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Post by Ben Avraham on Jan 21, 2006 18:36:18 GMT -8
When we read the Parasha "Shemot" we see that Moshe resists and offers excuses when G-d calls him to go to Egypt. He says:
1) who am I to go to Pharoah?
2) I don't know your name.
3) they are not going to believe me
4) I don't speak well
5) send someone else!
G-d contests Moshe's excuses, He is G-d's chosen, so he WILL go to Pharoah, His name is I AM "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh", through signs, the people will believe, Who made the tongue? and Aaron will speak. No, YOU will go.
How many of us today question G-d's command to "Go forth into the Word to preach the gospel unto ALL nations? Who are we to go? we are HIS family members with all rights and ordained to go forth to teach and preach. We know his name, Yeshua HaMashiach, and in his name we go forth. Who will believe us? those of whose hearts are ready to receive the gospel, that is the work of the Ruach, to touch people's hearts to cause the change, we are to speak the word, and let the Ruach do the rest. Don't speak well? Pray that G-d will touch your tongue, that it might be annointed, and there is always the internet, when you write in the forums, you are preaching, and when people read the articles, they are listening, so , you are preaching.
Send someone else? What's the matter with you? YOU go, the great commission is for EVERYONE.
Rabbi James Ben Avraham
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Post by alon on Oct 21, 2014 13:09:42 GMT -8
... and there is always the internet, when you write in the forums, you are preaching, and when people read the articles, they are listening, so , you are preaching. Send someone else? What's the matter with you? YOU go, the great commission is for EVERYONE. Rabbi James Ben Avraham
Yeshua was talking to His talmadim at the time; men who had studied, and studied under Him for over three years. So they knew what they were talking about. So, now this begs the question I would put to you all- should we go out and teach before we have studied amply to know what we are talking about?
For example, Moshe spent time in the desert, then as a herdsman learning about God. He was well educated before this, and knew of his ancestry so this wouldn't have been the first he'd heard of the God of the Hebrews. And now he was being "schooled" by YHVH Himself! So what really should we take from this story?
Dan C
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Post by alon on Oct 24, 2014 11:07:31 GMT -8
No takers? Consider too that Yeshua and His disciples were not uneducated men; usually portrayed by mainC as a poor carpenters son leading ignorant fishermen. No, these were some serious and well off small businessmen! Owning your own fishing boat was then like now a huge capital investment. And Joseph in all likelihood was more of a general contractor than simple carpenter. But even if he was just a carpenter, due to all the construction in the region he would have fared well. And Hebrew yeshivas predated Greek education by centuries. Yeshua had only 3 1/2 yrs. to train these men. He would have, like all Rabbis of the time, chosen the best and brightest, and the most educated men as His talmidim. So again, should we really go out and try to fulfill the Great Commission before we are trained?
Dan C
(It's a trick question ...  )
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Post by Elizabeth on Oct 25, 2014 16:43:29 GMT -8
Okay, I would say only if you go with the Holy Spirit, and the only reason I am putting it out there is so you'll respond. I am not a big fan of cliff hangers. 
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Post by alon on Oct 25, 2014 17:25:38 GMT -8
Okay, I would say only if you go with the Holy Spirit, and the only reason I am putting it out there is so you'll respond. I am not a big fan of cliff hangers.
To that end the Great Commission is one of the great dichotomies of the Bible. Given at once to the talmidim, yet also to all believers, I think we are responsible to share what we know (even if not much) with whoever God puts in front of us, and leave the results with God. You don't know but that the seed or testimony you planted won't be used by God later when He sends another witness; and what you say at the time could be the deciding factor later in that persons conversion.
At the same time we are required to learn more so that we can tell them more when necessary. Be ready to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2Ti 4:2 Speak as one who knows, because you have studied and you do know. But at the same time, if you don't know everything just tell them what you do know. Never lie, or tell what you think it should be.
Dan C |
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Post by Elizabeth on Oct 26, 2014 5:59:15 GMT -8
In my experience, it seems that compassion and listening while prayerfully responding and seeking his will gets further than debating. I have never had much success with that.
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Post by alon on Oct 26, 2014 12:34:14 GMT -8
In my experience, it seems that compassion and listening while prayerfully responding and seeking his will gets further than debating. I have never had much success with that.
However at times they may ask specific questions, which I try to answer with scripture. I've also had people try to argue or get me to agree with heresies either because this is what they were taught or because they want me to agree to some sin in their life. Still not a good idea to argue, but never compromise what you know to be true either. If they, for example, want me to agree that God will turn a blind eye to their living together out of wedlock, then I have to politely but firmly disagree. Sorry.
