Not Fearing His Life Unto Death

“Just thought I’d share this Black History story about a new Christian hero of mine. While ministering in Cartersville, GA, I heard a remarkable story of a slave preacher and church planter named Jeffrey Milner. Jeffrey Milner was a slave, who preached so powerfully that other slaves were allowed to hear him preach. One day he preached a message entitled, ‘The Truth Shall Make You Free’. Some of the slaves told their masters they were now free, which caused an uproar throughout the county. The slave masters banded together against Jeffrey, and decided to hang him. A gallows was built in the town square for that purpose.

“With the noose around his neck, the mayor asked Jeffrey if he had any last request. He replied, ‘Well, I guess my last words will be my last sermon.’ As Jeffrey began to preach, the power of God fell. People began to weep uncontrollably, and some fell to the ground. The mayor of the town said, ‘Where are your accusers? I find no fault in you!’ And, Jeffrey was released!

He became a church planter in Georgia, and two of the churches he planted are still here today. One is Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where on their website they give their account of Jeffrey Milner.” (William Ford, III)

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11; NKJV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Church, are you as bold as Jeffrey Milner was?
  • Read Revelation 12:11. Notice the part often left out when it is quoted, “and they did not love their lives to the death.”
  • Ask the Lord to deal with any fear you have to share His Good News with others. It is harvest time!
  • Intercede for the Church to overcome the enemy in every regard, whatever it takes!
  • Find another hero of the faith you didn’t know about and learn from them, as well.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, there are heroes of the faith, right in American history, that we are not aware of. Thank You for Your Word and all its stories. There are so many more heroes of the faith throughout history. Thank you for people like Will Ford who You lead to unearth these historical treasures for us. Those like Jeffrey Milner are true examples of the faith in many ways. Most of us today can’t imagine the daily threat of life that slavery held. And, we certainly are not threatened with hanging when we share the Gospel in America today. The anointing on Jeffrey broke yokes of bondage and set free those who didn’t know Satan had enslaved them! Mostly, we can share freely. Lord, why don’t we take advantage of the freedom we have? How quickly could the name of Jesus be glorified if we would get beyond our fear—of name-calling, of reputation-diminishing, of lawsuits. We are even afraid that the Holy Spirit will manifest as He did at Mr. Milner’s hanging sermon. Forgive our embarrassment at Your sovereign movement on the hearts of men. Look! It did not result in Jeffrey’s death, but his willingness to let You be You resulted in his freedom! Father, help us to glorify Your Son, Jesus, and see the lost saved and the Church grown! Amen.

Today’s decree:

May we be so bold that no threat stops our sharing His Gospel!