Boldly Serving God – Paul Chappell

“And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.” Luke 7:24–26

John Wesley and his brother Charles were part of the Great Awakening that shook both England and America in a mighty move of God. In part because of their effectiveness, they faced a great deal of opposition to their preaching. Hecklers disrupted their sermons, and on at least one occasion a bull was released into the field to break up an open air meeting. Yet they continued on undaunted, despite the obstacles they faced. John Wesley wrote, “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.”

One of the greatest needs of our day is men and women who are not afraid to take a clear, firm, unapologetic and open stand for Jesus Christ. The praise and approval of men is only fleeting at best, but the eternal reward of hearing, “Well done,” from the Lord is worth whatever the cost in this world may be. The courage of Christians has been little tested in recent decades in America, but the time is coming when we will be forced to choose between paying the price to take a bold stand for God or avoiding trouble by watering down our message. Only those who stand firm will receive the reward of faithful servants.