A missionary to Africa told the story of an elderly woman who was reached with the gospel. Though she was blind and could neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others. She went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her.
In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ.
The missionary said that twenty-four of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors.
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
??II Peter? ?1:5-8? ?NKJV??????????????
The casualty of the improper witness:
There are many reason why people have a reason to frown upon Christianity because they see others that proclaim Christianity those that profess Christ and yet their lives display like one who lives for the devil, they see one who can never really come to cross and admit their wrong and ask for conversion to be real in them and through them, the danger of living this way not only destroys the individual, the church but also the innocent person who is looking for the truth. This is todays fight and was yesterdays battle and unfortunately we are still having to fight this, we are to live a life worthy of Christ.
1st Point “The believers great responsibility to being a witness”
Arrested development, someone’s inability to change
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
??I Corinthians? ?8:9? ?NKJV??????????????????
God’s great concern:
Can anyone explain God’s concern for His creation? We should not lay before others a stumbling block.
This is a truth that God has established from the very beginning.
“You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.”
??Leviticus? ?19:14? ?NKJV??????????????????
And so we are faced with this reality and this truth that a stumbling block hinders those that are already afflicted and are in need of help from falling. People that are seeking answers to life’s problems, seeking to see the face and the hand of God move for them and yet they are disappointed and find reasons not to believe this is a great concern to God.
A stumbling bock:
an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls
And so we are faced with the responsibility for others. We are to come to the understanding and the weight of this great truth. This implies a responsibility that is placed upon the believer by God Himself. Once we come to this truth we will find ourselves walking circumspectly.
God feels so strong about this that He says cursed is the man who helps one stumble. How we live, how we talk, how we respond to circumstances, how we communicate and how we honor God are just some of the things we are to clearly keep our minds upon when we profess to be Christians/believers in and of Jesus Christ.
“‘Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!
Deuteronomy? ?27:18? ?NKJV??????????
Consider this truth, please bare with me, how would you feel if someone were to lead your child into a path of destruction, steer your precious child into a life of total depravity, you would have an anger toward that person, how much more our God who is the father of heaven and His anger being righteous and Holy?
We have a mandate from God to live in such a way that it will not only edify others, ,bless your family and your life but also the church, that God wants to have dominion. We have an order from God to be holy.
1 Peter 1:16
Be ye holy for I am Holy.
This is not a thought or a suggestion but it is a mandate and direct command from God to those who are His. Think with me for a moment. A parent wants their child to succeed and live a life they can be proud of and so does God.
“You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.”
??Leviticus? ?19:14? ?NKJV??????????????????
There are people who simply do not fear God. Listen to me, if your ever going to really walk this walk, it is one thing to say you love God but it is a lot more helpful and beneficial if you had a healthy fear and reverence for God.
2nd Point “The believers Joy”
The only lasting and fully satisfying joys for any man lie on the other side of a cross.
If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.
Philippians 1:12-14, 19-28
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.”
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Throughout the struggles in life your witness should still be strong. The passing circumstances of life should not be the witness you display but how God has helped you through the process of the struggles in your life and how His hand has guided you through, that should be the way of joy from you to others. This is how you can help others see Christ the way you have seen Him.
“I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.”
??Job? ?29:15? ?NKJV??????????????????
Eyes to the blind…. Job helped others see
Feet to the lamb … Job helped others walk with God.
You can help the blind see, you can help others walk with God. This can only be so if you find yourself holding fast to the responsibility that has been imparted to you by God.
It is a wonderful feeling knowing that you can be a blessing to someone and help them find their way in Christ to a heavens gate. When you grow spiritually in Christ you will help others grow as well. Amen.
