Let Unbelievers See Our Boldness
We are Christ's, we are not totally in the flesh because our mind is set to understand spiritual things discerning the Spirit of God, and accept them. We are therefore in the Spirit. We interpret spiritual things in spiritual language because of the sound words that we have heard and learned, and words dwell in us (Romans 8:8-9;
1Corinthians 2:10-16). Many are astonished at our teaching, since we are not prevalent in Christendom. Some say of us, "These babblers, they prate the word of God in voices of myth" a misnomer accorded to the saints of old, whose faith we copy (Acts 17:18; Jude 3). Hence few people are for us (John 2:24-25; 5:40-44; Matthew 24:5).
When we embark on winning converts, we ought to be fervent in spirit, speaking sound words of Jesus to the people, and devoting ourselves to prayer before we witness. God will search the hearts of our hearers and He will show which ones He has called by our preaching. Not all have faith, even some supposed Bible students do not really have faithfulness. But we should strive with those who listen to us, and struggle on their behalf in our prayers, that they might be delivered from unbelievers and evil men who oppose our teaching. The word of God is not bound (and it is not confined to correspondence courses). The faith has been delivered to us for the relief of those who would develop faith through our boldness (Proverbs 28:1; Acts 5:29)
In the first century, those who delivered the faith were in conflict and were sometimes shamefully treated by those who opposed them. They proclaimed the word in the synagogues and market places. They tried to persuade Jews explaining the right teaching of the kingdom of God, and many who heard them were astonished at their doctrine yet had not had formal education. Some were provoked to jealousy and tried to silence them (Acts 14:1-4; John 3:36). We should not be discouraged if we are faced with similar experiences.
Many of our contacts do not understand what we say to them, because we present what to them are strange things a unique doctrine not spoken by Christendom. We remember how we ought to imitate the saints (Jude 3) who received much affliction, yet they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer persecution and we should rejoice likewise (Philip 1:28-29). We must not be ashamed of our doctrine but we must tell everyone all the glad news of righteousness for their salvation, for it is the testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ: "Even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed to you" (1Corinthians 1:2; Mark 8:38). That confirmation continues with us; we have never taught a doctrine contrary to the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the apostles.
We cannot be popular in the world. But our will must be shown to be God's will. We might be regarded as fools or out of our minds, but we must copy the Lord Jesus who faced those accusations. By our teaching, we should continue to bear witness to God and we must work together with Him. If we maintain true doctrine, we shall be blessed (Luke 5:20). God will lead us in a triumphal procession in what is right, the truth, because we hear and understand His word.
As we wait for the promise of the Father, we should rejoice and be glad to extend our doctrine abroad with boldness. God will look upon our opponents and hear their words of contempt, with which they speak, not to offend us, but to mock the living God. He will grant us to continue to speak His word much more boldly without fear, as we ought to speak to, and dispute with, the erroneous teaching of Christendom.
Our boldness should be the sign that the Lord is with us, and to persuade others even if some are filled with jealousy (1Thes 2:2). Our unique teaching and boldness are factors which will encourage others to follow our example in doctrine and our by our practical christian life.
Bro Timothy Lemekani (Mwale-Mazabuka, Zambia)
