Ever since I first heard the truth of God’s Word, my desire has been to share it with as many people as I can. Clearly, the best way for each of us to do that is to both live and speak that truth, like Jesus did. The first step in doing that is to know the truth.
Titus 1:1
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.”
Paul lived his life so as to give those who choose to obey God something to have faith in, and what is that? “The truth that leads to godliness.” It does not say “the truth that leads to arrogance,” or “to elitism,” or to “being less connected with people.” No, it regards getting God’s truth in our “inner parts,” as David put it in Psalm 51:6, such that it shows up in our “outer parts.”
Let’s take a look at the five basic “activities” of the Christian lifestyle, with an emphasis on speaking God’s truth. What are they? Prayer, study of the Word, fellowship with other Christians, sharing your faith, and giving of your material goods, all of which are found in Acts 2:42–47, which is a blueprint for how the Church is to function. Doing the basics is the key to growing into your personal ministry. How a Christian is doing can usually be evaluated by what he is doing in regard to the basics.
What is the attitude that each Christian should have in regard to prayer, study, fellowship, talking to others about Jesus, and giving? In Matthew 26:41, Jesus is agonizing in Gethsemane, and he finds the disciples sleeping. He says, “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
How big a deal is prayer? What kind of example did Jesus set in his prayer life? What does the Word say about how our prayers help make it possible for God to get involved in life situations? How often in Scripture does God exhort us to come to Him with anything and everything on our hearts? How often does He promise to answer our prayers?
In Acts 17:11, Paul referred to the Berean Jews as “…more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The written Word of God was the bedrock of Jesus’ life and ministry. Scripture speaks of us “eating and drinking” the Word, that is, totally taking it into ourselves. How important is it for each of us to “put on the mind of Christ,” to “renew our minds,” to “hide the Word in our hearts”? To what degree is “healthy doctrine” relevant to a Christian’s wholeness, especially in his relationships with others? How necessary is it for each of us to be able to articulate the Word of God to those seeking its answers?
In 1 Peter 5:1, Peter is speaking to elders in the Church, encouraging them to be examples of godliness in light of their hope of reward for so doing. In verse 2 he says: “Feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” How concerned is God with quality leadership for His people? How vital is heart-to-heart fellowship for each member of the Body of Christ? How critical for your quality of life is it to be interdependent with others committed to the truth?
Romans 1:15 is a classic declaration by the Apostle Paul: “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” In those days, Rome was about the most challenging place you could find to preach the Gospel. So why was Paul so eager to walk right into the lion’s den and declare it boldly? Because of what he says in the next verse: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth.” Later, in Romans 10:14, he pleads: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Good questions, right?
In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, it speaks of the eagerness that the saints in Corinth had expressed about helping others in need. How big a part do material things play in our lives? What does God tell us about the proper stewardship of that with which He blesses us? How can you find out if you have a ministry of giving? Can we spread the Gospel around the world without money? If the love of money is “a root of all kinds of evil,” what magnitude of blessings, both material and spiritual, could be ours if we properly relate to money?
Psalms 45:1
“My heart is bubbling up and overflowing with a noble theme as I speak of things concerning the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready and skillful writer.”
That is just how God would like for each of us to feel about telling others about the greatest story ever told. Think of the joy of having the Lord work in you and with you as you are sharing the wonderful Word of God with someone, knowing that he is there to help you share your heart about his love and goodness.
There is so much we have to offer people that is more important than anything else. So why not start with one person you know, or even a stranger, and speak about the Lord Jesus Christ? Why not ask God when, where, and how you could share the Word with a group of people? Why not “seek an occasion” to touch people and wreak havoc on the works of the Enemy in their lives? Why not pray for doors of utterance and then take advantage of every opportunity to speak the truth in love?
As believers, we should all make every effort to live and speak the truth of God’s Word. The best way to do this is to spend time in prayer and study. We should be reading and meditating on the Bible every day, and praying for God’s guidance. These practices will help us gain a better understanding of the Bible, and will give us the tools we need to live and speak the truth.
We must strive to live our lives according to the Bible, so that our words and actions will reflect God’s truth and goodness. Jesus said, ‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16). Our lives as Christians should be a testament to God’s Word.
Let us all strive to be faithful to God and His Word, and to share His truth with everyone we meet.
All my love,
