10/06/2020
When the Lord saves us, delivers us, or redeems us, are we inclined to keep his goodness to ourselves, or do we openly praise Him and tell all who will listen about His mercy? Are we only inclined to lift Him up in the presence of those who need to Believe in Him, and accept Him as their Lord, or do we witness to our fellow believers so that they will be encouraged in their faith? Witnessing to others of our faith, and God’s amazing goodness in our lives fills each ear that hears with a special blessing intended only for their refreshment, encouragement, or motivation in faith. So we should witness openly as a matter of course.
“I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.”
Psalm 40:9 ESV
I have spoken and written many times about how the Lord saved me from drowning when I was a teenager, but it took me years before I openly did so. I kept that day a secret, and didn’t speak of what had happened to me for several reasons but the two primary ones had to do with my not fully understanding what had transpired, and secondly, the fact that it would make me standout before my peers... drawing attention to myself.
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
Psalm 8:3-4 ESV
One of the great encumbrances to witnessing about what God had done for us is our inability to understand what He has actually done, and why. In my case I knew what He had said to me, and that a miracle had occurred, but I didn’t understand why He did it, and more specifically why He had saved ME! So I remained silent until I was in mid-life, and even then I only had a rudimentary understanding of these questions. I convinced myself that if I could bring a single person to faith by telling my story, then that might be enough, and the reason my life was saved, but it turned out to be much more than that, and in my late fifties God’s plan became apparent... I was led in a mighty way to Speak and write of Him on a world stage.
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8 ESV
So the Lord saved my life and then waited decades before He put that miracle to full use. Sometimes we miss the movement of the Father in our lives because we give up on Him, and don’t wait on Him Yo reveal Ahis will you us. We hold back our witness, and think it worthless because our time hasn’t come to deliver it.
“If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!”
Luke 12:38 ESV
Jesus spent the first 30 years of His life waiting, and preparing, for that perfect moment when God would put His ministry to its full use. I waited 4 decades before God saw fit for me to witness of the miracle he worked in my early teens, so how long will you be asked to wait, and will you be awake in faith when that moment comes?
“Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,”
Luke 3:23 ESV
So maybe you will be given something you are to use immediately as your witness, perhaps you will be made to wait decades, or then again you might be like the thief that was crucified next to Jesus, and whose moment of witness came as He was dying. Jesus was awake, the thief was awake, and praise God, I was awake. Will you be waiting?
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
The second reason we don’t witness is the fear of standing out, being accused of boasting, or perhaps even suffering a fear of being ridiculed by those we witness to. This is especially strong in young people. We all want people to like us, and no one likes a braggart. We also like to fit in, and not stand out in a crowd, and we certainly don’t like to be ridiculed or made fun of.
“Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.””
Isaiah 44:8 ESV
We typically think of fear as a reaction to physical harm, but by far the greatest manifestations come in mental, emotional, and spiritual fears. This was certainly true of me when the Lord saved me from drowning. I didn’t tell my friends that God had saved me because I didn’t want to be ridiculed, made fun of, or have my feelings hurt by those who wouldn’t believe what had happened. I wasn’t spiritually mature enough to face those things, so I kept quiet. Once we give into these particular fears it can take years to overcome them because they become so engrained in us, and mold who we are in faith, and personality. Once these fears grasp us it takes many spiritual lessons before the Lord can pry loose their hold on us.... but fear can be overcome, and God is an expert at that. The more we verbalize, and act out our faith, the less intimidated we are to do that again. Even the Apostle Paul felt this fear...
“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
Acts 18:9-11 ESV
So do we witness as a matter of course, or are we afraid; lacking the understanding needed to do so? Witnessing comes easy to some, while It can be very difficult for others. If it is easy for you then count that as a blessing, but if it is hard for you to do then pray, study God’s Word, and wait on Him as you remember that Paul was able to overcome your same fears on his way to becoming an amazing witness for God, and Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us the courage to witness to others of your actions in our lives, and to praise you openly of your mercy, and the gifts you bestow upon us. Help us Lord to overcome our fears just as you helped Ezekiel, and Paul to defeat theirs. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who deserves our constant praise, and for us to tell sinners and saints alike of all your goodness in our lives. Praised be your name for every good thing, and for your Son Jesus Christ who is the greatest of these. Teach us Father to wait upon you for understanding, and the perfect time when we should do your will. Keep us awake in our faith, and prepare us to speak, and do your will in complete obedience. Great are you in miracles, and everyday mercies. Hear our prayers Father, and open our mouths as we speak your truth. We pray that you are pleased with us, and that the blood of your Son Jesus washes us clean of all sin. In this way, calm our fears, hear our witness before others, and find us worthy to sit at your table forevermore.
“And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.””
Ezekiel 2:6-8 ESV
Rich Forbes