DCLM Daily Manna 16 March 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F Kumuyi – The Undaunted Preacher
TOPIC: The Undaunted Preacher
TEXT: Jeremiah 20:1-6 (KJV)
1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
3 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.
4 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
5 Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
6 And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
KEY VERSE: “Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.” – (Jeremiah 20:2)
MESSAGE:
On December 8, 1934, a Christian couple, John and Betty Stam from the Netherlands, and missionaries to China, were sentenced to death by beheading by the communists for preaching the gospel. The couple, rather than renege or recant, remained undaunted and instead reaffirmed their faith in the Lord and publicly thanked God for giving them the grace to serve Him in their little way.
They were like Prophet Jeremiah who could not be cowed or silenced by threats and persecution by the likes of Pashur. Jeremiah was put in the stocks by Pashur, the false prophet. He was mocked, derided and cursed by the people. Even his friends plotted to eliminate him. Pashur told the people not to listen to Jeremiah’s warning that the Babylonians would carry them into captivity.
But Jeremiah announced to Pashur boldly that he himself would see all these things happen. The city would be plundered and annihilated; their treasures, which led them into apostasy would be taken away. Afterwards, Pashur and his family would be taken off to captivity in Babylon in humiliation and disgrace, and there he would die.
As believers, we should not fear those who can only kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, we are to fear God who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. We should preach to sinners lovingly and fearlessly not minding their persecution, position or power. This will help them to escape from the impending and looming judgment that would come upon the unrepentant. This was why the Lord spoke to Paul in the night, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:9,10).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Never allow persecution to discourage your work for God.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 26–28
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
