Saint John Paul II once said, "Do not be afraid to go out on the streets and into public places, like the first apostles who preached Christ and the Good News of salvation in the squares of cities, towns, and villages. This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel. It is the time to preach it from the rooftops."
The recent blasphemy at the Olympics Opening Ceremony, which mocked the sacred Last Supper of Jesus with drag queens, underscores the urgent need for vigilance and a steadfast defence of our faith, families, and values more than ever. In Ephesians 5:11 (ESV-CE), Paul instructs us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." This calls us to actively confront and expose evil while upholding our faith.
By prioritising God's kingdom, acknowledging Christ before others, and glorifying Him through our daily acts of faith—whether at work, play, travel, or social gatherings—we experience divine protection and eternal rewards. Empowered by Scripture and inspired by saints, we can boldly witness for Christ, assured of His presence and support. Mother Teresa also reminded us of our duty: "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." Our actions, no matter how small, can make a significant impact.
Join me as we explore how to boldly stand for our faith and Jesus, trusting in His promise to be our unassailable 'WALL OF FIRE' and His glorious presence in our lives, knowing that living out our faith and sharing our testimony not only honours God but also sets us apart and fortifies us.
In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus highlights the importance of acknowledging Him before others: "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Bearing witness to Jesus is a profound honor with eternal significance. Our acknowledgment of Christ on earth will be rewarded with His acknowledgment of us in heaven.
The unwavering faith of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who boldly proclaimed Christ despite facing immense persecution in a Nazi concentration camp, serves as a powerful inspiration and testament to the importance of witnessing our faith.
For a contemporary example of standing witness to Jesus and defending our faith, you can read my LinkedIn post on the recent blasphemy at the Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony here.
Jesus reassures us in Luke 12:12: "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." When we testify about our faith, the Holy Spirit guides our words and actions. We are never alone in our witness; the Holy Spirit provides the wisdom and courage we need.
Consider the example of Peter and John in Acts 4:8-13. Despite being uneducated men, they spoke boldly and wisely because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. As Jesus promises in Matthew 10:20, "For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
Paul also encourages us in 2 Timothy 1:7, saying, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." And we can draw strength from Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
These verses remind us that with the Holy Spirit's guidance and God’s promises, we can boldly stand as true witnesses for our faith, knowing we are empowered and never alone.
When we bear witness to Him, we honor our Lord Jesus and glorify Him. In turn, His glory shines through our lives. Zechariah 2:5 states, "And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst." This verse emphasizes that when we glorify God through our witness, He surrounds us with His divine protection. This “wall of fire” symbolizes God’s encompassing and impenetrable protection over those who honor Him.
To fully experience God's divine "firewall," we must actively glorify Him through our words and actions. Unlike modern computer network firewalls that can fail and lead to global cybersecurity breaches, God's protection is perfect, impenetrable, unassailable, and promised only to those who honor Him. By prioritizing and acknowledging Christ, we invite His unwavering and all-encompassing protection into our lives. This divine firewall cannot be breached by any worldly force, ensuring that His glory within us and His protection around us provide unparalleled security and peace, safeguarding us against all adversities.
I experienced this firsthand during the flash floods in Kerala a few years ago. While floodwaters entered my residential colony, most of the houses were partially submerged, and the water reached my gates. I could see the water hesitating to enter my gates, not crossing into my compound—not even by an inch. According to the laws of physics, the water should have flooded my compound too, as the river adjacent to my home had risen to the brim of our compound wall. Later, while in my prayers, the Heavenly Father revealed to me that Zechariah 2:5 had protected my home. We used to pray this Word of God daily, seeking His protection, and often recited the Divine Mercy while walking around our home. This experience confirmed to me that when we glorify God and seek His protection, He truly becomes our impenetrable "wall of fire."
When people ask me how I am, I usually respond, "By the grace of our Lord, I'm perfect," or "I'm fine." When asked about my business, I say, "By the grace of our Lord, all is well," as I purposely try to give glory and thanks to my only Saviour Jesus Christ in everything. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Some discourage me for constantly glorifying the Lord or using His name in my conversations and social posts, but I continue to glorify the Lord in all things and have experienced His protection time and again. Praising Him for that, I can recount hundreds of similar incidents where I have experienced His personal, unassailable 'wall of fire' in my personal life, family, and business.
Dear Lord,
You said, "I will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst." Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for being the wall of fire surrounding our family, our children, our life situations, our jobs, our business, and everything that concerns us. Thank You for Your protection thus far.
We humbly pray that You continue to be the wall of fire around us and that Your protection encircles us continuously. Kindly protect us from the evils of the world and shield us during trials and tribulations. Guard us from all forms of evil forces, natural disasters, calamities, untimely death, wickedness, evil men, thieves, robbers, sinners, accidents, illnesses, despair, financial difficulties, and every peril.
In the most holy name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.
In summary, we are encouraged to bear bold witness to Christ without fear, knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide us (Luke 12:12). We are called to acknowledge Christ before others (Matthew 10:32-33), seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and trust in His divine FIREWALL protection (Zechariah 2:5). By living out these truths, we glorify God and experience His presence and protection in our lives.
Share this message with your family, friends, and community to encourage them in their faith journey and be bold to witness Christ.
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