Spirit-given Boldness

Reformation Bible College had the distinct privilege of having Dr. Tim Keesee speak at one of our recent chapel services. Dr. Keesee is well-known for his Dispatches from the Front series and is both the founder and the executive director of Frontline Missions International, a ministry which has, for decades, endeavored to bring the good news of the gospel to some of the hardest and most difficult places on earth. In this chapel service, Dr. Keesee presented a message from Acts 4:12 entitled “The Great Controversy,” which highlighted the opposition of the world to the message and messengers of our Lord’s gospel.

In addressing the world’s opposition to the gospel message, Dr. Keesee noted that most worldly opposition to Christianity comes on the basis of the Christian doctrine of the exclusivity of Christ unto salvation. Many of the religions which oppose Christianity are just facades for people who are trying to save themselves. But, the gospel message is presented in opposition to their method—as Dr. Keesee noted, “The gospel is centered in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” That is, the gospel of Christ presents a paradigm shift away from attempted salvation through works and unto the proper view that righteousness only comes through Christ. He concludes, “The modern belief is that all roads lead to God, but the thing that is standing in the way of that belief is the cross. God did for us what we could never do for ourselves.”

The world does not simply oppose the message, however. The world also opposes its messengers. Walking through a few texts, Dr. Keesee presented a picture of a gospel-sharer. First, the realities of the gospel require a response of sharing that message as the good news. He stated, “Because our lives are ever bound up in God’s, we must share the message.” That is, faithful sharers of the gospel occupy their times preaching and proclaiming the cross. Furthermore, Dr. Keesee posited that the messenger of the gospel needs to be filled with Spirit-given boldness to share the gospel, that gospel messengers must walk humbly, and that the gospel message itself is powerful.

Dr. Keesee’s chapel message was concluded with this thought: “Just as the first Christians prayed for boldness, we too must pray for boldness in the face of opposition and controversy.” Reformation Bible College sincerely appreciates Dr. Tim Keesee’s visit to our campus and his message to our chapel attendees.

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Nate King is a sophomore student at Reformation Bible College.