June 28, 2022 -- Philemon 4-6 -- The blessings given to believers who witness
/People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Philemon 6
How many times have I read the little letter to Philemon (it is only 25 verses long) and never had verse 6 stand out to me like it does today? Look at it again. As believers share their faith, this act of obedience to Jesus in the power of the Spirit, has the effect of increasing our knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. If you find your faith is lacking, perhaps one reason is that you are not sharing your faith. As you declare to others the truth of Jesus Christ, He makes Himself more fully known.
Those you are witnessing to will have questions. As you answer their questions you may find your own faith enriched, you are putting things together by the gracious presence of the Spirit and on the spot you see things you had not seen before.
As you witness, you realize how much you believe and how precious is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
As you witness, the Spirit shows you how the Word of God is sharp as a two-edged sword, cutting through lies and excuses and exposing sin. The one who is hearing your witness will have much exposed, and you, as the one witnessing, will be reminded of the holiness of God. This may even result in your examining your own life, finding areas and things which need to be expelled so that in your thoughts and actions God is honored and praised.
Witnessing comes as a result of praying—are you praying for your unsaved co-workers, neighbours, salesmen, family members and friends?
Sharing your faith is an act of love. Hell is real. The eternal punishment of God against sinners is a dreadful thing to contemplate. Consider these words: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon).
Not all whom you speak to will believe. Do not be discouraged. The point is your obedient love to Jesus, not notching your belt with adulation, as if getting people to believe were a conquest. It is not your conquest, it is the victory of Christ, through the power of the Spirit and such who believe bring honor and glory to the Father. Do not be discouraged by a “no”. It takes multiple invitations for a hard-heart to become yielded to Jesus. You may be the first or second person, in a chain of many, prepared by the Father so a wayward sinner will come home to His open arms.
Thank You, Faithful Father, for those You raised up in my life who overcame their fears and witnessed to me, sharing their love of Jesus with such boldness and joy, that I too became His follower. Father, forgive me for the times I have been prayerless, not sharing my faith, not taking hold of the full knowledge of Jesus Christ offered to believers who in obedience to You, witness, sharing their love of Jesus and confident hope in all His promises. Direct me, by Your Spirit in obedience to Your word and in view of the promised blessings in store for those who share their faith, so that I will both fervently pray for and actively witness to those whom You bring to heart and mind. In my life, in Your Church, in this world, Triune God, be glorified, now and always. Amen.
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