Fear to Cheer_FINAL

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How many times have you asked this question recently: “What in the world is happening?” COVID-19. Political upheaval. Economic instability. Conflicting narratives. Mental health crisis. Suicide epidemic. Family breakdown. Corruption. Deception. Betrayal. Hypocrisy. Does the world seem broken? Do you feel a growing, gripping fear overtaking your life? Are you ready for some good news for a change? Jesus Christ wants to transform your fear into cheer. Perhaps you’d be willing to take a few minutes to read up on three statements Jesus made about how He can do this for you personally!* * If you have reservations about trusting what the Bible has to say, please jump to the short note at the end of this booklet. 3

From FEAR to CHEER FROM Fear TO Cheer Don’t worry! This is not some psychological ploy, a mere “mind over matter” scheme by which you need to suppress your fear and try to keep it from resurfacing. No, Jesus reveals three specific ways that He can actually replace your fear with His cheer. FIRST: The cheer of God’s Pardon Jesus once spoke these words to a paralyzed man: “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). Then He spoke similar words to a woman with a blood disease: “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has saved you” (Matthew 9:22). Jesus Interesting, isn’t it? Jesus certainly cared certainly about the physical health of these two cares about individuals. But what ought to really grip our physical our hearts is that He was more interested health, but in their spiritual health! He is more interested in As the world pours out resources for our spiritual vaccines in an attempt to ensure our phy- health! sical well-being, we need to face the reality that we have a deeper problem than this. 4

God’s Forgiveness The Cheer of God’s PARDON Sin is our most serious disease because it infects our soul. It makes us unclean; it “contaminates” us before a holy God. And our guilt results in eternal separation from God and Heaven: “ The wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But the good news Jesus has for you, today, is that He can pardon you from this guilt. Yes, I did say that is was good news! He can declare you righteous and make you fit to live in God’s presence forever. But how could this ever happen? You simply need to receive the gift God is holding out to you — His own forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful words we find in the Bible. It literally means “ to send away”. Instead of sending us away from His presence (which we rightly deserve), God offers to “send away” our sins instead: • Out of SIGHT: He sends “all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). • Out of MIND: “I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). No, this is not a matter of God “forgetting” about our sins for a while and then one day “remembering” them again. He con- sciously chooses to banish them, forever, from His thoughts! • Out of REACH: He sends our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). North and south meet at the earth’s poles, but east and west? They never meet! 5

From FEAR to CHEER This is the kind of forgiveness Jesus Christ wants to give you. How can He do this? The cross! At the cross, He proved His love by taking your sin as though it were His own and paying its debt in full. And in His resurrection, He proved His holiness, His sinlessness, guaranteeing that our sin has been dealt with. If the debt had not been paid in full, Jesus would still be in the grave. And so the Lord Jesus is now free to say to any person who humbly receives His offer of forgiveness, “Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” So while Jesus is interested in your physical health, He is especially interested in bringing you spiritual healing. What cheer awaits all those who make this decision! “Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned” (Psalm 32:1). George Wilson was to die by hanging on July 2, 1830. After being arrested for robbing a U.S. mail carrier and almost killing the driver, he was tried in court, plead guilty, and received the death sentence. Fortunately, Wilson had friends in high places who convinced President Jackson to issue him a pardon. Surprisingly, Wilson refused to be pardoned! The U.S. Supreme Court determined, “The court cannot give the prisoner the benefit of the pardon, unless he claims the benefit of it…. It is a grant to him: it is his property; and he may accept it or not as he pleases.” God offers to pardon us from the guilt of our sin. But He leaves the choice with us as to whether or not we will accept it. 6

The Cheer of God’s PRESENCE But there’s more. Jesus doesn’t then just leave you to navigate alone through life. He also provides… SECOND: The cheer of God’s Presence “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). These words were spoken to Jesus’ disciples when they were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. And it was quite a storm! The sea is only about 13 km (8 miles) at its widest point, yet, after rowing for three-fourths of the night (from evening till around 3 a.m.), they had only reached “ the middle of the sea” ! They were terrified and must have wondered if this voyage would be their last. Then Jesus appeared, show- ing His power over the storm, walking on the waves of the sea and speaking words of hope and peace: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 7

From FEAR to CHEER CONSIDER THIS ILLUSTRATION: Early Native Americans sought to develop bravery in their young men. So, having learned basic survival skills like hunting, scouting, and fishing, a 13-year-old boy was taken on his birthday into the middle of a forest — blindfolded, several miles away from security. In the black of midnight, his blind- fold would be removed. As the boy stood there, gripped with fear, every noise seemed magnified.The threat of a wild animal attacking loomed large in his mind. Then, hours later, at the end of this night of lonely terror, the sun would rise, and the boy’s spirit would rest and be at peace, for there, just a few feet away, was someone who had been there the whole time, totally unseen by the boy. It was his father, bow and arrow in hand! Whatever storm you may be experiencing right now, Jesus promises His presence to all who belong to Him. What a comforting promise Jesus makes to His own, during the sunniest of days or the darkest of nights — “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The English language fails to capture the full depth of meaning in these words. The original Greek includes a double negative (“I will never, never leave you”) and is then followed by a triple negative (“I will never, no never, 8

