A Message from Dr. Gary Royals

Have you ever heard of the three cheers of Jesus?  In the King James Version of the Bible, there are three times where Jesus says “Be of good cheer” and then follows it with a statement.  The implication is that these three facts should bring us cheer, and who among us doesn’t need cheering up at times.  We all face situations, dilemmas, problems and stress-factors which can erode any joy and sap our very strength.  So, let me give them to you so you can be of “good cheer.”

The first one is in Mark 6:50 where Jesus frightens the disciples by walking on the water and Jesus states:  “Be of good cheer, It is I, be not afraid.”  Wherever you are and whatever you face, you can take cheer that Jesus is with you, walking on the surface of the storm in your life.  There are 365 times in the Bible where we are told “fear not” or “be not afraid”—one for each day of the year!!  So, take cheer, you are not alone and don’t have to be afraid.

The second one is in Matthew 9:2 where Jesus states “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.”  One psychologist stated that if people could have the assurance that their guilt was removed – he would lose over half of his clients.  We can have the “cheer” and assurance that no matter what we have done or how many times we have done it, when we confess it – IT IS AS IF WE NEVER COMMITTED IT.  Hear the words today – “Your sins are forgiven”

The third one is in John 16:33 where Jesus states “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  He had just told us that “in this world we will have trouble” but he would give us peace.  The word peace is “Shalom” which has nothing to do with feelings but denotes “to be whole, complete and put together” as opposed to being “torn apart” and “fragmented.”  Jesus is telling us that he is bigger than our problems and if we will give him our battles, we will experience his peace and victory.

So, there you go.  Know that he is with you, that he forgives you, and that he will give you victory over your battles –and then, and only then, can you have cheer in your life!

Dr. Gary Royals