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SUBJECT: Preaching to Others -- Telling Others of the
Truth
QUESTION: What does the Bible say about telling others
the truth of the Bible I know?
ANSWER:
It is not recommended that a firstfruit of God (having
His Holy Spirit) attempt to convince others of
the truth God has given you. The reason is simple, only God
can open a person’s mind to the truth and He does the
choosing, not man. Notice the key verse on this point.
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Now this does not mean that God could not use you as His
agent to aid in the call of that person but in those cases,
He would bring the person to you; He would not have you seek
out the person, be he friend, family member or stranger.
Notice…
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Note: The person
in question is seeking you out. If you are being a light
and invoking principles of God (Galatians 5:22-23), others
seek Christ in you and they just might ask you a question.
In doing so, they may have been led to you by God but in any
case, God must be the one to make the first move, not just
you.
Now notice the next verse:
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of
you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely
accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Note: See the
point? If you try to convince others they will speak evil
of you, but if God opens their minds and ask you then they
will be ashamed for falsely accusing you of being an
evildoer.
Now I want to look at a number of scriptures that show that
man by himself cannot know or understand the truth of God
until such time as He is ready for them to know. Rest
assured of this one very important fact: AT ONE TIME OR
ANOTHER GOD WILL OPEN THE MINDS OF EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER
LIVED AND GIVE THEM THE ENTIRE TRUTH. There will be no
question in their minds. For most this will take place in
the 2nd resurrection that will take place at the
end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ. Until that time
(that God chooses), there is no way for a specific person to
know or understand the truth of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Note: See, man
does not receiveth the things of the Spirit of God. They
are foolishness to him. HE CANNOT KNOW THEM. That is why
we do NOT try to spread truth and try to convince them. Mr.
Armstrong with his booklets and television programs is NOT
trying to gain new members or convince anyone of anything.
He just wants them to hear it. God will bring it to their
minds later.
Deuteronomy 32:28
For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any
understanding in them.
Job 21:14
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire
not the knowledge of thy ways.
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that
doeth good.
Psalm 14:4
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my
people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Psalm 82:5
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in
darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of
course.
Psalm 92:6
A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand
this (the mind of God).
Psalm 94:7-8
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the
God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools,
when will ye be wise?
Psalm 95:10
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and
said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they
have not known my ways:
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
By fools, God means those that have not had their minds
opened by Him.
Proverbs 1:22
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the
scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate
knowledge?
Proverbs 1:29-30
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the
fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my
reproof.
Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what
they stumble.
Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want
of wisdom.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 19:2-3
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good;
and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart
fretteth against the LORD.
Isaiah 5:13
Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they
have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished,
and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Isaiah 26:10-11
10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn
righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal
unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
11 LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but
they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people;
yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the
wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall
understand; but the wise shall understand.
Hosea 4:1
Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the
LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,
because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God
in the land.
Micah 4:12
But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither
understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the
sheaves into the floor.
Matthew 13:19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he
which received seed by the way side.
Note: Do you see
the importance of this verse. If you try convincing others
or telling others of the truth, Satan will come and take
away the meaning of what you said. ONLY GOD CAN GIVE THE
TRUTH TO A PERSON.
Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if
the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing
the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mark 4:11-12
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the
mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are
without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing
they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they
should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Note: See, Jesus
knew that not all of mankind was being called at that time.
That is why He spoke in parables so they would NOT
understand. It is still true today.
Mark 6:52
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their
heart was hardened.
Note: See, even
when miracles were done, they could not understand. You and
I cannot do miracles, so you can see that talking to others
is not good UNLESS THEY ASK YOU FIRST.
Acts 17:23
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an
altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom
therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Note: See how
ignorant man can be?
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross (stake)
is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God.
Note: See, to
those who are not called now they do not get it. It is a
waste of time to talk to them.
2 Timothy 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth.
Note: See, some
people, no matter how much they study will never know the
truth. They must wait for God to open their minds.
Billions and Billions will not have their minds opened until
AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ, at the 2nd
Resurrection.
Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate.
Hope this is enough to convince you that talking to others
is not the best idea.
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