Preaching Silently

    From the pulpit,The ambon or ambo, sermons are preached everyday somewhere in the world.  people stand on the streets for hours , teach church school and bible classes. They may stage a debate in a scholastic setting that takes several hours, hand out a religious track or speak on YouTube or TikTok, for a few minutes. God's Word and his call to received Jesus as the answer for sin is proclaimed and explained. The truth is that throughout the entire history of the church one of the most important witness and "preaching " has been done in silence. The church has represented the Lord Jesus correctly and other time failed miserably to represent Jesus to the world.  The works,deeds and personal words of Gods saints and sheep have spoken as the quote says " louder than words. 

    James speaks about the failure of the early church in "preaching silently:  In chapter 2: 14  he says "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.The salvation spoken of here is physical. A hungry person needs more then a good word and a prayer. The media and anti Christians pundits attack Christians and others for sayings "our thoughts and prayers " they would be right IF that is all Christians ever did was wish others well and pray. However that is a lie !  Christians have since the first days of the church prayed and acted - financial assistance for example. (1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8:1–9:15; Rom 15:14–32). There are countless ministries in countries all over the world that serve almost every type of human need. 

   Jesus prophesied this in John 14:12 "  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." since there is no greater single work could be done by any human, than the second Adam dying for the sins of all humanity, then raising again to demonstrate victory over death the penalty of sin.  Jesus was speaking, most agree, of the number of deeds of billions of believers living the word of God daily. That number would exceed what he did in his 3.5 years of ministry. We all expect those who proclaim love for us; not to just say you they love us but to show us the love. What good is it to say you love your spouse but chronically cheat . You can't say you love your children and fellow humans but mistreat them and neglect them. You preach a falsehood! Many Christians through neglect , sin , and thier humanness fail to always " preach" Jesus correctly. Some are false sheep wolves in sheep clothing but other are simply human who need to be reminded to do better like every person. How many parents have told thier children to do as i say not as i do !, because they fail in an area but know the consequences of the action from exprience . 

    An often said truth in Christian circles  is most peolpe who claim to be a believers in Jesus Christ, are silently preaching.  " We are the only epistle, sermon or bible verse some people may ever read ."  Brent Weeks in his secular fantasy novel,way of the shadow,  had a character make a statement that is very true"  one of the characters said " preach at all times , when necessary use words" a valid observation  that highlights what has been said. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." And in John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? " Every believer and true Christian should be able to say if, at least sometimes, you have seen me then you have seen Jesus Christ,and then also the father.  preach the true Jesus at all times in words and deeds.

Written by SSligh blog creator/moderator