Why We Cannot Remain Silent

WHY WE CANNOT REMAIN SILENT

Bill Bright

Mark 16:15

John 14:6,21

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15, KJV).

Jesus told him, “I am the Way— yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means

of me . . . The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I

will too, and I will reveal myself to him”(John 14:6,21).

Introduction

Have you ever felt hesitant to share the gospel because you thought the other person simply would not be interested?

Have you ever sensed the Lord leading you to witness to some one, but you heard a small voice telling you, “You’ll only start an argument”?

Or have you been slow to share your faith because you didn’t feel you had the gift of evangelism, and witnessing is better left to those with “the gift?”

These are emotions that every Christian has felt at one time or another. I certainly have struggled with them. However, during 50 years of sharing Christ and training others to do the same, I have been unable to find any biblical rationale to justify those reasons for not witnessing. In fact, from my personal experiences and studies of God’s Word, five key concepts have been made clear to me concerning witnessing—concepts that impact the lives of every Christ ian.

Christ has given a clear command to every Christian.

Jesus Christ’s last command to the Christian community was, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15, KJV).

This command, which the church calls the Great Commission, was not intended only for the 11 remaining disciples, or just for the apostles, or only for those now who have the gift of evangelism.

ThiscommandisthedutyandprivilegeofeverymanandwomanwhoconfessesChristasLord.WecannotpickandchoosewhichcommandsofourLordwewillfollow.

I.MenandwomenarelostwithoutJesusChrist.

Jesussaid,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelife:nomancometh untotheFather,butbyme”(John14:6,KJV).God’sWord also remindsus, “)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12 (KJV).

WhenIspoketoseveralhundredstudentsatanevangelisticeventinMinnesota,severalofthemgatheredafterwardtoaskquestions. AsIcounseledthem,Inoticedanangryyoungstudent fromIndiaimpatientlypacingbackandforth.

WhenIfinallywasabletointeractwithhim,hepracticallyexplodedatme.“IresentyouChristians!”hespatout.“Youare arrogant,narrow,andbigoted.Iam aHindu—IbelievethatChristianityisonewaytoGod, butyouChristiansarenotwillingtobelievethat myreligionisanotherwaytoGod.”

“IamsorryifIhaveoffendedyou,”Iapologized.“ButImustremindyouthat‘Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelife:noman comethuntotheFather,butbyme’wasaclaim that JesusChristmadeaboutHimself.WhatdoyouthinkofJesus?”

Hethought foramomentbeforeheresponded.“IwouldhavetosayHeisthegreatestmanwhoeverlived.”

Ilearnedfrom thisyoungmanthat hewasworkingtowardadoubledoctorateinphysicsandchemistry.Aswetalked,I explainedmoreabouttheclaimsJesusmadeaboutHimself - howHediedforoursinandwasraisedfromthedeadandhowHislifedemonstratedthatHewasindeedtheSonofGod.Theyoungman’s angersubsided.

“Nowtellme,”Isaid,“doyoubelievethat‘thegreatestmanwho everlived’wouldlieaboutHimself?OrdoyoubelieveHewasadeludedlunaticwhojustthoughtHewastheonlywaytoGod?”

TheyoungscholarrealizedthelogicofJohn14:6. Hiscountenancechanged, asifsunlighthadbrokenthroughfiercestormcloudsinhisheart.

“WouldyouliketoreceiveChristasyourSaviorandLord?”Iasked.

“Yes,Iwould,”hereplied.“Iunderstanditnow.”

WhatathrillitwastoseethisbrilliantyoungscholarreceiveJesusChrist intohislifeas SaviorandLord!

MenandwomenaretrulylostwithoutJesusChrist. According toGod’sWord,Heistheonlywaytobridgethegapbetween humankindandGod. WithoutHim, peoplecannotknowGodandhaveassuranceofeternallife.

II.Ratherthan being“not interested,”thepeopleoftheworldarelookingforGod.When properlyapproachedin thepoweroftheHolySpirit,themajorityaretrulyhungry forthegospel.

Indeed,vastfieldsofhumansoulsareripeningallaroundusandarereadynowforreaping.Wemust assumethatthefamilymember,neighbor,co-worker,orpersonwe’vejustmetwillbeinterested inthegoodnewswehaveto tell.Alwayspresupposeapositiveresponse. Thepersonmayhavejustgonethroughasetofcircumstancesthat haspreparedhisorherhearttoreceiveJesusChrist.Godmayhavebeenleadingthepersontoanawarenessofhisorherneedfortruth.Perhapsthepersonhasfeltespeciallyaloneorinneedoflove.

III.WeChristianshaveinourpossession thegreatestgiftavailabletomankind - thegreatestnewseverannounced.

Christisrisen! WeservealivingSavior,whonotonlyliveswithinusinallHisresurrectionpower,butalsohasassuredusofeternallife.Hediedonthecrossinourplace,foroursin, thenrosefromthedead.WehavedirectfellowshipwithGodthroughJesusChrist. Andthisfellowship,thispeace,this giftofeternallifeisavailabletoallwhoreceiveHim.

Whyarewesohesitanttosharethisgoodnews?Whyisit thatweso readilydiscussourpoliticalviewsorathleticpreferences,ourgasmileageorutilitybills,ourchildren’sgrowingpainsorouroffice gossip,butclamupwhenitcomestodiscussingthegreatestnewsever announced?

