Resetting My Courage

Story of Courage (Polycarp martyrdom)

In this world, you must seek out to become courageous. There is no more time to be cowardly or afraid of the inevitable. As Christ prophesied to his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

(John 15:18-20a).

Therefore, we know, as followers of Jesus. We are promised not only the everlasting kingdom of heaven but also Christ's words themselves concerning persecution; we will gain the opportunity to suffer and endure pain for his name's sake as we take up the cross of Christ. In doing so, we have only two options, either to muster up courage within our hearts or to shrink back in fear.

Back in the first century, the nation where Christianity was birth. The Roman Empire sought out to extinguish the newly found religion. All these Christians began appearing out of nowhere. While Jesus knew his church would grow. The Romans did not, and they were surprised by the rapid rate of conversions throughout the land.

What was happening in the Roman Empire at this time was significant persecution of Christians. We are told that one martyr named Germanicus was unwilling to recant his faith, so in front of the proconsul, he provoked the wild beast and ended his life. Another Christian named Quintus, who saw the wild beast became afraid and then swore by Cesar, and made sacrifices in his name, was spared. In doing so, the multitude cried out for Polycarp, the most well-known Christian of the city.

Polycarp, a bishop of Smyrna, his life took a massive turn at the age of 86. Once the news broke out against him. His friends persuaded him to leave for safety. Arriving at a farm, Polycarp began to pray for all people and churches, and three days before he was handed over. In a deep state of prayer, Polycarp experienced a vision and felt the burning sensation that his pillow was on fire. He prophesied that he would, "I must be burnt alive."

In hiding, the guards seized two young boys looking for Polycarp, and one of them confessed Polycarps whereabout. Afterward, these guards approach the home where Polycarp was residing. When the guards met him at the door, he began to speak with them and then order the men to sit down and dine. At this time, Polycarp asks them for an uninterrupted time of prayer. Then it was time for him to be taken captive to meet in front of the proconsul.

Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, “Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp!” No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, “Have respect to thy old age,” and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as], “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.” But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, “Away with the Atheists.” Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, “Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;” Polycarp declared, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour? ”

The proconsul then said to him, “I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast thee, except thou repent.” But he answered, “Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.” But again the proconsul said to him, “I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent.” But Polycarp said, “Thou threatenest me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt.”

They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and being bound like a distinguished ram [taken] out of a great flock for sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said, “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Thy martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before Thee as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou, the ever-truthful God, hast fore-ordained, hast revealed beforehand to me, and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.”

When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury, we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour [coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking there.

At length, when those wicked men perceived that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to go near and pierce him through with a dagger. And on his doing this, there came forth a dove, and a significant quantity of blood, so the fire was extinguished.

Why should we have courage? It's our faith tradition.

What is incredible about the martyrdom of Polycarp isn't his fiery prophecy, his long hours of prayer, or in the way he died, but how he found the courage to stand up to the proconsul. His love for Jesus was more significant than his fear of death.

Indeed, his courage speaks volumes, and we should learn from him. I pose the question to all of us now. Why should we have courage in our faith? I say it apart of our tradition. We're courageous because we have guided by the hand of God. The Lord is the one who is calling us to be strong and courageous.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" (Deut 31:6).

These were the words of Moses spoken to the Hebrews that they were going to the Promised Land. By faith, he announces God will not forsake them; no enemies will overcome you.

Therefore, it's in our tradition to be brave even amid conflicts and persecutions. It's in our blood. We are not wimps but are confident and courageous because of what God has done for us.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:6-7).

As Paul told his son Timothy in the faith, you have the spirit of power, love, and self-control living inside of you. Do you believe what God has given you today? I believe God is equipping everyone here to do something great!

Reset our courage to adjust, transform and connect

Now, we begin the challenge of resetting our courage by adjusting our goals, transforming ourselves, and connecting to others.

The first step-by-step approach for adapting our goal is to write down regular plans for our life and then adjust them accordingly. You will not have the motivation or courage to modify anything in your life until you tell yourself you're willing to change. One of the most helpful ways I found is to write it down with pen and paper. To journal your progress is the best way to see if you are adjusting your life for God.

We need to have the courage to adjust our priorities to making disciples. To adapt our workplace allegiances to the kingdom of heaven and commit to being faithful to our church.

Next, once we set the goal of how we are going to live, adjusting more for God and less about us. Then we must have the courage to let God transform us into servants, leaders, and followers.

When we pray, "Your will be done." We invite God to shape us into his Son. Who was a servant, washed his disciples' feet, feed the mass, healed the sick, and preached the good news to the poor.

God can then transform us into leaders worth following, make us like Christ. People will gravitate towards us because of our love. God's will is for us to lead the charge of the gospel. To being the changemakers! The people who are doing radical things for Jesus. The bible tells us that God uses the weak to shame the strong. In doing so, God is raising a people to lead others to his Christ.

Then the Lord will help us be followers of him even when the trial comes as Polycarp suffered. Following Jesus is a daily action, and God gives us the courage to stand up for Jesus every day.

Lastly, we need to have the courage to connect with God and others. The body of Christ will not be one as Jesus prayed unless we make some sacrifices.

God wants us to have the courage to connect in smaller settings, just like Christ did with the twelve. Small groups are one way of growing more profound in the faith.

God wants us to have the courage to connect to the lost. So I invite you to pray-and-go with me next month around Ubly so we can impact our community.

And most importantly, God wants us to have the courage to connect with him. He is the most important person ever. God wants you to know him as you would see a friend.

It takes us to our courage to reach our vision.

But you may be thinking, why is this important for us to be strong and courageous? It's for a reason we place the fingerprint of Jesus on the thumb of Michigan. It's so we can reach our vision for this church. Our vision is to have 100 people who call Ubly Christian Church their church home by Dec 31st of this year.

Yet, it will only be a dream unless you make it a reality. God's vision is larger than life itself, and he can accomplish anything through us when we believe and have the courage that he will grant us the victory.

Will you embrace God's Spirit today and be courageous and try new things for his glory? I pray you will.