8/15/2021 - Pay Any Price - Acts 20-21

Whatever you fear keeps you in bondage. Some fears however are healthy. You have experienced this. There’s a strange sound coming from somewhere in your house late at night. You are motivated to investigate when looking out for the safety of those you love. In other words, a lesser fear (harm to yourself) is driven out by a greater fear (harm to your family).

But we’ve all experienced unhealthy fear as well. This comes from pleasing people rather than God. This is the source of many world problems today. The fear of man can immobilize us when we should take action, and it silences us when we should speak. Human fears feel powerful, but its' power is deceptive. That’s why the Bible tells us, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” (Proverbs 29:25). The Hebrew word for “snare” refers to traps hunters used to catch animals or birds. Snares are dangerous. If we get caught in the snare of fear, we must do whatever it takes to free ourselves.

The apostle Paul is an inspiration. In Acts chapters 20 and 21 he shows little concern for his life…but for the right reason. He wants to tell all people about Jesus. Now I would love to tell you that Paul and his buddies simply manned up. But that’s the wrong way to say it. As if they pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and beat their chests. They didn’t man up, they faithed up. Do you think Paul was at all afraid? Yes, because he was human. You can’t have courage without facing a fear. Karl Barth is regarded by many as the greatest Protestant theologian of the 20th century and he said this, “Courage is simply fear that has said its prayers.” In other words, we take our fears and bring them to the throne of the only sovereign and powerful God who loves us and we do the difficult thing entrusting the results and our lives to Him. This is what gives us courage to face hardships, unwanted circumstances, and of course the fear of man. Remember, brothers and sisters, when we do the will of God we are invincible until God calls us home!