Don’t Let Anyone Stop You From Declaring Jesus

John 19:7-12; Matthew 10:17,21,22,26-28

Professing the name of Jesus comes with a price. It's well worth the cost in the end.

Soul Food

John 19:7-12

The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

Matthew 10:17,21,22,26-28

“’Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’”

Soul Search

• Do you find it difficult at times to publicly declare your love for, and relationship with, Jesus?

• Can you think of a time when you felt you should openly talk about Jesus but were afraid to?
  Can you talk about why you were afraid or somehow intimidated to speak about Him?

• When you found it difficult and didn’t openly share about Jesus and your faith in Him, were you afraid it would somehow compromise or threaten your relationship with the person or people you were with?
  Were you afraid you would lose your ‘good-standing’ with those you were with?

• Have you ever been afraid that an open profession of Jesus would cost you something at work in the eyes of your employer?
  Have you ever been afraid that your family relationships would suffer so it’s just easier to keep your mouth shut about Jesus?

Soul Moves

• Ask God to show you clearly when and where you are to speak about your faith in, and relationship with, Jesus.
  He will make that clear to you – believe it.

• Along with clearly showing you when and where you’re to share about Jesus, ask Him to give you the boldness and courage to do so, knowing that there might be a price to pay.

• We can’t ever predict the outcome of encounters with people when we talk about Jesus.
  Often, exciting things happen because God knows that people need to know and hear about Jesus and we are the ones He has called and blessed to be able to share with others.

• Sometimes, not-so-good things happen when we share Jesus.
  Ask God to help you be prepared for that.
  Just because there might be a negative reaction doesn’t mean we weren’t supposed to share. It means that we have been used by God to plant the seeds of the gospel that will ultimately take root and grow until the rich crop of salvation is harvested in that person’s life.