Episode 227: The Shocking Weakness that Can Keep Us from Salvation!
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COWARDS WILL NOT BE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD

It is shocking but the Bible says that cowards are in with the most base sinners in being denied entry into God's Family. Take note of this surprising scripture at the very end of the God's Word. It is the latest of revelations to mankind. Note in the NKJV translation what is shockingly said.

 

Revelation 21:8

8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

 

Those who are considered by God as cowardly are to be thrown away and burned like trash. They will not suffer for long. Soon all the unsaved will be ashes. See Malachi 4:1-3.

 

Malachi 4:1-3

1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.'' 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.

 

Why is cowardice on a moral equivalence with idolatry? An unbeliever is comparable to a murderer. This is so shocking but it is clearly part of the word of God. An unbeliever and a coward are considered to be wicked people. God requires some level of courage from us.

 

Matthew 10:33-34

33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

 

Many of us will be tested by relatives and friends. We will have to stand up for the real Jesus. Some may have to stand up for Jesus midst really dangerous people. God requires faith and courage.

 

EXAMPLES OF COURAGE INCLUDED FOR OUR INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE

God has included in the Bible, a number of examples of courage to inspire us. One example is the story of Esther and Mordecai. They were facing a sort of ''Final Solution,” genocide of Jews during the time of the Persian Empire. God blessed them enormously when they demonstrated faith in God and courage.

 

Ester 3:2-3

2 And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman,( who hated the Jews) for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai, a Jew, would not bow or pay homage to Haman. 3 Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"

 

Haman was furious and decided to have, not only Mordecai, but all the Jews killed. Haman was an Agagite which were long time enemies of the Jews. Esther, Mordecai's niece through her courageous act, was able to save her people from Haman's genocidal plot against them.

 

Ester 4:16

16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

 

Both Esther and her Uncle faced possible death but they had the courage to serve God anyway. They were in a world that did not have 'human rights'. One word from the Emperor and it was off with your head. That same environment may return when America no longer leads the world. Dark gentile empires are yet to rise again for a few short years before Christ returns. Daniels companions are another amazing example of courage.

 

Daniel 3:16-19

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

 

What unbelievable courage. Wow! The emperor was not expecting anyone to dare stand up to him. Even if others had different gods they thought it modern and smart to worship many gods in ancient societies. The emperor could not understand why the worshipers of the true God, Jehovah were different. This kind of courage has helped convert others for centuries and given beautiful witnesses sometimes even in death.

 

Daniel 3:28-29

28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can rebuilding and the Temple and Jerusalem.

 

The young men were rewarded for their courage. Another hero is Nehemiah. When Nehemiah was under pressure and enemies of Israel were trying to frighten him, he was brave. I love the answer he gave.

 

Nehemiah 6:11

11 And I said, "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!"

 

We should be like him. He would not hide. When under pressure to forsake God's ways we should also say 'should a man such as I, run and hide' or forsake it ? I don't think so. Stephen, the first deacon gave a great witness to the Jewish people and died gloriously. I believe his faith in the face of death had some impact on the Apostle Paul. When God told Saul he had been kicking against pricks it is possible that Stephen's courage was one of the most powerful pricks on Paul's conscience. David demonstrated extraordinary courage in facing Goliath. One of the characteristics that made David a man after God's own heart was his courage. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO GOD ? Were some angels pressured to forsake God ?

 

GOD WANT US TO DEVELOP DEEP DOWN TRUST AND FAITH IN HIM

Heroes of the faith have an abiding love and deep down trust of God. They knew their trust in God would be rewarded both in this life and the one to come for all eternity. It might appear to the world that trust in God is only rewarded in the world to come. Paul states that we rely totally on God for salvation and not on self. He further explained that we need to develop this trust in God deep down in our hearts.

 

Romans 10:8-13

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

 

Paul is saying that we need to believe in the true God with all our hearts, deep down. Further that we need to verbally express our trust in Jesus Christ. Praying in a positive manner will help us develop that trust and faith. Some in our society like to avoid accepting responsibility for our actions and play the victim. We need to honor who we are and what we believe in. Listed below are some suggestions on how to develop more courage:

1.     Courage means being afraid and yet still acting courageously.

2.     Courage is a habit. Practice courage, start with small things.

3.     Notice every time you do something that you are scared to do. You are already much braver than you think.

4.     Focus on Jesus and the cause we are standing up for.

5.     Give and get encouragement from others every Sabbath Day. Encouraging others is good for us and them. Find good role models in your church and in the Bible to look toward.

 

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

As we approach the end times we will need more courage. Paul says encourage one another all the more as the second coming of Jesus closes in upon us. Be strong, be brave, for God is with us. We must never deny Jesus because we fear men.

 

Luke 9:26

26"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man

will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the

holy angels.

 

If we are ashamed of God he'll be ashamed of us. The elites look down on the Bible and true believers in Christ. Never let them make us ashamed. Openly love and trust God. Be courageous because nothing can separate us from the love of God.