Not All Meant To Win Souls

nana · Bear Cub Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 625

Greetings,

Perhaps I may sound contentious, but after years of study and meditation in the Word I am convienced that not everyone is meant to preach or teach.

I believe that many souls are out there that will do good just to 'hold fast to their profession of faith'. The do not need the guilt of not preaching or teaching. Face it, the focus in the Epistles was not for everyone to go out and preach but to "hold fast to their profession of faith until He comes".

There are thousands out there preaching that have never read the Bible clear through, much less know what it says and they are doing this because they believe it is the thing to do. They heard a calling. What calling? A guilty conscience was screaming in their ear because this is the way many denominations grow, regardless of whether or not the Spirit of the Truth goes out.

Most of Pauls teachings to the people were:

Roman 12:8-21, "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicily; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be witout dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ..."

And the list goes on.

I Cor 12:29-31, "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts? and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
I Cor 13:1-13 "...Charity (LOVE) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity......."

In Christ, Judy

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6828 Location: USA

Nana, for the most part I agree with what you are saying.

I've always liked this admonition:

Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.

nana · Bear Cub Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 625

Greetings Rev JP,

Thanks!

In Christ, Judy

MoJo · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:52 am Post subject:

Agreed, nana.

Very Happy

daviddale3 · Kitten Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 138 Location: georgia

What about Matthew 28:18-20. I'm sure that we all will recognize the Great Commision. Verse 20 should help to explain that we all are to teach. Our Lord did say "Teaching them (those that the apostles had already taught) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" One thing that our Lord taugh the apostles was to teach others. We, as childern of God, are reguired to teach others.

It is important to recognize that teaching and preaching are not one in the same. Timothy was a preacher, Paul had sent him to Ephesus for that specific work. This was to help this young congregation to grow and to remain faithful. Yet in Acts 18:24-28 we see Aquilla and Priscilla taking Apollos aside and taught him. This was a one on one setting. This is what we are to do. Go and teach others.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6828 Location: USA

Gee, isn't setting a good example a method of teaching?

nana · Bear Cub Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 625

Greetings,

I really didn't mean for this to be debated or I would have put it in another forum, but if you insist. You Daviddale3 are not getting the jist of the whole matter.

The verses you are quoting were word spoken by Jesus to the eleven disciples, so these verses won't do in your case in point. It was they that went into all the world and preached the gospel. Check verse 16.

The Apostle Paul says in Colossians that the Word had been preached in all the world to every creature which is under heaven.

Colossians 1:23, "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister."

Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying don't preach, I am just saying that preaching and teaching is not all mens calling. Some are introverted, some are busy dutifully raising a family, some are mute, but most importantly most don't know the Word.

Do you think that anyone who says they are born again is qualified to preach or teach. Paul spent many years studing, and he had a head start; he knew the OT like the back of his hand.

Look at how many mistakes Peter made before he wrote his Epistle.

What I am saying David is that it would be expedient for one to stay out of the pulpit and off the streets until one know what he is talking about: until he has an answer for every man.

On this planet there is nothing more important thanto be knowledgeable in the Words of Truth.

Respectfully In Christ, Judy

knuckle · Young Wolf Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 501

Hi All------

I agree,we are a walking testimony.I know the world is a very cynical place, but folks can watch a Godly man or woman walking this thing the way it ought to be walked and soon they have to ask themselves "what is it they have that I don't?".I have been blessed enough to know a few of these folks in my life,and it is amazing how many times I have heard some one ask "What is it about so an so?" ----the world doesn't understand it but they do indeed notice.

much love------------knuckle

Nobby · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

Hi Nana (Judy), no we shouldn't be debating on this form.
But still should expect a bit of discussion. Very Happy

God's Blessing,
Nobby

nana · Bear Cub Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 625

Hi Nobby,

Thanks for the dividing line. I really wasn't quite sure how it worked. Actually, I really don't mind a little discussion as long as it is not hostile.

In Christ, Judy

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6828 Location: USA

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6828 Location: USA

Hey nana, I thought this was appropriate for this discussion:

Being a Salty Influence –
Galatians 5:22-23

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls His followers to be the “salt of the earth.” What qualities does salt possess that we can exhibit in our spiritual lives?

First, salt adds flavor. Salt doesn’t bring change to itself; it seasons that which needs improved taste. In the same way, we are to focus on those who don’t know Jesus as Savior. Christlike character opens the way for others to hear our message.

Second, salt is a preservative. Salt keeps meat from going bad. In the case of people, our lives are to demonstrate an alternative to the world’s ways and point others to Jesus. Our influence can help them leave the destructive path they’re on and follow Him.

Third, salt makes an impact. Changes caused by salt may be invisible, but they are still evident. A timely word or act of kindness can speak volumes to someone searching for God. At other times, it's what we avoid doing or saying that catches another’s attention. We can be an effective witness to people around us wherever we are: restaurants, grocery lines, doctors’ offices, etc.

Finally, salt causes thirst. By facing difficulties with calmness, endurance, and hope, we display a godly testimony. When people going through hardship and pain see the way we deal with our troubles, they will thirst to know how we do it. Telling them about our dependence on God and His sufficiency will show them how to satisfy their needs.

Functioning as salt provides the opportunity to have a godly impact on someone else. Do the people around you sense something special in your life and thirst to know what it is?

pastor2022 · Moderator Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 690

I agree that not everyone is supposed to preach or teach and that too often many have done so out of guilt laid upon them. With that said, I do believe that each of us are to be able to SAY what happened to us when our lives became different because of Christ. If we live as "salt and light" and make the impact so that others are impacted and want to "know" what is different, we should be able to tell them.

For some people I've known, going up to complete strangers and sharing their faith is easy and comfortable and they do it remarkably well without offending. For others, its competely foreign to their personality type. I don't think the latter are any less "spiritual" than the former.

Pastor2022

hugh · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:08 am Post subject:

Hi Nana
Nice post and i agree with what you saying , but as always but. Where would you fit this in to what you have mention?

Ephesians 4

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

He who dose not ask, will always wonder!

nana · Bear Cub Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 625