Jesus, Teach Us How to Witness #2

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Sent Into Danger

Jesus called His disciples. He gave them power. And then He sent them. He sent them out with truth, not flame-throwers. Their weaponry was the Word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Scripture calls this weapon the "Sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). It may seem hard for us to understand, but although armed with this vast power--this extraordinary weapon--Jesus said that He was sending them out "as sheep in the midst of wolves."

Wolves are predators; sheep are prey. Although armed with the Word of God, we in our mission are as the prey. Has our nature changed since we first believed?

In one sense yes; in another, no. We bear still the same fallen flesh we had before we gave our hearts to Jesus. We are still, by nature, hazardous to be around. Paul said he fought to keep his body under (1 Corinthians 9:27). As long as we are in our pre-glorified state we'll be locked in battle with the flesh. But the Bible also says that "he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger" (Job 17:9). While it is true that we can never let up, never let our warped nature get the upper hand again at any point, it is also true that there is a sense in which we might say that our nature is in fact changed by the gospel. Ellen G. White puts it like this:

It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above." (Great Controversy, p. 506).

She speaks in a similar manner in this remark:

Unless man is given the converting grace of heaven, he will have no disposition to oppose Satan's counsels, and will become the enemy's willing dupe. It is God alone who puts enmity to sin in the human heart. The Lord gives man a new mind. He causes the conflict that will not submit to Satan's deceptive reasoning. It is God who makes a conflict where heretofore there has been unity of action. It is the Lord's purpose that depraved human nature should, through His divine power, be provided with a renovating energy. (Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, p. 382.

We understand in fact that

Through the operations of the Holy Spirit a new nature is implanted within... (Signs of the Times, 22 August 1895).

It goes without saying that without this new inward nature, we will be unable to witness. Without this inward change, we'd be like the false shepherds of John 10, who, when danger comes, flee in order to save their own miserable hides. This inward change is a no less than a positive necessity for us. We are sent as prey among the predator.

The Scripture admonishes us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." The first Bible reference to the serpent is found in Genesis 3:1. There, the serpent is described as "more subtil" than any other beast that God had made. The underlying Hebrew calls him more "smooth." But are Christians supposed to be "smoothies?" spiritual con-artists and human traps sprung along the unsuspecting pathway of random worldlings?

Smoothness doesn't necessarily imply badness or deception. I think it implies finesse. Satan used his smoothness to deceive; we may use the wisdom we've obtained through God's Word and our Christian experience to undeceive. Doesn't that make sense? The devil had raw intellect for his deceptions, but no grace. We can have grace to speak our words in season. The devil didn't have the Holy Spirit. But we can have the inward renewal of the Holy Spirit to teach us what to speak.

The serpent had a wisdom in his speaking. He spoke in a way to draw out his listener. And how was the speaking of Jesus? He spoke with wisdom measured to accomplish that too. Can we speak as did Jesus? We can if we will be "wise as serpents."

But along with Jesus' speaking was also a harmlessness. Surely it would be fair to call His speaking a speaking that was "harmless as doves." The first time we meet a dove in the Bible is after the flood. Noah sends it out to survey the surrounding area for signs of habitability. The dove returns with an olive branch in its beak. In the dove there was no intent to deceive or cause harm. So it was when our Lord spoke. He spoke for peace. It is clear that His words often brought division rather than peace. But the words were spoken to heal.

What are our motivations when we speak? Are they so transparent and unselfish? And even doing the work of the gospel, could it be that sometimes our motives are less than they could be? After all, we could find our selves doing evangelistic work in a competitive mode, seeking for our own glory. Let us pray that our motives will be purified, and be an honor to our God.

Persecution, Torture, and Capture Foretold

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:17-22).

In verses 17 and 18 we see Jesus' warning that we who believe will be brought before authorities--some secular, and some religious--for our faith. When we come into such situations, it stands as a testimony against them.

The counsel, "take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given to you in that same hour what ye shall speak," is interesting. Shall we understand it to advocate carelessness in sharing truth? I think not. Could it point to the futility of sharing our faith in such occasions? Futility, real or imagined, is not our concern. Remember, our speaking will be "for a testimony against them." God Himself will give us what we shall speak. Apparently, if God shall speak, then He must have something to say. We need to be closely tuned to Him in order that we will speak His words rather than our own. If His words emerge through our lips, they will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).

Through Ellen G. White, the Holy Spirit told us:

The servants of Christ were to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial. Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious truths of God's word, and through prayer strengthening their faith. When they were brought into trial, the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the very truths that would be needed.

