2226AFC070122 – Testify!
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Luke 10:16-20 – 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” 17 The seventy* returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Emphasis added) *This is also expressed by some scholars as seventy-two.
Romans 10:17 – 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! Grace and Peace to each of you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Surprise and OOOPSIE! I didn’t realize there was one more topic in the series I thought we had just completed. I guess we could say I got scolded a little for that. If we have so great a Gift as a Life in Christ, the “Christian thing to do” is share it! We are to testify. Jesus sent out 35 or 36 pairs of Disciples (“where 2-3 gathered are witnesses”) to share their faith by action. This was the precursor to what is referred to as the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 – 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Being a witness is “part of the deal” when we repent, believe, are baptized, and receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Once that indelible mark of Faith in Christ is infused into one’s soul, your life – the way one behaves around other people – is no longer entirely ours; it belongs to God through Jesus the Christ in the Holy Spirit. This is a very important line of reasoning because it leads us to understanding the purpose of Salvation: Reconciliation.
Reconciliation refers to the restoration of a right relationship with God – a state of Grace. We’re still sinful, still sinners, but we are forgiven sinners. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 – 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. This echoes words in
Isaiah 65:17 – 17 “See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
If we are newly created (a.k.a. “born again Christian”), that means we no longer idolize things and/or persons of the World, but instead think of and act in things of Heaven. Whatever there is in our lives that does not serve to worship and praise God for the Gift of Reconciliation is idolatry. Rather than continually falling into that trap, we are called to testify – to be a witness of the Grace and Goodness of God. We become the Kingdom of God whenever we testify just as we are. (↔ Music Link)
A witness (n.) is one who testifies. To witness (vt.) is to see personally in one’s present reality. A Martyr is one who gives up life for the sake of a promise to God. To martyr someone is to kill them because of their faith. In this day and age, in places around The World, hundreds – perhaps thousands or even tens of thousands – are responding to Jesus call, “Can I get a witness?” Stephen said yes. Paul said ye0s. Peter, James, John, and Bartholomew said yes. Who among us can say yes? Who will shed her/his own blood for Christ?
Not many are ready to be martyrs. Not all are called and prepared as was “My Old Friend, Abraham.” (↔ Click Link) I know some Priests who could be called bloodless martyrs or “white martyrs.” These are people who give their lives to Christ and the Body of Christ which is the Church so completely that every act, every breath, every moment is offered up as a sacrifice of adoration, thanksgiving, and praise on behalf of The Faithful and of sinners. One was a missionary in Africa, another a missionary in Chinle, AZ. Almost daily we hear of people who are martyred – not only Christians, but Muslims, Buddhists, and persons of other faiths – across Africa, Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma) where the Rohingya-genocide occurs, Thailand, Indonesia, Guatemala, and San Salvador – all experience martyrdom, oppression, persecution, even genocide.
American Christians often cry out that we are victims of persecution. It is certainly not anything like what the experiences of millions of people elsewhere in the world experience! We hear claims that we are oppressed in our Religious Freedom because of the abuse of our FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. The US Constitution certainly does provide for protection concerning religion, verbal and written expression, to assemble for cause, and the right to ask for rectification of the perceived oppression. If we were to look into who is actually being martyred here, we’d find mighty few examples. Most of what we complain about doesn’t rise even to the level of bloodless martyr. Our idea of being a witness for Christ pretty much stops at getting up in a tent-revival meeting and answering the altar call. But there are remarkable exceptions. Many of us – whether Catholic or Evangelical fundamentalists, or Buddhists, or Jews, or you-name-it-faiths – are content to quietly go to services and live unmolested about our faith when in society. We often barely have courage to “Stand Up for Jesus.” (↔ Music Link). What’s that you say? You disagree?
“Hey! Wait a minute! YOU of all people should know that we who receive these messages make our faith known daily. And you just said, not everyone is called to be a martyr.” You’re right of course. I’m “preaching to the choir.” Yes, all of us are called to witness for Christ. Not all of us are called to witness to Christ and struggle against sin “to the point of shedding blood,” as the Apostle Paul reminded us in Hebrews 12:4-11. If, then, we are called to witness – to testify, to give evidence of our faith, to be a witness to the Power of The Spirit, how will we, how do we, how can we do that better?
