Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Is preaching the only way to witness?
In one word: No.
If you would read 1 Corinthians 12-14. You would find how there is other gifts of the spirit that people use to witness to others.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individuallly as He wills."
1 Corinthians 12:27-31: "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of mircales? DO all have gifts of healing?Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you more."
Prophecy is like going to a neighbor who might need some encouragement and giving them that encouragment through bible texts, comforting them through words of kindness. Prophecy is not always foretelling the future.
As you have noticed in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 that it gave a list it didn't say there was only one gift to witness to others by but many. And there was a gifts of helps. Which is to say that if someone needed their tire changed and you had a spare and you help them. Now someone told me that someone who isn't a christian do the same. Yes, they do BUT they do it without the love of Christ. They are not doing for God and the person they are helping. But us who have the love of Christ in us who do that do.
Also, this same person said that if I found one thing that Jesus did that wasn't preaching. Okay I found some. His first thing he did was to go to a party. John 2:1-12 He didn't preach or give a sermon. He just went and fellowshipped with others and did a miracle for the bride and groom.
And before Jesus even started His true ministry he was ministring to others. He was a carpenter. Do you think that He didn't serve others through his job as a carpenter? I think he did.
Also,an example from the bible about someone who was serving others(a gift of the Spirit as to witness) is Dorcas. Acts 9:36-43 This woman, served others by making clothes for those who couldn't afford them, when she died she was raised from the dead by Peter. She didn't preach or give sermons but she served and when she died she was mourned and people said how good of a person she was. "Then Peter arose and went with them. WHen he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them." Verse 39
I also told this person that God is love and that people would rather see the love than be preached at. He didn't know the verse. So here it is: "He who doesn not love does not know GOd, for God IS love." 1 John 4:8
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:9
" FInally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God OF love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through LOVE serve one another." Galations 5:13
"But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galations 5:22
" Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us."1 John 4:17-19
There is many other verses that talk about God's love for us. John 3:16 for example. I am not saying that preaching is out, but I am saying that some people dont have that gift, and some people do. There is not just one way to spread the Word of God out. And Acts speak louder than words. Love speak louder than words. Lets seek out God's will and find what our gift is. And remember God might put you in one place then decide that you need to be somewhere else. Pray hard, pray daily.
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It was so great to search this all out. Because I have been feeling like I was doing nada---nothing. But in reality I have been. I just didn't see it in that way. The small things we do might actually big and the big things we do might be small. But we cant judge that only God. Oh Praise the Lord! He answered my prayers! Hallelujah!