IfourfaithinChristreallymeansasmuchtousasitshould,thenitonlyfollowsthat ourfaithshouldbethenumberonemessageonourlips. Peoplewanttoheargoodnews. AndwhenyoupresentitinthepoweroftheHolySpiritandwithlove,youwillusuallyseeapositiveresponse.

Severalyearsago,agroupofyoungChristiansweresingingChristmascarolsinHollywoodandBeverlyHills.Theyhadcalled tomakeappointmentstosingatseveralTVandmoviestars’homes,andthen,aftersinging,theyleftacopyoftheVanDusenletter,aletterIhadwrittenaboutJesusandhowonecanknowHimpersonally.

Oneactor—well-knownforhisleadrolesintwo long-lastingfamilyTVseries—wasparticularlygracioustothecarolers,andthenextdayhecalledthegroupleader.

“I’vereadthisletteradozentimes,”hisvoiceboomedoverthephone.“I’veneverreadanythingsowonderful.CouldImeetMr.Bright?”

Thegroupleadergavemyofficethemessage,andIcalledthegentleman.

“Mr.Bright—”

“Please,callmeBill,”Iinterrupted.“I’vewatchedyourshows enoughtofeellikeIknowyoualready.”

“Bill,Iknowyoumustbeverybusy,”heapologized.Icould senseafeelingofawkwarddeterminationinhisvoice.“Ireallymustseeyou.Idon’twanttoimposeonyou,butwouldyouplease takeafewminutesandseeme?”

Wearrangedforhimtomeetmeatmyhome.Aftergettingoutofhisexpensiveantiquecar,heboundedupthestepstogreetmewithafirm handshakeandhisfamiliarsmile.

“I’vebeenreadingyourletterandit’sbeenverymeaningfulto me,”hebegan,afterwehadchattedforafewminutesovericedtea.“I’vebeenamemberofthevestryofmychurchforyears,butI’ve neverreadanythinglikeyourletter.Idon’tknowChristpersonally, andIwantyoutohelpme.”

Wetalkedbrieflyaboutthecontentoftheletter,buthedidn’t needconvincing.Hewasready.Wegotonourkneesbythesofain thelivingroom, andheprayedthemostbeautiful, heartwarmingprayerforsalvationIhaveeverheard. Then, aswestood,hegavemeabearhugthat almostcrackedmyribs.HewentawayasdelightedasachildatChristmasbecauseoftheassuranceofhissalvation.

IV.TheloveofJesusChristforus,andourloveforHim, compelsustoshareHimwith others.

Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him..” (John 14:21). Inotherwords,JesusmeasuresourloveforHimbytheextentandgenuinenessofourobediencetoHim. Andasweobey,HepromisesHewillrevealHimselftous:“he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him”(John14:21).

Whatareweto obey?Whenitcomesto witnessing,wehavethespecificcommandmentfromJesusChrist:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15).HelpingtofulfillChrist’sGreatCommissionisbotha dutyandaprivilege.WesharebecauseweloveChrist. WesharebecauseHelovesus.WesharebecausewewanttohonorandobeyHim. WesharebecauseHegivesusaspecialloveforothers.

Asacorollarytothat specificcommandment,wearealsocalledtobeobedienttoGod’sdailyguidanceasHebringsusintocontact withpeoplefromallwalksoflife.We’veallexperiencedthat specialfeeling—thatwhisperdeepinsidetellingus,“TellthispersonaboutJesusChrist.”But,foronereasonoranother—fear,rushedschedule, notknowingwhattosay—wearetemptedtoneglectthewhisperandproceedwith“moreimportantthings.”

Jesuspromised, “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19,). ItisourresponsibilitytofollowJesus.ItisHisresponsibilitytomakeusfishersofmen. WehavearingingcommandfromourLordtosharethegospel,andmenandwomenarelostwithoutHim. Indeed,theyarehungryforthegoodnews,andweChristianshaveinourpossessionthegreatestnewseverannounced.OurlovefortheLord—andHisloveforus—compelsustoobeyHimasHeleadsusintothesharingopportunitiesofeachday.

AsyouwalkinprayerfulfellowshipwiththeLord,always,wheneveryou’realone withsomeone,consideritadivineappointment. Alwaysbereadytoshareyourfaith.Itcouldwellbethat Godhasledthat persontoyoubecauseyouknowthegoodnewsandthat personneedstohearit.

Summary

•Peopleallaroundyouareindeedhungryforthegoodnewsthat Christdiedfortheirsins.WithoutJesus,theyhavenohopeofknowingGodorofhavingeternallife.

•Godopensupuniquewitnessingopportunitiestoyou, sometimesinthemostunlikelyofcircumstances.Hedoesn’texpect eloquence,butHedoesexpectobedience.

•Youhaveinyourpossessionthegreatestnewsever announced.Whybesohesitanttoshareitwithothers?

•Christhascommandedus:“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15). IfweloveHim, wewillobeyHim:“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”(John14:21).

•Wheneveryou’realonewithsomeoneforafewminutesor more, consideritadivineappointment.

•Acts 1:8recordsthepromiseofpowertobeHiswitness:“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

•If we are not fishing for men, we are not following Jesus(Matt.4:19).