Fearlessly Courageous
11/11/2022
Desk of Dennis Piller
Pastor Dale Brooks Hospitalized – Please Pray and Fast with us!
1st Tim 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate”
“Fight the Good Fight”…the metaphor Paul loved so well, and which Timothy must have heard so often from his old master's lips as he preached and taught — he bids the "man of God," rising above the pitiful struggles for things perishable and useless, to fight the noble fight of faith; He bids him strive to lay hold of the real prize– life eternal. "Eternal life" is the prize the "man of God" must ever have before his eyes. It is the crown of life which the Judge of the quick and dead will give to the "faithful unto death." (See James 1:12; Revelation 2:10.)
Pastor Dale has had the best of care, but his body is struggling to fight this. He is fighting cancer, long Covid, Bilateral Pneumonia, and his oxygen levels are very low and the medical team said to admit him to the hospital.
Vs 12 "Take hold of eternal life, to which you were called”
Pastor Dale was called…he has fought the good fight and we are those witnesses spoken of here. We are the Joshua and Caleb who held up the arms of Moses as he parted the Red Sea and supported his arms in battle so the tide would turn in the favor of the Israelites. We are those witnesses called to “Fight the good fight” in the example that Pastor has lived for us. We are those witnesses called to fast and pray for a breakthrough physically. We know his place is secured in eternity. We know his legacy of faith! Fight the Good Fight is a spiritual calling to all of us to rise up…join together… as men and women of God… to pull down these walls that are assailing our own! I contend this is not just a fight but a battle and by the Holy Spirit he is calling up His mighty men of valor to intercede.
Zechariah 10:5
And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Each of us is empowered by God to decide what it is that will rule our hearts and minds. Will it be frustration and fear? Or will it be hope and peace? The ability to choose peace is directly related to how we center our lives.
So How do we Invite the Peace of Christ to Rule in our Heart?
1. Fear and Anxiety Will Try to Threaten Your Peace. … But as the apostle, Paul wrote to Timothy, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
He doesn’t promise us a life free of pain or hardship, but he does provide the strength to endure any struggle, the hope to persevere through any season, and the peace to overcome any fear. That peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and the inner calm and confidence that go with it, can be found in his son, Jesus Christ.
2. Recognize the Prince of Peace Has Already Overcome Fear. …
Peace is one of the greatest gifts Christ offers his followers (John 14:27), a fruit born of his spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Sometimes, inviting peace to rule in your heart begins with choosing and declaring who’s in charge: fear or Jesus Christ?
3. Ask for Peace because Jesus Understands Your Fears and Hears Your Prayers.
If you’re frightened, tell him. If you’re scared, run to him. If you’re weak, ask for help. What’s wrong with admitting our weakness when it gives Christ the power to be strong on our behalf? (2 Corinthians 12:9-11) Accepting that you are not in control is one step to surrendering to the authority of one who is.
Paul wrote, “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
4. Make Jesus Your Only Rock—He is Stronger than Your Circumstances Anyway. Tough times remind us that finances can be lost, homes can be damaged or destroyed, possessions can be stolen, relationships can be broken, leaders can fail, and even our bodies can be susceptible to sickness, injury, and death.
This is why David compared God’s presence to that of a rock, a shield, and a mighty fortress (Psalms 125:1). The good news is, the same Rock that sustained David is the same Rock that takes care of you today. Therefore, learn to anchor your hope and peace to Jesus Christ, the Rock of our salvation, and you will not be shaken when the storms of life come.
5. Believe That Jesus is With You in the Storm
It’s one thing to know that you can cry out to God in the midst of your storms; it’s another thing to know that he’s actually right there by your side through it all.
Knowing that you are never alone is, in and of itself, a promise of peace. Inviting peace to rule in your heart begins by inviting the heart of Christ to rule in your life. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
No matter what happens, remember that nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39). God is for you (Romans 8:31) and has promised to never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
You are never alone!
We are those warriors and witnesses that have seen the fruit of the ministry of Pastor Dale Brooks. Come believe with us. Lift up his arms in the spiritual fight that he is in. Lets us come together and fast and pray for one of God’s favorite sons.
Tell your heart to beat again. Danny Gokey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUHRDCYnFfg
Excerpts are taken from Joel Ryan 6 Ways to Invite the Peace of Christ to Rule in Your Heart
