Sharing the Truth!

[Sozo]

I have seen many comments here about how much we want to share our new found truth with others.  I believe that everyone here can understand this feeling of joy.  It's like finding priceless treasure buried in your yard and you are so excited that you can't wait to show it to everyone.  You can't help but scream out, "Look at this wonderful treasure that I have found!"  For example:

I hope that someone can give me some answers as to what do I do now?  Do we go and make disciples of men or only give an account of our faith when asked?

I feel like I am about to burst with excitement...wanting to shout the real truth from the rooftops!

All my life I relied on fellow churchgoers for guidance and support and now....there is only me and God and this forum.  It sometimes feels very lonely.  Does that make any sense?

I am so grateful to God and humbled that He has opened my eyes and ears.  It is just...the newness (and that is what it is)...I am a spiritual baby again who has to learn to walk....

Then we have the answer to this from Craig:

Heidi,

What did Paul do when in the blink of an eye he was humbled by God and shown His truths? 

Did he immediately go and convert the masses and make disciples?  No he did not.

He went away for around 15 years preparing for his ministry, to make him worthy and knowledgeable enough to make disciples. 

Are you more prepared than Paul?  I'm not.

I know when God opens His truths to our mind it is the most joyous moment I've experienced in my spiritual life, but it is also a lonely journey from here.  Don't rush God, fellowship with us, pray for further learning and guidance and make yourself approved for God to lead someone for you to witness to.

Blessings!

Craig

I couldn't agree more with Craig's comment.  I know that I'm surely not prepared like Paul...not even close.  However, I also don't believe that I can hold on to this wonderful truth and not share it.  I can't keep myself quite for 15 years.  I can't hide this beautiful, bright lamp that God has given me.  Please, don't misunderstand...I don't believe that this is what Craig is telling us to do either.  I believe he is telling us that we should not try to spend our time debating or proving others wrong or teaching others when we are not developed and mature in the truths of God.  Please correct me if I am wrong here Craig. 

But when it comes to sharing these truths of God, I believe that we must share them even when we are still babes in Christ.  Look at what the disciples did and Jesus' response in Luke 19:

37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
      "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

How is it possible not to share this wonderful truth?  So if we can't hold it in then the question becomes, "How can we share this truth while we are still babes in Christ?"  Well, for me, I would print out some of Ray's teachings and give them to people.  I would tell them this truth and rather than get caught up in debating, I would send them to Ray's sight and ask that they show me where he is wrong.  And guess what, no one could ever show me one single error he made.  If they thought they had found one, all I would have to do is bring it here to the forum for help.  When I became a little more grounded, I would begin to share more with others through my website or myspace or youtube.  There are so many ways to show others this truth without getting caught up in teaching and debating.  Just send them to Ray's site or give out some of his articles.
In other words, I don't believe that we have to completely stay quiet until we are ready to teach.  We just have to be prepared that we will be met with much opposition, anger, deception and yes people will even call you names.  I have been called everything from a heretic to a homosexual just for sharing this truth.  So when you tell others about the good news, just realize that you will receive persecution for it.
I hope this is not considered a teaching post.  If it is, I apologize.  My intention is only to answer the question of those that ask, "I hope that someone can give me some answers as to what do I do now?  Do we go and make disciples of men or only give an account of our faith when asked? I feel like I am about to burst with excitement...wanting to shout the real truth from the rooftops!"  I look forward to comments from all of you.

Thanks,

Jason

[EKnight]

I agree Jason.  I would just like to add one more thing.  I just recently listened to Ray's audio on the seven foundational truths.  Ray suggests not debating but pointing out these seven scriptures and stating that if you believe these scriptures, then any other scripture you find that contradicts them must be wrong because the scriptures do NOT contradict.  I am paraphrasing by the way.

These are the seven scriptures

1)  John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World.

2)  1 Tim 2:4  God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

3)  1 Tim 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the      savior of all men, ESPECIALLY of those that believe.

     Phil 2:13   For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

4) 2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not Willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.

5) Isaiah 46:10  Declaring the end form the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
                       saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My Pleasure.

    Luke 11:12   Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy WILL be done,
                      as in heaven, so in earth.

6) 1 John 4:8  He that loves not, knows not God, for God is Love.

7) 1 Cor. 13:18  Love Never Fails.



Eileen
                     

[rjsurfs]

Hello All,

WINNING SOULS FOR JESUS? is a great article by Ray on this very subject:

http://bible-truths.com/souls.htm


"...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence]" (I Pet. 3:15).


Bobby

[Kent]

FWIW, I agree with you, both the reasons and method you list.  I dont buy into this "I have a secret and you dont!" that some people seem to have regarding this. I persnally believe people keep their mouths shut when asked, because they dont want to be "persecuted" by other people.

We just have to be prepared that we will be met with much opposition, anger, deception and yes people will even call you names.  I have been called everything from a heretic to a homosexual just for sharing this truth.

BTDT. What is really fun is when they try and set "traps". These people are the ones that butt-in on conversations. They try and be so slick, when it would be just as good to yell out "YOO HOO! MR KENT!! I AM SETTING A TRAP FOR YOU!!!"

We are not the ones responsible for the results, though. There is no need to get defensive, or angry, we just plant the seeds and that is all. I am here because someone planted that seed.

[jakfr0s]

Hi all, I seem to have been very fortunate so far in sharing what I have learned from God. Once though sharing salvation for all to someone close to me caused an harsh division among us. But for the most part God has sent me friends who listen, but weather they believe it or not I dont know, they dont say. I asked one friend what he thought, but he didnt answer. So it is hard not to share even if it means being hated, or thought of as funny. Seems I have no choice but to risk it, but I assure you Im not ready, and I feel I deserve what ever God does to me, and Im sacred and weak. I say this to you with fear, like this in agreement with you, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you   a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence]" (I Pet. 3:15).  Please pray for me I am praying for you. Thank God and thank you all for letting me speak here.

[KristaD]

I have a very simple answer for this: if I am speaking to someone about God I say what He leads me to. I don't have to know everything to be used by God to plant a seed in others or to reveal something to them. Many times He has revealed something to me while I was speaking to someone else. If He is not giving me words for them about it then I will leave it alone even if they ask me directly (not denying what I believe only refusing to share it at that time with them.) Jesus did not speak in the same way to everyone and did not answer all questions that He was asked, He did what God sent Him to do and spoke to those that God told Him to. For me it's really not something that I think about anymore, when He puts someone in front of me and gives me something to tell them I do it, if not then I keep my big mouth shut lest I make things worse .

[Chris R]

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:11

While all the saints are members of the Body of Christ, not all are given the same gifts.

read carefully what Paul says...

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content


Peace

Chris R

[kweli]

Matthew 28:19 – 20
19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen.

I dont know about you all but I'm still a looooong way from knowing ALL things whatsoever He commanded them. I may be teaching something He didnt command. Also, I may not understand all that He commanded.

Just adding my cents worth

[Nikoa]

I just wanted to say I really appreciate the fact that people have shared the truth on this site..  I hope people keep sharing the truth as it is setting me free from old mind sets.  In fact, when I first found this site and began to dig into the information I found Jason's (Sozo) youtube video's and it was such an encouragement to me.  Keep up the videos please.

[Paul]

We need to get more universalists on YouTube! As I pointed out in a thread in Off-topic Discussions, there's user called BibleTruth who has excellent videos that stir up a lot of Christians.

There's so many ET Christians on YouTube spreading fear. It's a shame.

[Nikoa]

Check out Jason's YouTube channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/sozo2