at the seams to keep it inside? It's hard to keep good news to yourself. A few months ago
when my son and daughter-in-law found out they were expecting, I was asked to keep it
to myself until they were ready for everyone to know! My first grandchild, and I had to
keep this super exciting news inside...I was nearly bursting by the time I was given the go-
a-head that it was ok for all to know.
There is good news however that we are told to tell to all...the good news of what the Lord
has done for us.
Psalms 40:2 & 3 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song
in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust
in the LORD."
What amazing things the Lord God has done for His blood bought child. We have been
lifted out of the pit of sin and degradation, put on a sure foundation - the Lord Jesus Christ,
and had our path fashioned in His will. We have something to sing about and a wonderful
life changing message to share! We have been left on this earth to tell others, to point
them to our sweet Savior. I love to be the bearer of good news...what better news do we
have to share then that someone can have their sins forgiven and become part of the
family of God; share in the promises of God and live forever with Him in Glory.
When Jesus was on earth, He not only had compassion on the multitudes and healed
them, but He was also admonishing them to tell others, not to keep the good news to
themselves.
Mark 5:18 & 19 "And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed
with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him
not, but saith unto him, go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the
Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
Luke 8:39 "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done
unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how
great things Jesus had done for him."
How are we doing with publishing what great things Jesus has done for us? If we were
to be honest, most people we come into contact with hear nothing from us about the
greatness of the Lord Jesus and what He's done for us...how shameful. This is the last
thing that Jesus asked of us before He departed to Glory.
Acts 1:8 "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."
Some people mistakenly believe that it's the Pastor's or missionaries that have the
responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, how wrong they are. Every child of God has
the responsibility and the capability to share the Gospel. Everyone can tell someone
else how the Lord saved them from their sins and made them fit for Heaven. The Pastor
and the missionary are just answering special calls from the Lord to fill specific places
of service for Him in this world.
You will note that there is a certain way to witness mentioned in Acts 1:8. First you
start at home (Jerusalem), then you go into your community (Judaea), followed by
your country (Samaria), then to the rest of the world. If everyone followed this pattern,
the Gospel would be shared in every corner of the earth.
Some people have problems with this however. They want to be missionaries in some
remote corner of the world, taking the Gospel to the heathen who have never heard...very
well and good, but they don't witness at home. What about unsaved family members,
moms, dads, brothers and sisters who don't know Christ? Why do so few people show
up to go door to door, or why don't more people give out tracks? Those who don't have
a burden for those at home will not effectively serve in some distant land. Sharing the
Gospel must start at home. Don't expect the Lord to call you to a distant land as a
missionary if your not fulfilling the Great Commission here at home!
Peter and John proclaimed in Acts 4:20;
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
They were witness to the mighty miracles of the Lord, and they could not keep quiet
about it. We have been witness to the mighty miracles of the Lord in our own lives. We
have all miraculously been given new birth, we have been made anew...we have much
to tell.
King David experienced the loving care of God, and he said this in Psalms 26:7;
"That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous
works."
Witnessing to others about the Lord is not a guarantee that we will have the privilege
of leading that one to Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:6 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
It is NOT our responsibility if they accept the Gospel and get saved...it is our responsibility
to TELL, God takes care of the rest. God will bring the right people along for the job
He has for them do, in His timing. Some times we might be the "Paul" and sometimes
the "Apollos", but it is God alone that gives the increase, we just need to be faithful in
the planting and the watering.
Lets go back to Luke chapter 8. The man that had been instructed to return to his
own house and tell what great things God had done for him, did just that. He went his
way and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. We see in verse 40 the results of
his obedience to Christ's command.
"And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him:
for they were all waiting for Him."
Jesus came back to a place where the people were prepared to hear Him because of the
obedience of one man whom had been made whole. God's pattern for witnessing never
fails. Start at home, be faithful...and God will give the increase.
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings, as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems,
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story, 'tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard,
The message of salvation, from God's own Holy Word.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best.
Seem hungering and thirsting, to hear it like the rest;
And when, in scenes of Glory, I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story, that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story!
'Twill be my theme in Glory,
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
A. Catherine Hankey
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