Pastor's Heartbeat
2012: BE COURAGEOUS!
As I was seeking the Lord for our church theme in 2012, I felt Him dropping this word into my heart – “Courageous”.
Interestingly, this was the same word that He gave me personally 7 years ago when I first started pastoring:“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Notice the Lord is not giving a suggestion but a command! Just as He commanded Joshua to be courageous to take the Promised Land, I believe He is calling us to step into this new year confidently and courageously.
But how we get courage? What’s the secret? I believe the key is found in this verse which is our theme verse for 2012: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13).
The disciples were courageous simply because they “had been with Jesus”! This simple truth gives us a powerful principle: Courage comes out of Communion! The secret to true courage comes from your walk with Jesus.
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote that the Christian life is not a playground but a battleground! We are sons in God’s family, enjoying the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil 1:1-11); we are servants in God’s house sharing in the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-26); but we are also soldiers in God’s army, defending the faith of the Gospel (Phil 1:27-30).
How can we fight this enemy? Paul says there are 3 essentials to victory:
1. Consistency In Our Walk. Paul says “whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil 1:27a). The greatest weapon against Satan is not theology or apologetics but a consistent, godly life. And a local church that walks the talk and practices what it believes is going to defeat the enemy.
2. Cooperation In Our Work. Throughout this letter, Paul keeps emphasizing the importance of unity. He wants to encourage them to stay united “striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil 1:27b). Paul says no Christian can survive the pressures alone, no matter how strong they are. As an individual, they must develop consistency in their walk. But as a community, they must achieve cooperation in their work. An old Zambian proverb said it well: “When you run alone, you run fast. But when you run together, you run far.”
3. Confidence In Our Warfare. When you become a Christian, you don’t just have a Christian walk, but a Christian warfare. You don’t just become a friend of God but you also become an enemy of Satan. Paul says “don’t be intimidated” because going through spiritual conflict is one important way to grow in Christ. God gives us the strength we need to stand firm against the enemy, and this confidence is proof to Satan that he will lose and we are on the winning side (Phil 1:28).
Consistency. Cooperation. Confidence. I believe these are the three areas God wants to help us grow in 2012. Walk consistently because we are sons in God’s family; work cooperatively because we are servants in God’s house; war courageously because we are soldiers in God’s army. However great the trials, however intense the warfare, ultimately, we have the victory!
For His Cause
Pastor Hock Cheng