A daily, earnest striving to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, would bring power and efficiency to the soul. The knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures would be flashed into the memory at the right time. But if any had neglected to acquaint themselves with the words of Christ, if they had never tested the power of His grace in trial, they could not expect that the Holy Spirit would bring His words to their remembrance. They were to serve God daily with undivided affection, and then trust Him. (Desire of Ages, p. 355).

How important then, that we live day-by-day the gospel. How important then that day-by-day we acquaint ourselves with His Word. Do we imagine that we can avoid our devotions now and yet be ready for the trials in store for us in the days yet coming? I tell you that if we are unwilling to get up now and spend quiet time with Him morning by morning, surely we'll be unwilling to stand up for our faith in an hour when our life is placed at risk. Now is the time to prepare.

Justice at Last

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. ( Matthew 10:23-26).

The Bible assures us that in the end all will be made right. "There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." And when it's known, there's no doubt that it will be dealt with in all justice. They may call the Christian Beelzebub now, but in the end it will be clear who was on the side of the prince of demons.

"Until in heaven is spoken the word, 'It is finished,' there will always be places for labor, and hearts to receive the message." ( Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 478).

Boldly Present Time-Conditioned Content

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops (Matthew 10:27).

Jesus came as a light shining in the darkness. He spoke not in light, but in darkness ("what I tell you in darkness . . ." The religious landscape at the time of Christ was one of darkness. The truth of God was all buried-up in superstition and tradition. God's Word was enshrouded under increasing layers of philosophical sophistries. The tradition of man was obscuring the truth of God. When Christ would rise from the grave and ascend to His Father, the disciples must not keep silent. They must preach. They must not be content to contain the gospel among themselves! The blazing glory of the empty tomb must be sounded! Nor has this wonder-filled moment faded away in its significance. The truth is as bright as ever. Just as Christ rose in newness of life, so we may live in newness of life. Such lives are an evidence neither death nor torture can suppress.

The disciples at the time of Christ presented to their hearers timely truth. It wasn't just a celebration down at the synagogue designed to appeal to the numbest heads. The crucifixion was built upon a bright and sophisticated nexus of prophetic lines, it contained a rich Messianic content. It was a message appealing to the mind. How dark the popular philosophy of our day that says we should make our worship over into a sappy, happy, empty-headed coffee-and-donut gyration. God forbid that the worship of the holy God should be degraded into a pale party. Substance is what's in the gospel, and the only true result of the gospel will be a worship that has substance in it too.

Identification with Christ and Confession to the Father

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:28-33) .

Our witness is such a crucial matter that it has everything to do with whether our name will be confessed by Christ before our Father in heaven. Jesus will not forget our value in His own eyes; a high one indeed. He who fears the earthly will perish as earthly. He who fears the heavenly, shall be made imperishable as the heavenly. He who identifies with the Father will dwell with the Father. He who identifies with this earth will be subject to its final dissolution.

A Divisive Mission

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of me.

Remember, in this same discourse Jesus urges us to let our peace come upon every home that we enter. Yet our mission is a divisive one. Our foes shall be in our own families. Social bonds will be strained and snapped because the various fealties in our own families will, in some cases, not extend to the God of the heavens. Some will put their children above their Creator, or their parents. All must take their cross and follow their Lord.

Rewards

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward (Matthew 10:39-42 ).

What you and I have is of such value, that when we find it, we trade-in our whole life for it. Thus when we find our lives, we lose them. If we are killed for our faith, then we may be assured of a resurrection. And a resurrection is quite the reward! We do not and cannot deserve it. All that we can claim of ourselves is a slot on the list for eternal death. And who is clammorring for that?

But what a reward awaits the faithful witness! If we die for our faith in Christ, we find our life. If we receive Christ, then we receive the Father. What are the rewards of a prophet or a righteous person or a disciple? Whatever such reward, we "shall in no wise lose" it! Great, my friends, great is the reward of a faithful witness for Jesus.

Our opportunities to give this witness are moving past so rapidly. Soon they will all be gone. Life is so fleeting. What will be the story of your life or of mine?

Conclusion

And so there we come to that haunting question. What kind of witnesses will we finally be? In these two messages, we've seen how Jesus calls us all as disciples. He doesn't hesitate to give us power. The power is for sharing His story in our lives. He grants us authority from heaven to tell the story from heaven, woven into each of our lives day by day. Each day the loom makes a cycle and we sift through the hours and across the paths of numerous blood-bought souls still oblivious to God's goodness toward them and the precious salvation so costly purchased. And God gives us the tools to tell. He forewarns us, and councils, and empowers. And now in the light we must go. We must share. We must tell the story of wondrous things above that we know by experience enter into our wondrous life below. Let us be about our work, wisely as serpents, harmlessly as doves. Jesus, teach us how to witness.

You've given us so much to share.