Yet "... it is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak" (2 Cor. 4:13).
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard," (Acts 4:20, KJV).
In the seventeenth century, it was every gentleman's hobby to converse in "God-talk" or be clued in on theology and in the know, as it were. But this is no guarantee that one knows the Lord, simply because he is acquainted with Scripture! Even the devil quotes it for his own purposes.
It seems like some reticent Christians who think "talk is cheap" (Rom. 10:17 says faith comes by hearing by the way!) and they attack believers who voice their opinions, saying that if you don't "walk the walk, you shouldn't talk the talk." Satan will muster all his forces to shut us up! However, we are commanded to speak out to the best of our ability. These cliches are unbiblical and have no basis in truth--can you give me a Bible verse to back them up? If we had to wait till we were perfect to talk we would have an excuse to keep quiet all our lives because we are always working in progress and no one can say that he has "arrived."
However, we don't want to be hypocritical in our talk and talk a talk that contradicts us. When one is filled with the Spirit he wants to talk about spiritual matters and share Christ with others, whether he is "perfect" or not. "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). In other words, they got the "can't-help-its" as they say.
Fellowship is not just for a few elite believers who have their act together, but for all of the body and no one can say that he doesn't need some "body part." In my experience, one merely doesn't have the ability to speak of spiritual things and share Christ without the guidance of the Holy Spirit; it is not mere energy of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit--(cf. Zech. 4:6 says: "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of Hosts").
It is the religious people who think they are better than others by virtue of their performance and are a cut above other believers, that don't think God can speak through the least of these of Christ's brethren. The devil is the one who wants to muzzle the ox that treads out the grain and can't stand it when someone speaks for Christ or witness and says he is "unworthy." But no one is worthy and it is because of grace alone that we have the privilege of speaking on Christ's behalf as His ambassadors of reconciliation.
Now, my interpretation of this matter is that if you don't witness, you shouldn't pass yourself off as an expert on the subject (however, I'd still like to hear your opinion of what you do know or think you know!); and if you don't pray don't teach about it, but it is always fitting and proper to boast in the Lord and of what He has done through you ("I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me," says Rom. 15:18).
You don't earn the right to witness, you just see an open door and take advantage of the opportunity whenever the Spirit leads--we are commanded to witness via the Great Commission. Fellowship is a birthright of all believers, not just a select few. All believers have the right to witness and should never be ashamed that they are Christians or of the gospel (cf. Rom. 1:16 which says: "I am not ashamed of the gospel...").
It is vital that we practice what we preach, but the devil will do everything to muzzle us and keep us from speaking for Christ. It is a shame that some who profess a faith in Christ deny Him by their works and life testimony. (Cf. Titus 1:16: "They profess to know God, but by their works they deny Him.") In conclusion: God will not stand for hypocrisy and we have to be careful not to condemn ourselves by our speech because Jesus did say that it is by our own words that we will be judged--but do not get discouraged that you aren't good enough, because no one is. Soli Deo Gloria!
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard," (Acts 4:20, KJV).
In the seventeenth century, it was every gentleman's hobby to converse in "God-talk" or be clued in on theology and in the know, as it were. But this is no guarantee that one knows the Lord, simply because he is acquainted with Scripture! Even the devil quotes it for his own purposes.
It seems like some reticent Christians who think "talk is cheap" (Rom. 10:17 says faith comes by hearing by the way!) and they attack believers who voice their opinions, saying that if you don't "walk the walk, you shouldn't talk the talk." Satan will muster all his forces to shut us up! However, we are commanded to speak out to the best of our ability. These cliches are unbiblical and have no basis in truth--can you give me a Bible verse to back them up? If we had to wait till we were perfect to talk we would have an excuse to keep quiet all our lives because we are always working in progress and no one can say that he has "arrived."
However, we don't want to be hypocritical in our talk and talk a talk that contradicts us. When one is filled with the Spirit he wants to talk about spiritual matters and share Christ with others, whether he is "perfect" or not. "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). In other words, they got the "can't-help-its" as they say.
Fellowship is not just for a few elite believers who have their act together, but for all of the body and no one can say that he doesn't need some "body part." In my experience, one merely doesn't have the ability to speak of spiritual things and share Christ without the guidance of the Holy Spirit; it is not mere energy of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit--(cf. Zech. 4:6 says: "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of Hosts").
It is the religious people who think they are better than others by virtue of their performance and are a cut above other believers, that don't think God can speak through the least of these of Christ's brethren. The devil is the one who wants to muzzle the ox that treads out the grain and can't stand it when someone speaks for Christ or witness and says he is "unworthy." But no one is worthy and it is because of grace alone that we have the privilege of speaking on Christ's behalf as His ambassadors of reconciliation.
Now, my interpretation of this matter is that if you don't witness, you shouldn't pass yourself off as an expert on the subject (however, I'd still like to hear your opinion of what you do know or think you know!); and if you don't pray don't teach about it, but it is always fitting and proper to boast in the Lord and of what He has done through you ("I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me," says Rom. 15:18).
You don't earn the right to witness, you just see an open door and take advantage of the opportunity whenever the Spirit leads--we are commanded to witness via the Great Commission. Fellowship is a birthright of all believers, not just a select few. All believers have the right to witness and should never be ashamed that they are Christians or of the gospel (cf. Rom. 1:16 which says: "I am not ashamed of the gospel...").
It is vital that we practice what we preach, but the devil will do everything to muzzle us and keep us from speaking for Christ. It is a shame that some who profess a faith in Christ deny Him by their works and life testimony. (Cf. Titus 1:16: "They profess to know God, but by their works they deny Him.") In conclusion: God will not stand for hypocrisy and we have to be careful not to condemn ourselves by our speech because Jesus did say that it is by our own words that we will be judged--but do not get discouraged that you aren't good enough, because no one is. Soli Deo Gloria!