FAITH without “WORDS” is DEAD.

        I’m going to share a sobering thought with you. Sharing our light is not really an option. Suppose you know something that must be shared with others, and you don’t do it. Isn’t there a responsibility there?

        Suppose you witness an accident and the wreck on the road will cause many others to also crash into that wreck because of poor visibility. Don’t you have a responsibility to stand by the side of the road and warn the incoming traffic of the danger?

        Here’s a verse that’s not brought out in many churches that is most sobering, that we must take heed to. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Eze 3:17-19)

        You cannot really be a Christian without manifesting your faith. Faith without “words” is dead. Jesus said, “whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Lk 12:8-9).

        You cannot really be filled with His light and hide it under a bushel. It is not only a privilege but a responsibility as well. Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Mt 5:14-15).

        So, we’re SAVED and CHOSEN for an AWESOME purpose and destiny. And the secret of that divine destiny is in losing our life for the sake of others. Jesus explained, “for whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk 8:35).

        We, as Christians, must learn to make every encounter a divine appointment; knowing that God wants to love on all those that we meet. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (witnesser)?” (Ro 10:14-15).

        So if we are not used to witnessing our faith, we must ask the Lord to help us get over whatever hurdle is in the way. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).

        When telling others about our faith, our testimony is our greatest witness. Once you have been exposed to the light, the true love and truth, we feel compelled to talk about it! In any court of law, witnesses are some of the most powerful assets to any case, because they are a firsthand account. It is the same in God’s Kingdom.

        So witnessing is simply testifying of the great joy and the awesome change that has taken place in your heart. The great commission that Jesus has left us is the privilege to share with others the good news that Christ has come to redeem mankind, meaning that anyone can be reconciled to God, the Father. And anyone can live the abundant life of the kingdom now, through faith in Jesus. So sharing our faith is not really an option. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (Jn 15:8).

        The Apostle Paul said, “The love of God compels me” (2Cor 5:14-15). God’s Spirit will show you those who are lost, and in your heart you will be drawn to love on them and to bring them into God’s Kingdom also. Jesus’ last words were, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20).

        Plus, we get to share His love and truth along with the joy, happiness and fulfilment that He brought into our hearts through our newborn nature. We get to share God’s grace with everyone we meet, so they too can live as enlightened a life as we live. They too can enter and enjoy the kingdom of heaven now. Is there any greater calling in life? It is both the greatest opportunity and the greatest responsibility. Because if we don’t, how else will they know? Peter said, “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1Pt 3:15b)

        Every day God gives us opportunities to show kindness to people around us. The choice is always to be the light of the world or to be self-centered? So make it a habit to be Christ-conscious instead of self-conscious. It says, “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

        Even a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, an errand done for them, any of those could mean a lot; it could mean God’s love manifested. “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them” (Pro 3:27).

        We’re ALL on a MISSION once we’ve come into God’s kingdom. People say, ‘but you don’t understand, I work at a secular job’. Actually, it’s only secular if we don’t bring God in it. But if we do, it becomes your MISSION.

        You may not know it but, once you got saved you got “ordained” into the ministry. Jesus said, “you did not choose Me, but I chose you and ordained you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (Jn 15:16).

        Jesus “sent His disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Lk 9:2). That’s the mission and the commission that we’re given, as soon as we get saved.

        Since we are the light of the world, everyone we come in contact with is a ‘divine appointment’. And check out what it says next: “and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mk 16:20).

        So, the good news is that the Lord will continue to work with us. This is not something you have to do on your own. That’s why He sent His Holy Spirit so that we have the power and the boldness to be a witness. “You 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” (Acts 1:8).

        Even Christian parents have a great mission. They have one of the greatest missions ever given to man, because they’re constantly imparting their values to their children. So in many respects, we’re all in full-time ministry. We’re ALL missionaries.

        Check out the great commission in full as spelled out by Jesus Himself just before ascending into heaven. He said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16:15-18).

        “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20)