Archive for 15. October 2008

Witness

Hello: 

Here is our text. 

Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 ”Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 ”Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of

Israel before the Son of Man comes. The next few verses warn the disciples of the danger that they will encounter for preaching the gospel.  They will be unpopular among the officials, and the gospel is going to cause dissension in the home against brother, father, sister, mother, etc.  They are instructed to be as wise as servants and harmless as doves.  

Jesus assures them that though they will be hated for his sake that when they appear before the counsels they can be assured that the Holy Spirit will give them what they are to say in that day as a matter of fact He says that the Spirit of God will actually speak through them. 

I was at bible study last night and the Bishop was encouraging us to return to the mission of the church which is winning souls to Christ.  

He talked about how we have gotten so caught up in so many different things and how the message of Jesus seems to be getting lost.   Most of us are distracted with achieving our goals and what’s going on with us that winning people to Christ often does not become a part of our daily agenda.   

It is refreshing here to visit the mission that Jesus gave his disciples and to remind us that we are to win a world for Christ and that not only are we to literally testify with our mouth but we are also suppose to a walking epistle to be read of men. 

Think about it.  How many people have you brought to Christ within the last week, month or even year?   I think our answer may convict our very hearts. 

Jesus reminds us that the message of the gospel is going to be very unpopular and will cause division and tension but we all know that the rewards of finding Jesus and the change that it brings in our lives is so worth it. 

God Bless!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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