BOLDNESS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of gospel for which I’m an ambassador in chains. That I may declare it fearlessly as I should” Ephesians 6:19

Fascinating passage I find especially in regards to Paul. You couldn’t accuse Paul of not being bold and fearless but of all the things he asks prayer for he asks for boldness and to be fearless in preaching the Gospel. The reality is if Paul was in our midst today, we would most likely be very uncomfortable around him and feel threatened. Wherever he went persecution broke out and even riots broke out and he was in and out of prison. In his letters he talked often about those who abandoned or deserted him when it got really tough. They couldn’t handle it. He was intense. The same thing is often said about Smith Wigglesworth. We love looking back and to tell stories about the amazing miracles and his incredible bold faith and the incredible stories of him raising people from the dead but the reality when he was alive most Christians were offended by him and were totally threatened by his boldness and faith. Think about it when was the last time you earnestly prayed for someone to be filled with boldness and fearlessness to preach the gospel, and when you asked for prayer what did you ask for. Let’s be honest preaching the gospel with boldness and fearlessness would not be at the top of our prayer list of needs. A challenge indeed because that’s one thing that is probably seriously lacking in most of the church in NZ and in our own lives if we were really honest. Maybe its time to change some of our prayers.