Article 26 December 6, 2018 It Should Be 2nd Nature
I would think that if one considers himself or herself to be a full time Christian, then speaking God’s Word should be a daily thing, such as having your meals and doing what you do. I use the adjective “full time” meaning more than once or twice a week and having the same discipline of prayer and study in the Scriptures that one would be applying to their craft or trade. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So it would seem practical that to discipline yourself in prayer and study should be a normal thing for a Christian.
This article was inspired by two things. Last night I heard a wonderful teaching, which was very special, on speaking God’s Word and how people might respond to it. Days ago, Lynn and I were watching an NFL football game and I made the comment of how dynamic it would be if people became as enthusiastic for speaking God’s Word as they do watching the games. Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, in the Power For Abundant Living Class, makes a statement to the effect of how excited sports fans get; yet, when people speak God’s Word, so often they’re considered weird.
2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” This tells us that we are ambassadors and that we represent Christ on earth. So, why are we uncomfortable speaking God’s Word? Not everybody is, but a lot of people are. In the first place, you shouldn’t feel awkward, but if you are, it might be due to your concern over people’s responses. For some reason that’s very important for some people. Keep in mind that we live in a very hectic world, very high paced, and people very easily get their peace taken from them. That carries over to Christians as well, for we are not immune to the stresses of daily living. As Christian believers, we represent God, our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our lord and savior, and when the importance of that really hits you, I think speaking God’s Word will be easier. I am especially thinking of myself when I make that statement. Remember, we are presenting the things of God, which are spiritual matters, the things of life. In John 6:63 we read: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”
The words of God that we speak to others are spirit and they are life and they will be either received or not received. It’s very simple! The problem is being too concerned about being rejected. Only certain people will receive what we have to say to them. As it tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Keeping in mind that our culture is very frantic, deeply embedded in idolatry and superstition and religion is rampant. Thus, you’re going to run into lots of people who don’t want to hear God’s Word. So What!
On the other hand, God knows that there’s a community of people out there, maybe some in your own neighborhood who are just waiting for someone like you or me to come along and to open to them the Scriptures. It doesn’t matter what you look like, your skill sets, your likes or dislikes, anybody who knows God’s Word like we do, can bless a spiritually hungry person’s life and set them free. Remember there are people out there who have been waiting for what you and I have to say to them for a long time.Luke 24:32 tells us, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” This is part of a record of two men who Jesus took the time to talk to after the resurrection. He took the time to witness to them and their response was joy and gratitude. There are people out there who will give you the same response. Just pray about it and see how God can work in these situations.
Verse 45 of the same chapter: “Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.” We have the ability to open people’s understanding spiritually. This should be fun and if it isn’t fun then we need to get our heads into the Word and be grateful for what God’s done for us making available the new birth and everything involved with it. It takes discipline to work with people and to look for the opportunities to speak God’s Word because you always have to have it on the top of your head and when you’re in heated situations, that’s not always easy. A great example of that was during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A time of the greatest agony man has ever known and in the midst of all that pain, Jesus had the mindset to witness to one of the malefactors hanging with him on the cross.
In Luke 23: 43, it says: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
We’ll never have to go through anything like that because Jesus did it for us, but that’s the idea. That we can be so Word-oriented that even when it’s not ideal, we can think to speak the Word. Ephesians tells us in chapter 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
This exhortation will be with us until the gathering together of the Church of the Body with Christ. We’ll need it, because the devil will be out there working against us until then. In the meantime, we’ve got a job to do, so let’s decide to do it with joy and excitement, and as Jesus did to the two men who he met on the road after his resurrection, let’s open to them the Scriptures and to each other as well, as he did. Then, we can “…comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18Funglimpses and all. Thanks for reading. Respectfully submitted. Will Grove