Boldness in Christ (Jeremiah 26:2)

Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
– Jeremiah 26:2

Now I really want to hone in on that last phrase. This is God telling Jeremiah to proclaim his word. And he says, don’t hold back, not one word of what I tell you to do. Do not hold back. And I just want us to think about, well, one, so many people, our brothers and sisters around the world right now who are tempted to hold back a word because of what it will cost them to proclaim God’s word in places like North Korea or Somalia or Saudi Arabia, or in parts of India, Yemen, parts of the world, places in the world where there is high persecution of Christians. Pakistan, Iran, where our brothers and sisters are tempted to hold back a word.

Jeremiah 26:2 Prays for Boldness

We want to pray for their boldness. Even as we then think about the temptations we have to hold back God’s word today, who we will have opportunities to share the gospel today, where we live, where we work, in the course of our day, the people we interact with. Let’s hear this word from God. Don’t hold back. We have the word of God.

We have the greatest news in the world about his love, his mercy, his grace toward all who trust in him. His judgment that’s coming for all who turn from him, who don’t put their trust in him. We have this word. God, we pray that you would help us not to hold back today. God, help each one of us to proclaim your word today, to speak the good news of the gospel, the good news of your love, and your holy judgment, and your mercy.

Jeremiah 26:2 Reminds Us that We are Forgiven by God

Jesus, what you have done to make it possible for us to be forgiven of all our sin and be restored to relationship with you for eternal life. God, help us not to hold back this word. God, we pray for this in our lives. We pray for this in the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world in persecuted places where they are tempted to hold back because of the cost that it will bring to them to proclaim your word.

God, we pray that you would help them to be bold in those places today. And to proclaim your word no matter what it costs. God, we pray for that in our lives and their lives. We pray for people, groups in the world, that have been held back from hearing your word, that are unreached. God, we pray for Kazakhs today. Over 12 million, almost 13 million Kazakhs in Kazakhstan. Very few followers of Jesus.

Praying for Kazakh Believers

God, we pray for those followers of Jesus that you would give them boldness to proclaim your word today. God, we pray for our Kazakh brothers and sisters. And God, we pray that your word would spread in Kazakhstan, that disciples would be made and churches would be multiplied in Kazakhstan through the obedience of your people not holding back your word.

God, we pray for this in our lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world, according to your word in Jeremiah 26, verse two. God help us not to hold back today. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.

David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow MeCounter CultureSomething Needs to ChangeBefore You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.

Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

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