Jesus said…
”I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:4-12
The absolute bottom line. These instructions cut to the very core of things. Do you believe the words of Jesus here? How much? To what point? Your level of faith and commitment is only realized when it is tested. What is your greatest fear in your inner most soul? Can you name it? For many of us … it truly is a fear of ourselves… that we won’t measure up when we have to before God when ‘the time’ comes. How does one combat that fear? Surrender to Him, completely, honestly, and transparently. From that space … it becomes a two-step process. Trust and obedience. Trusting Him and His words to you and stepping out in the faith He has given you. As we progress with those two steps … over and over, again and again, we begin to learn. He provides the faith and instructions and we trust Him and step out in obedience.
We make declarations to Him – like ‘giving our lives and all that we have’ to Him. (Becoming terminally committed to Christ / TC2) Then we are asked by Him to walk that declaration out day by day, moment by moment. We soon learn this can ONLY be done with His strength and not our own. And that requires even a greater surrender every morning setting our hearts and minds to focus on Him throughout our entire day. Listening closely to the instructions of the Holy Spirit within our minds. This isn’t a ‘religious’ thing, a Sunday thing, a “Church” thing … it is a way of life … in ALL things.
Has the Holy Spirit given you the words to say at that ‘divine’ appointment? Is He teaching you what to say and when and how? Have you learned to wait on His instructions rather than just saying what you think you should say? Have you learned to be slow to respond, calming your reactions, and deferring to His suggestions?
Trust Him and obey Him. Then step out of the boat.