The Cheer of God’s PROGRAM not ever forsake you”). Oh, the cheer of having Jesus Christ as your constant Companion throughout all of life’s journey! “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Yes, He offers pardon for our past and His presence for each moment of every day. But what about the future? God promises us… THREE: The cheer of God’s Program Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This verse can be summarized in two words: “GOD WINS!” As dark and dreary as this world may become, we can trust the One who said, “ I have overcome the world.” As Holocaust concentration camp survivor Corrie ten Boom put it: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” 9

From FEAR to CHEER We can “trust the engineer” — the risen Lord Jesus Christ — because He has perfect knowledge of what lies ahead. “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’ ” (Isaiah 46:9-10). What exactly are some of these “things that are not yet done” but God’s Word, which will come the Bible, declares to pass? Here’s a “ the end from the little glimpse into beginning” what the Bible says is in store for the future. We begin with what is commonly called the “rapture”.* *Footnote: The word “rapture” is from the Latin word rapio. Its Greek equivalent, harpazo, meaning “caught up”, is found in 1 Thessalon- ians 4:17 – “ We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” The word is also used to describe how a man named Philip was “caught up” and relocated from Gaza and brought to Caesarea (Acts 8); Paul the apostle was also “caught up” to get a glimpse of Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). The rapture is the split-second moment in which God’s people will be relocated from Earth to Heaven. 10

The Cheer of God’s PROGRAM What to Expect Next in God’s Program • In the blink of an eye, Jesus Christ will return in the air to“rapture” His people from the earth. [See 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.] • The seven years to follow are what the Bible calls the tribulation. A leader will rise up to lead a one-world government. At first, he will appear peaceful and will seem to have all the answers to the world’s crises. As a result, the world, as a whole, will embrace his leadership. Showing allegiance to him will require receiving some kind of mark- ing on your body. Those who refuse will face drastic consequences. However, three-and-a-half years into his rule, his devil-fuelled agenda will become clear. Satanic forces will be unleashed in the world in a way that humanity has never before experienced, with unprecedented deception, wickedness, global disasters, and human suffering. During this time, some of God’s wrath and judgment will be poured out on the world that rejected Him. [Read more about this in Daniel 9:27 and Revelation chapters 6-18.] • At the end of these seven years, Jesus Christ will visibly return to triumph over His enemies. He will bind the devil for a thousand years, during which time Jesus will set up His kingdom on the earth and will reign supreme. [See Matthew 24; Revelation 19-20:3.] 11

From FEAR to CHEER Yes, even now — though things seem chaotic and evil seems to be unstoppable — Jesus Christ is in Heaven, sovereignly working all things in such a way as to fulfill His fail-proof program in His perfect timing. Many look at this world and scratch their heads: “It sure doesn’t look like He’s in charge!” No, it may not appear that way. For a time, He is allowing Satan to wreak his havoc and, in the process, allowing people oppor- tunity to choose their side (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). But His Coronation Day is coming. The Bible is clear: “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth [yes, even the devil and his minions], and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). We know how the story ends. Yes, God wins! 12

The Cheer of God’s PROGRAM So Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is fully capable of replacing your fear with His cheer, and He is eager to do just that. The question I would like to leave you with is this: Where do we go from here? The Lord Jesus holds out both of His nail-pierced hands: in one is a gift, in the other a gavel. He leaves the choice The GIFT or to you: Do you want Jesus to be your the GAVEL? Saviour or your Judge? A SAVIOUR To choose Christ as Saviour will give or a JUDGE? you a hope that is literally “out of this world”, the promise of being with the Lord in His heavenly Home forever, whether by way of death or by the rapture. And His promise will rest upon you: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). How can you receive this gift of God which Jesus Christ extends to you? Simply extend your “fingers of faith” and accept it! 13

• THE FIVE FINGERS OF FAITH • There is 1 Way to Heaven JESUS CHRIST...plus nothing! Jesus said to him,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”(Ephesians 2:8,9). We have 2 Choices RECEIVE HIM or REJECT HIM! “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Notice: “Believing” results in “everlasting life”, but to “not believe” results in remaining under God’s wrath. To die in your sins will result in eternal wrath. Believe these 3 facts JESUS DIED. HE WAS BURIED. HE ROSE! “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). God provides 4 -giveness... ...BUT ONLY TO THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT. “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You”(Psalm 86:5).“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”(Ephesians 1:7). Enjoy 5 words of eternal security “I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE.” Jesus says: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one”(John 10:28-30).

