:
"You just may be the only Bible some may ever read,
and the Jesus some will ever meet."
*******
Dear Heavenly Father
We are burdened with
This cancer
Help us to see Your hand at work
in the faces of
Our family, our friends,
and
of those providing us with healthcare
Even as Paul and Silas were
Bound in chains
They were able to preach the
Good news of The Gospel
in their circumstance
May we too be
Blessed by Your favor
Grant to us a
Voice
To tell someone
about
Jesus!!
Amen
