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…none of us will ever be perfect, educated, or qualified enough to declare the Gospel. Jesus does that for us—He is our qualifier…
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to tell the truth (fist bumps to those who get that reference). Your assignment, our assignment is the most important kind of work we could ever do—THE Great Work: “The Great Commission”. Jesus assigned us to openly proclaim/declare/announce/publish The Gospel/The Kingdom/Himself—The Truth. Our assignment is to share it/Him with all who are humble enough to receive it/Him, and we’re to do it boldly.
Our Great Assignment/Work/Task/Commission is both a personal and corporate calling—a corporate, harmonious TELLING OF TRUTH in the way God has instructed the Christian groups we’re a part of; and a personal assignment in that we should be privately and publicly living and communicating it in ways that are unique to us, our lives, our abilities, lessons, and seasons (1 Cor 12:4-7 AMP). What we have to do is know Him and His Word, be ourselves, and speak up. It’s not always easy but it can be. If we are consistently spending time with Him, listening, obeying, studying, and loving Him—and people—as best as we know how, truth will overflow and often just burst out of us. It’s hard to keep His goodness under wraps. And it’s important that we don’t keep it under wraps because we may be the only one someone would be willing to receive from at that time; there is usually someone willing and ready to hear from you in particular.
free enough and bold enough
Some of us teach, some preach, some build, some disciple, some lead—and all in different ways. Some dance The Truth, draw The Truth, some share through their businesses, through comedy, film & television; some write it, some podcast
it, some mission-field it, some pay for it, some are assigned to raise baby Truth-Tellers to become adult Truth Tellers… We all have to be free enough and bold enough to allow The Truth to be “live-streamed” from our hearts and through our lives in ways that somehow lead others to Christ—with no interference.
Sometimes we plant the seeds of truth, sometimes we water them, while God grows it all. Point being, you and I are joint-promoters. Even though we’re playing
different positions, even if we’re injured—same team. (1 Pet 4:10-11; 1 Cor 3:7-9; Eph 4:11-13)
The beauty, and one of the things I adore about God is He takes joy in both our
similar, and individually unique ways of making Jesus known. This message of truth, originating from our Omni-faceted God and Word, through multi-faceted sons
and daughters, in diverse ways, is my favorite kind of team work (Eph 4:15-16; 1 Cor 12).
Learning that my peculiarities are an asset, freed me up, encouraging me to not feel
pressured to truth-tell like others, but yield to my own, often odd, wonderfully-made ways of (righteous) expressing, without the worry of Pharisaic judgment.
copycats and interpreters
Jesus was understood and received partly because He utilized parables and allegories that were practical, relatable, and applicable to the time and cultures. His parables and allegories led to The Truth of Himself as He was led by His Father, via His own Holy Spirit. He then gave His Spirit to us!
[So] We are inherently innovative—a creative people—made in the image of The Creator. We are both copycats and interpreters of Him: we follow or emulate Christ and do what He did, yet we communicate Him in ways that are unique to our personalities and resources within our best understanding. Sadly, I was taught by a few people that I shouldn’t share anything until I’ve gone to school and gotten years of study under my belt. Absolutely, study and understanding should be our goal and practice, and teachers teaching accurately is imperative, but being a baby Christian should not prevent us from testifying and sharing Christ. I believe that after salvation, most of the qualities we need to begin telling the truth are fueled by our zeal and rooted in our-new-found love! (1 Cor 13:1, 13). We have often seen Him empower the bold and willing, outshining the seemingly wise.
so long as Christ is being preached
If I’ve learned anything, it’s to get supplemental teaching—not eat the same meal
off the same plate from the same chef. I’ve learned and am learning to not take
any one person’s word for The Word. No one person has fully perceived or
discerned Him clearly (John 1:14-18; 1 Cor 2:14).
There isn’t one person on the planet that teaches the Gospel perfectly and in it’s
entirely or the way everyone needs to receive it. It’s not one person’s job.
It’s our responsibility as a whole—the Body of Christ. (Eph 4:11-16; Romans 12:4-13)
I’d learned that our being newbies or not-yet-refined communicators (e.g. Ex 4:1-12) is no excuse to not share the measure of truth we know thus far. There have been short stints when I deceived myself into thinking I wasn’t qualified because I was comparing myself to veterans of faith—convinced I should’ve been communicating exactly like them or not at all. That was a big fat lie. Two cases in point:
There’s a situation in which John complained to Jesus about someone who was not a disciple but was driving out demons in Jesus’ Name (Mark 9:38 or Luke 9:49). John said, “Teacher, we noticed someone was using your name to cast out demons, so we tried to stop him because he wasn’t one of our group.” Jesus’ answer? “Don’t stop him! For the one who does miracles in the power of my name proves he is not my enemy. And whoever is not against us is for us...”
Then, listen to what God said through Paul (and Timothy) in Phil 1:12-18 (AMP); it’s something that sounded crazy to me the first time I read it, but now that I have a deeper understanding, it strengthens me; it says, “Now I want you to know,
believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation]. My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances]. Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I
have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; but the
former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to
spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice…”
Whoa! I thought if someone who doesn’t even know The Lord can imperfectly and selfishly proclaim Christ, how much more I, who know and love Him and people, share the Word as accurately as I know how in the moment? As someone whose whole life is rooted in creativity, I got seriously freed up to unashamedly proclaim the Truth of Jesus
Christ in all my unique ways. Like Paul said, what does it matter, so long as Christ is being preached?
These, and many other scriptures also shut me up because I too started judging other people who were promoting Christ, yet were clearly in sin or self-promoting. My conscience was arrested, realizing that if they are proclaiming The Truth of Jesus Christ (e.g. celebrities), I have no right to expect or demand they stop. I may be led to pray for them or lovingly correct them in other matters (2 Tim 4:2-4 AMP), but not in the matter of The Great Commission.
keep your sense of urgency
This should embolden and strengthen all of us to be Declarers of the Truth. It should relieve us of feeling like we have to be perfect before we start sharing The Truth (or even feeling like it). I’ve shared Him at my lowest and most traumatized, and also, when all circumstances were on point. I and we, have an obligation.
Proclaiming Truth at any stage, is not an excuse for sin or hypocrisy—we should all continue to discipline ourselves in holiness, while knowing that in our own strength, none of us will ever be perfect enough or qualified enough to declare the Gospel. Jesus does that for us. He is our qualifier. Be encouraged in knowing the Father supports us being Truth Tellers by utilizing our skill, expertise, experience, zeal, personality, creativity, position, role, and ability to adapt to others’ needs without compromising (1 Cor 9:18-23). We should all be studying and learning, being discipled, transforming, and pursuing God–while proclaiming Jesus–in every stage and season of our lives. We must be careful to not discourage or disparage those who are sharing differently than us. We have our assignments, they have theirs. It all adds up. The foundational question always starts with, IS CHRIST BEING PREACHED?
Our bold communication in our fields of influence, through our consistently-being-perfected personalities and traits, is such a privilege, and it should be fun!
We are all called to be communicators—Tell-The-Truth-icators—living in an opportune time where we, as The Body, ought to be the forerunners and leaders in any form of communication in my opinion. We ought to be most influential in social networking and multi-media (or whatever the current and main means of mass communications are). We ought to do it now while we have a free platform and international audience. We ought to do it while we still have breath.
“…preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, “whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.” / 2 Tim 4.2 AMP
Love you, Truth-Teller!
Original post 1/8/19
THIS BLOG WAS INSPIRED BY MARK 16:15
“…go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” / NKJV
GO INTO
pursue the journey
ALL THE WORLD
the human family; Earth; world system
PREACH
openly proclaim; declare; announce; publish
THE GOSPEL
The Truth of Christ; The Good News; Salvation; The Kingdom; Jesus’ Authority
TO EVERY CREATURE
to every kind of person
V. 20: And they went out everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. / ESV
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4 thoughts on “TRUTH TELLERS”
Thank you!
You’re welcome – thanks for visiting!
Exactly.
🙂