He preached with courage (10 mins.)
Dear brothers and sisters, have you ever felt intimidated when preaching? Perhaps when participating in public preaching, knocking on a difficult door, or giving a witness at work or school.
It's normal to feel some fear in those moments. However, Christian courage doesn't consist of not feeling fear; rather, it consists of acting in faith despite fear.
Today we will consider the example of a servant of Jehovah who experienced just that struggle. He felt fear, suffered persecution, became deeply discouraged, and even thought about giving up. But he continued preaching with courage because Jehovah gave him the strength he needed.
We are talking about the prophet Jeremiah. His example encourages us because we too carry a message that many people do not want to hear.
Jeremiah was persecuted for carrying Jehovah's message of condemnation (Jer 20:2, 8).
Jeremiah received a very difficult assignment. Jehovah did not send him to tell the people what they wanted to hear. He sent him to warn them that if they did not repent, they would receive Jehovah’s judgment because of their disobedience. As expected, that message provoked strong resistance.
LET'S READ JEREMIAH 20:2, 8.
“Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks at the Upper Benjamin Gate, which was at the house of the Lord. 8 For whenever I speak, I must cry out and proclaim, ‘Violence and destruction!’ And the words of the Lord have caused people to insult me and mock me all day long.”
These verses tell us that Pashhur struck the prophet and put him in the stocks. Then Jeremiah acknowledges: “The words of Jehovah have caused people to insult me and mock me all day long.”
Let's think for a moment about what that meant. The stocks weren't simply a prison. They were an instrument of punishment that forced the body into a very painful position.
Furthermore, it was placed on a busy temple door. Everyone who passed by could see it. Many surely mocked, insulted, or despised him. And all for doing exactly what Jehovah had commanded him.
We may never face such intense persecution. But we are familiar with other forms of opposition. Perhaps someone slams a door in our face, a coworker mocks our beliefs, a family member criticizes our faith, or we receive offensive comments on social media.
Although these situations may not be the same as Jeremiah's, they can still make us feel intimidated. That's why studying his example is so valuable.
Jeremiah became discouraged and thought about giving up (Jer 20:9a).
We sometimes imagine prophets as extraordinary people, incapable of feeling weakness. But Jeremiah was not like that. He was a man with feelings like our own. After years of rejection, persecution, and apparent lack of results, he became completely exhausted.
LET'S READ JEREMIAH 20:9a
“Then I said, ‘I will not speak of him, and I will not speak in his name anymore.’”
What sincerity! For a moment Jeremiah even thought it best to stop preaching. We can imagine the emotional weight he carried on his shoulders.
Have we ever felt similarly? Perhaps after receiving many negative responses in ministry. Or after months without finding anyone interested in studying the Bible. Maybe we've thought, "Is it worth continuing to try?"
The Watchtower of February 15, 2010, points out that discouragement is one of the most effective tools that Satan uses to weaken our relationship with Jehovah.
Therefore, we must remember an important lesson. Feeling discouraged is not a sin. Even faithful servants like Jeremiah experienced that feeling. The danger lies in allowing discouragement to cause us to abandon our assignment.
Fortunately, Jeremiah did not give up. What helped him keep going?
Jeremiah was able to continue preaching with courage because Jehovah gave him strength and because he knew that Jehovah's words were very important (Jer 20:9b, 11; w11 3/15 30 par. 9; w10 2/15 7 pars. 8, 9).
The answer to why Jeremiah did not give up and continued to preach with courage can be found in the Bible.
LET'S READ JEREMIAH 20:29b, 11
“But his words were in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary of holding them in; I could bear it no longer. 11 But the Lord was with me like a mighty warrior. Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, for they will not succeed. Their disgrace will last forever; it will never be forgotten.”
These words reveal two reasons why Jeremiah never abandoned his ministry. The first was the deep love he felt for the Word of Jehovah. For him, the divine message was not a burdensome obligation. It was like a fire burning within him. He could not remain silent.
And why did he feel that way? Because he constantly nurtured his spirituality. He meditated on God's Word. He made it a part of his life. That's why the more he studied and meditated, the stronger his desire became to speak about Jehovah.
The same is true for us. When our personal study ceases to be a routine and becomes an opportunity to strengthen our friendship with Jehovah, the desire to share what we have learned arises naturally.
But there was a second reason. Jeremiah trusted Jehovah completely. He did not see Jehovah as someone distant. He saw him as a powerful warrior fighting at his side. Even though the enemies were numerous, he knew that Jehovah was far more powerful.
We too need that same confidence. The Watchtower of February 15, 2010, reminds us that Jehovah may not eliminate trials, but he will give us the holy spirit we need to endure them and keep going.
That means we never preach alone. Every time we share in the ministry, Jehovah is with us. He strengthens our hearts, gives us courage, and helps us to say the right words.
Illustration
In the picture in our activity guide, we see Jeremiah courageously preaching Jehovah’s message in a public place. While some refuse to listen to him, others shout at him. This illustration shows us that although Jeremiah had many reasons to be discouraged, he always trusted that Jehovah was with him. That is why he never stopped preaching courageously.
Conclusion
Brothers, the example of Jeremiah teaches us three important lessons.
First, serving Jehovah can bring opposition.
Second, that even a faithful servant can become discouraged.
And third, that Jehovah never abandons those who trust in him.
If we feed our hearts with the Word of God and depend on the Holy Spirit through prayer, we too will be able to continue preaching with courage.
So, when the terrain seems difficult, when rejection discourages us, or when we feel our strength waning, let us remember Jeremiah.
Let us also remember that Jehovah is still our Mighty Warrior. With his help we can keep going and, like Jeremiah, preach courageously to the end.
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