Where do we go from HERE? And what about those who step out of this world into the next having chosen Christ’s gavel instead of His gift? To such, the Bible says that fear will be their constant companion for the rest of eternity: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). People tend to think of Jesus as a babe in a manger, a carpenter’s son, a good teacher, and even a philanthro- pist. But they don’t consider Him as the Judge who holds the keys to Hell (Revelation 1:18). Though it pains Him to see His creatures choose such a destiny, He won’t stop them. And once they step through death’s door, it will close behind them, the key will turn, and the door will remain locked throughout eternity. Such is the future of all who die in their sins, without Christ’s forgiveness and pardon. Please pause to reflect on this. It’s a terri- fying prospect! But it does not need to be your destiny. God is waiting to transform your fear into cheer! In this very moment, the Lord Jesus is calling out to you personally: “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you” (Mark 10:49). In just a moment of time, through one simple act 15

From FEAR to CHEER of faith, you can step off the road leading to eternal death and onto the road that leads to Heaven. Why are you waiting? Don’t delay. This may be your last opportunity. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). 16

APPENDIX: To Whom Are You Listening? When seeking answers to the big questions of life, it seems that there are only two options: We can listen either to the answers of man or of God. Perhaps you’re immediately turned off at the idea of consulting God. Many claim that “Christians are blindly stumbling from one fantasy to the next with no evidence to justify any of it.” 1 They suggest that belief in God is comparable to believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Maybe you see things this way too. However, it’s important to point out, “Christians make [only] one assumption: the Bible is the Word of God. From this assumption (for which there is overwhelming evidence), flow all of our beliefs concerning God, man, sin, salvation, heaven, hell, life, and death…” 2 “Overwhelming evidence” that the Bible is “the Word of God”? Really? 17

From FEAR to CHEER Let me ask you a question: If it were possible to present evidence that the Bible is in fact God’s Word, would you believe it? That’s a searching question. If so, what would be sufficient evidence to convince you? Here are some unique features of the Bible which set it apart from any other book, religious or otherwise: Its Production Consider the fact that this “library” (for the Bible is not one book but a collection of 66 books) was written over 1,500 years by over 40 people. These men lived in differ- ent eras, came from different continents (Africa, Asia, Europe), wrote in three different languages, and had different backgrounds. Yet they all tell the same, seam- less message: God loves sinful mankind and wants to rescue them from eternal death. The cohesiveness of this unified Book points to one original Source: “No prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). Its Precision What about the Bible’s prophetic nature? For example, it amazingly contains over 300 prophecies concerning the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All of them — written hundreds or even thousands of 18

To Whom Are You Listening? years beforehand — were fulfilled in exact precision during the first coming of Jesus. What are the odds of this being a total coincidence? — SOME INTERESTING “ODDS” — • Being struck by lightning in a given year: 1 in 700,000 • Being killed by lightning in a given year: 1 in 2,000,000 • A meteorite landing on your house: 1 in 180,000,000,000,000 Dr. Peter Stoner, a mathematician, observed that the odds of one person fulfilling only 8 prophecies is 1 in 1028. 3 Imagine dumping into one massive heap a total of 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pennies, marking one penny with an ‘X’, mixing them all up, then asking a blindfolded volunteer to pick out that marked penny. The chance of this happening is the same as one person fulfilling 8 prophecies. Yet Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300 prophecies when He was here on earth. There is no other religious book on the planet that makes the claim that its leader fulfilled even one prophecy, much less 300 prophecies. 19

From FEAR to CHEER Its Preservation Surely, at the most basic level, the Bible must be acknow- ledged as a unique piece of literature. Though it is the most banned book of all time, it remains the number one bestseller of all time! There are roughly 273,972 Bibles sold every day, which translates into 11,415 sold every hour, 190 every minute, 3 every second! 4 That doesn’t even take into account the millions of electronic versions downloaded each year. One Bible app alone, YouVersion, has approximately 300 million downloads every year. Does this point to a supernatural preservation of the Bible? It would seem so. The Bible is one source you can turn to for answers. The alternative is to place your faith in what other people claim to be true. But a warning must be raised: “… In contrast [to the Christian who makes only one assumption, that the Bible is God’s Word, out of which all other beliefs flow], the unbeliever is awash in a sea of countless assumptions and wishful thinking. Who is operating by blind faith: the person whose beliefs flow from one eminently defensible assumption, or the person whose beliefs are an endless string of guesses and I hope so’s?” 5 20

To Whom Are You Listening? SUMMARY: To Whom Are You Listening? NON-CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN Assumptions? Yes: OYense: ! Many! DEPENDENT ON BIBLE = GOD’S WORD OTHERS’ OPINIONS (AMPLE EVIDENCE) • Origins • Good • Evil • God • Man • Sin • Morality • Salvation • Heaven • Hell • Life • Death Some References: [1] Jamie Martin, Uplook Magazine, June, 2012 [2] ibid [3] Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, Moody Publishers [4] www.thebibleanswer.org [5] Jamie Martin, Uplook Magazine, June, 2012 21

to finish... Biblical resources to help lead you to the rock: