BEING WITH JESUS

When we think of the heroes of the Bible, we often think of them as supermen and superwomen who were supernaturally endowed with wisdom and strength to perform the tasks that God asked them to do.  The truth is, however, that these folks were no different than you and me.  They were subject to the same temptations, the same weaknesses, and the same doubts and fears that we all have.  Although Moses was raised in Pharaoh's house, and enjoyed all of the privileges of court, it was not until he was rejected by both the Egyptians and his own people, and felt himself a complete failure, that God was able to use him.  David was just a sheep herder and the youngest of his family.  He was considered so insignificant that his father didn't even call him to come to the feast that was held for the prophet Samuel.  Tax collectors, uneducated fishermen, and harlots - these were the ones whom God called and blessed.

 

We read in the 3rd and 4th chapters of Acts how Peter and John, on their way into the Temple, healed a 40 year old man who had been lame all his life.  This caused quite a stir among the people who knew the man and his long affliction.  As a result, a great crowd gathered to hear what Peter and John had to say about this miracle.  Of course, this gave them the opportunity to share the gospel with the people, and 5,000 men were converted that day. 

 

When the priests heard what was going on, they were grieved that the disciples were teaching the people about Christ, and put Peter and John in a holding place until the next day.  Later they hauled the two apostles before the high priest and his cohorts and demanded that these men of God give account for their actions.  The priests wanted to know by what authority or by what name the disciples had healed the man and preached to the people.  Peter was not shy about sharing Jesus with them; and, in the end, they had to let the disciples go. 

 

One verse in this story is very revealing.  It says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13).  The thing that these religious men marveled at was that these men were common, ignorant fishermen who shouldn't have such a command of scripture, but they did!  These learned priests were able to glean knowledge from two unlearned men.  The thing that was apparent to the priests, however, was that they had been with Jesus.

 

The power of our testimony and our witness to the world comes from one thing and one thing only: the time we spend with Jesus.  It is the time that we spend at the feet of Jesus in prayer and in prayerful reading of the Word of God that gives anointing to what we say and do.  We can share Bible verses with folks until we are blue in the face yet never touch their hearts and souls for Christ.  When we share the Living Water that we have drawn ourselves out of the Wellspring of Life, though, then people take knowledge of us.  When we take the time to allow the Lord to speak to us, transform us, and heal us inwardly, people take notice.  Though we are ignorant and unlearned, yet this holy communion we have with the Savior gives us wisdom beyond what we naturally possess.  Paul wrote, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:24-31).

 

Jesus promised that He would give us words to speak when we are asked to defend our faith before magistrates and powerful men.  How much more so when we have the opportunity to witness to our co-workers or unsaved family members?  "For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say." (Luke 12:12).  They will take knowledge of us, Beloved, when we have been with Jesus!  We will come away from that time spent in His presence with something to share, and with something to talk about.  What the Lord ministers to us through His Holy Spirit will be just the thing that others need to hear to give them hope also.  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)  Do you remember when you were first saved and how you couldn't wait to talk about your experience to those who would listen?  That same enthusiasm should never die.  We are God's witnesses.  As such, we need to be constantly witnessing, first hand, the grace of God in our lives.  Then we can be a witness of what we know to be true. 

 

Jesus' miracle in John 6 of the feeding of the 5,000 with just a few loaves and fishes illustrates this concept really well.  Jesus took the bread and the fishes and blessed them.  He then put them into the hands of the disciples.  The disciples, in turn, gave them to the people; and it was there that the food was multiplied.  In the same way, Jesus blesses the Word that He speaks to our hearts; and we, in turn, share it with those around us.  Miracle of miracles!  What seemed like something small to begin with, something that met our need only, becomes something that we can feed unlimited others with as well!

 

As Peter and John were released and returned back to meet with the other believers, they all prayed and asked God that He would fill them with boldness to speak His Word.  When they had ended their prayer, the place was shaken where they were, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak the Word with boldness.  Oh, that we might be filled with such boldness in this day!  This should be our desire and this should be our prayer.  God will provide opportunities for us to witness if we are sensitive to the needs around us. 

 

We do not need to "kick down doors" or try to share with those who have no interest and would only mock us for our beliefs.  No, learning to fish for men is similar to actual fishing - one needs to put something attractive on the end of the line!  We need to understand also that different fish are lured by different types of bait.  The first thing that will attract men to the gospel is our lives.  They must see that our lives are enriched in ways that theirs is not.  How we react to problems, heartaches, and disappointments speaks volumes about our faith to unbelievers.  If the things that we talk about are wholesome, uplifting, and encouraging than people will notice a difference in us.  Mentioning our thankfulness to God for the daily blessings that we receive, and our willingness to offer prayer to those who are hurting can be a very effective bait that can start a serious conversation about spiritual things. 

 

Before retiring, I worked for 42 years at a major appliance manufacturing plant.  One of my first jobs was to operate a large piece of machinery in rotation with two other people.  Two of us would run the machine while the third would rest for 15 minutes, and then we would rotate positions.  Whenever I had a break, I would open my small pocket New Testament and read a chapter or two as I had the opportunity.  This was my habit for quite some time, and I did it in full sight of the folks that I was working with.  One day, as I was reading, one of the guys motioned to me to come over to where he was working.  When I did, he said, "I've noticed that for a long time now you sit down and read your Bible every chance you get and I have a question for you."  I said, "Sure, go ahead."  He said, "After all this time, haven't you finished it yet?"  I just chuckled and explained to him that in the same way that he was hungry several times a day and had to eat repeatedly, I too was hungry for God.  I told him that just as food nourishes and strengthens his body, so also the Word of God nourishes and strengthens my spirit.  He seemed satisfied with that answer, and I thanked God for giving me simple words to explain a spiritual mystery.   

 

God will always give us what we need in the hour that we need it.  He will teach us when to speak, and He will teach us when to be silent as well.  In the end, it's all about sharing the life of Jesus and how it impacts our life with the world.  You see, it's no longer really about my life, but it's about Christ Who is living in me.  It's all about being with Jesus!

 

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27).