The World’s most favorite Saint, St. Francis of Assisi, allegedly quipped, “Preach the Gospel at all times and only if absolutely necessary, use words.” Well, whether or not he actually said that, it certainly is an ultra-brief summary of the New Testament’s admonitions to share the Gospel. I only wish to encourage you to take the dare that the Apostles took: Be the Kingdom of God. If ever we find ourselves pulling our heads into our shells like a frightened turtle at a time when we have an opportunity to testify, then we are hiding our faith, denying Christ, and missing out on the blessing of being a witness. Being a witness means being ready to “lay down one’s life for a friend.” Sometimes that’s just as simple as saying, “I’m a Christian, and I believe that _________ is wrong because it is contrary to what God has told us.” If we’re willing to compromise on something that simple, if we have to deny our cross and turn aside from The Way, then we are not the witness (↔ Music Link) Jesus called upon to leave The World behind to become The Kingdom of God.
An important passage on this idea is found in Luke 17:20-21 – 20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
If the Kingdom is in you, shouldn’t everyone be able to see it all the time? It is an opportunity – and a reason – to testify. Can I get a witness?
That might be challenging if we are so fixed to the TV during sport seasons that we decide to ignore God, then use his Name in vain when our team loses. I challenge you to hear, accept, and act on The Word. The first challenge is, “Do you know some person or some location where The Word is unheard? Help pump up the volume by delivering it. Do it contemplatively through fervent prayer or actively through fervent evangelization. The second challenge is this: “Do you know someone that has heard the Word of Christ but rejected the Grace of Faith? Evangelize them. Give him or her the reward, the gift, the Grace of the Good News. Share your Testimony.” TESTIFY! (↔ Music Link)
Christian Fundamentalist, Christian Evangelical, Orthodox Christian, Catholic, Protestant, Universalist, Mormon, or even just “Religion-Curious,” whatever your particular persuasion, you have been called to hear, and by hearing you are called to faith, and by faith you are called to accept the Gift of Love in Christ Jesus. Did you know you can be the voice through which The Word is heard? Last week we read, “Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.” Beloved, consider making your life an audio-book as well as a pop-up action book. Whatever your calling in Christ, honor the Giver by accepting – and sharing – the Gift of The Living Word.
Do you have a child, a parent, a friend, a relative, a neighbor, or an acquaintance that needs to hear the Word for the first time, or hear it again? Do it now. Both of you might not have another chance later. There is a New Heaven and New Earth coming because we know full well that Jesus is coming. That’s not an “Evangelical thing,” (nor is being born again) – it is a FACT and things are looking favorable for it to be soon.
The Word summarizes these points in 1 Peter 4:7-19 – 7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly[1] and the sinners[2]?”
19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
*Proverbs 11:31 – 31 If the righteous are repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Oh, most dearly Beloved! How our hearts ache for Life in, through, and with God! How much the more should our hearts ache for those who refuse him! Who will help them find LOVE? Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Let us return to the Spirit as witnesses (μάρτυρες – martyres) to testify of his LOVE. To give personal witness without holding anything back. Is your witness one that will live after you, or will the good you have done have a lasting effect? Will the evil you have done live after you, and will the good be interred with your bones? Think on that. OR will you clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (See Colossians 3:12-15) And can you top that off with what you yourself most want? Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The Spirit speaks and says, “Can I get a witness?” (↔ Music Link) Well, can he? Who among us does NOT have that potential? When you enter eternity, which threshold will you be crossing? Remember, both names start with H. If you testify, your outcome will be the Best! How is the World going to hear if we do not speak?!?! Remember “Whoever listens to you listens to me”
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
[1][1] Ungodly – asebés: lack of reverence, failing to honor what is sacred – especially in the day-to-day living sense.
It is the antonym of sébomai (“respecting what is holy”)
[2] The cross reference is the verse in proverbs listed – Proverbs 11:31
