Completely Fearless

A couple summers ago I went to Amsterdam with six girls. The purpose of the trip was to get interviews for a Thesis paper that was being written about Post Traumatic Stress Discorder and the affect it has on prostitutes; however, the meaning behind it was much deeper. We were going because we wanted to intercede on behalf of the women who were behind the windows. We had no idea what would happen while we walked those streets of that dark yet beautiful city, but we knew we were called so we fearlessly walked through the alleys and pleaded to God on behalf of those women. It was almost as if we were invisible; not a single man heckled us or even acknowledged us. We were hiding in the shelter of the Almighty and walking through the valley of the shadow of death at the same time.

The day I left for that adventure, my friend wrote me a letter about the importance of the work that was about to be done in that city to further the kingdom of Heaven. He told me that the characteristics of a disciple were three things: Absurdly Happy, Completely Fearless and in Constant Trouble. These three things have stuck with me since I read them for the first time, and they are the epitome of what I strive to embody.

God proves Himself faithful every single day.

I was talking to a friend this weekend about the things God was doing in his life and his eyes lit up with excitement. I could see how eager he was to tell me about the way he was touching Heaven with one hand and earth with the other. He told me that he was a firm believe in that everything we own belongs to God, not only ten percent. As he often claimed his belief in this, he hadn't ever literally given everything he owned away. He told me that God had been telling him, "if everything belongs to me, then give it all to me." So, he literally emptied his account and put it into his Community Group account, which is used to serve people in the community by financially meeting their needs. He had $0.00 in his account, and thirty dollars in his wallet.

Most of you are probably thinking, "Sounds radical. How foolish of him to have no money to support himself, what is he ever going to do without being able to buy food or pay rent?" The coolest part is that God never calls us to do something that we can't handle. However, he does call us to do things that stretch us to the point that we can no longer depend on ourselves, our success, our jobs and our bank accounts. When we are absolutely reliant on God, we experience the fullness of His provision and His grace.

So, as he was driving down the street one day, he sees a guy on the side of the road kicking dirt. God tells him to pick up the stranger, so he turns around and asked the guy if he needs a ride. The guy gets in the car, and after a long conversation explains that he can't work because he has a disabled shoulder and his electricity bill is due and he doesn't have any money to pay it. so my friend askes him how much the bill is, and the guy says around twenty dollars. He pulls out his wallet, gives this stranger the thirty dollars he has left and he tells him to pay his bill and buy himself something to eat. He prays for this guy's shoulder and he tells him the power of prayer and encourages him to keep believing and to expect God for healing, and it will be his. When they arrive at the boy's destination, he gets out of the car and my friend is left with absolutely no money. As he told me this story, his eyes were big and he explained it as the most freeing state he has ever been in throughout his entire life.

"With every decision, we bring either Heaven or Hell to earth." -Rob Bell

He survied the next couple weeks by eating at school, and refraining from buying anything until his next paid check came in. He was completely fearless.

He knew that if he was going to say He was following God then he was going to do it with his whole heart. He knew it would be easy to preach, and not nearly as easy to practice, but he made the decision to trust in a God who had plans to prosper Him. He knew that the Lord is mighty to save, and he expected God to teach him that first hand.

It had nothing to do with explaining theology, or demanding answers to his questions... it had everything to do with being stretched to where he could bring Heaven to earth for one man who needed his electricity bill paid. It was the drive to take Jesus literally when He told his disciples, "drop your nets, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

It may sound radical, it may even be radical; but what will our success driven, money hungry society turn into if we continue to let those things control our lives? It is absolutely crucial that we take a completely fearless approach to living - our eyes will be opened, our hearts softened and our horizons broadened if we give God the opportunity to stretch us. It won't be easy, and certainly not comfortable but it will change the world.

"...I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19