Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 5 "He will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever'... 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid"....
This passage of scripture teaches us that we have nothing to fear when doing God's will, for love that is perfect casts out all fear. When as Christians we are walking in harmony with the precepts and laws of God, there is a calm assurance that attends us on our way, even in times of grave danger or multitudinous difficulties. This godly confidence must come from a clear conscience that is void of offense toward God and man, and the faith that trusts God to do what He has promised, for when these two factors are combined, they render the Christian impregnable to the many assaults or snares that may be engaged against us, by the adversary of souls.
But it is of critical importance that in any given situation, that we be found doing God's will, so that unnecessary hardship or manifold temptations are not invited by us, if we adopt a wrong course of action. When Christ cautioned Peter about not entering into temptation, He was thereby teaching us that we should not invite trials in any way form or fashion, unless by doing the will of God, they are incident to us fulfilling His will. In other words, there are times when God has given us a specific task to fulfill, and in doing so we must of necessity place ourselves in harm's way. In such situations we can still have a clear conscience, trusting in God, knowing that we did not presume to take on unwarranted difficulties, but that it was in doing His will, that trials may have come.
A thorough understanding of this sacred truth is critically important for us to understand as we move forward, for there are real dangers associated with the spreading of the gospel in this generation, where it has become the norm for many theologians and preachers to water down the truths of God's word, in order to serve the clamors of the sin-loving masses. For instance, when Elijah the prophet was sent by God on a mission to king Ahab, that errand then triggered a massive manhunt for the prophet, for his words and prophecies were not of the smooth type, designed to please itching ears. Thus, when Elijah delivered the startling prediction to the king, he put himself in harm's way by doing so, but in instances such as these, The Lord often makes provision to cover His faithful servants in the day of temptation and trial. Let's read:
1st Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
1st Kings 18:7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said".... 10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
The same pattern of movements are also relevant and applicable in our day, for The same God often sends His faithful servants to deliver messages of rebuke to those in high and low places, and these messages often put the messengers at great odds with those to whom the reproofs are directed. And it is often the case that like Ahab, the people to whom God sent His servants rise up in rebellion against the spoken word, and thus institute various "Manhunts " for those who dare to speak the truth. In our day these "Manhunts" often take the form of clandestine or covert surveillance by intelligence agencies, bugging of phones and electronic devices, and even subtle or open threats to God's messengers, as was the case with Elijah.
Now it's important for us to be reconciled with the fact that it's not in every situation we are to expect miraculous deliverance, but what is most important is that we do not alter the truths God has given us to appease the wrath or consciences of those who are averse to God and His laws. At times like these it is very important for us to have a clear conscience before God, with the knowledge that we delivered His Words faithfully without turning to the right hand or to the left, and thus we can let the chips fall where they may. Once we are found faithful, our lives will be secure in God's hands, for whether we live like Elijah, or die like John the Baptist, our lives would be hid with Christ in God.
As moral and spiritual darkness deepens upon the planet, it will become increasingly difficult for the servants of God to speak the truths of His word to rebellious minds, for the forces of evil with their array of satanic agencies will make determined efforts to root out those who dare to stand in defense of the truth. Yet, like faithful Elijah and John, we are never to be dismayed by these developments, but they should rather motivate us to do even more in behalf of Christ, as He directs and leads the way. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which shows us the nature of the battle we are in, and the way in which we are to fight and be victorious, because it is the will of God, that every true soldier of the cross lift High His royal banner, for it definitely will not suffer loss. Let's read:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night' and God bless!