Oh, and those cheap Bibles- I leave them with people I've witnessed to. The verses are still highlighted if they did not say yes, and it gives them something to start out with if they did! I'm not the greatest evangelist ever ... or even just lately ... shoot, I'm not even that good. But this seems to work the best for me.
Dan C
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Miykhael
Junior Member
To proclaim the Good News of Salvation for our Messiah's return draws near!!!!
Posts: 73 
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Post by Miykhael on Oct 26, 2014 13:17:54 GMT -8
B”H
I copy this for some more thoughts on this topic...
Why G-d Selected Moses To Lead The Jews?
Why did G-d choose an “Egyptian Prince”, who had grown up in Pharaoh’s palace, to be the savior of the Jews? Moses never suffered the slavery that his brethren suffered, so why was it he, of all people, who was chosen for this mission?
this question Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Chajes comments: “A person who lived in slavery would never have dared to demand everything from Pharaoh: total emancipation, the Exodus from Egypt. He would have sought a compromise and would have accepted concessions. He would try to achieve one step at a time, following each of the Ten Plagues...Only Moses, who had lived his whole life as a totally free man, could make such demands.”
The fact that Moses had a speech impediment is also reflected in the Midrash and in the interpretations given of Moses’ role in the Exodus. Rabbeinu Nissim writes: The reason he was born with a speech impediment and a stutter was so that all should know that his influence was only because the Divine Presence was speaking through him. Another reason why Moses had a speech impediment was so that people should not say that it was because he was an excellent speaker and a demagogue that he was able to influence the Jewish people. The Maggid of Mezeritch explains the reason for this handicap: Moses, the redeemer of the Jews, had a speech impediment, because he was unable to limit his greatness within the confines of speech.
by Rabbi Menachem HaCohen
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Post by alon on Oct 27, 2014 6:48:56 GMT -8
B”H I copy this for some more thoughts on this topic... Why G-d Selected Moses To Lead The Jews? Why did G-d choose an “Egyptian Prince”, who had grown up in Pharaoh’s palace, to be the savior of the Jews? Moses never suffered the slavery that his brethren suffered, so why was it he, of all people, who was chosen for this mission? this question Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Chajes comments: “A person who lived in slavery would never have dared to demand everything from Pharaoh: total emancipation, the Exodus from Egypt. He would have sought a compromise and would have accepted concessions. He would try to achieve one step at a time, following each of the Ten Plagues...Only Moses, who had lived his whole life as a totally free man, could make such demands.” The fact that Moses had a speech impediment is also reflected in the Midrash and in the interpretations given of Moses’ role in the Exodus. Rabbeinu Nissim writes: The reason he was born with a speech impediment and a stutter was so that all should know that his influence was only because the Divine Presence was speaking through him. Another reason why Moses had a speech impediment was so that people should not say that it was because he was an excellent speaker and a demagogue that he was able to influence the Jewish people. The Maggid of Mezeritch explains the reason for this handicap: Moses, the redeemer of the Jews, had a speech impediment, because he was unable to limit his greatness within the confines of speech. by Rabbi Menachem HaCohen
Dan C
edit: which kind of relates to the topic of witnessing; we are God's messengers, but past that we shouldn't elevate our own importance. We can't "broker a better deal," which is a problem if we compromise the Word just to get them to agree. Christians have done this for years, downplaying the importance of true repentance because it is easier to get them to say yes- and with disastrous results. We need to learn to get out of the way and let God work. Show them the Word and trust the Ruach to do the work in them. Let's face it, next to the Ruach HaChodesh, we are all just stammering fools.
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Post by alon on Oct 27, 2014 7:26:46 GMT -8
I've started a spinoff thread on witnessing:
theloveofgod.proboards.com/thread/3531/discussion-on-witnessing
This way we can continue to discuss witnessing without hijacking this thread. I'm not moving any posts from here, so feel free to restate whatever you've said here on the other thread if you wish to participate. Both our reluctance to follow God's will and how we witness are important topics which deserve their own threads.
Thanks.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Oct 27, 2014 7:48:58 GMT -8
So, to bring this back on topic, God often uses people who are weak in either character or body to achieve His purposes. I think it is common knowledge that the Patriarchs all had serious character flaws. Tradition holds that Jacob, on the occasion where he wrestled with God, was permanently wounded in his hip. This was just before he was renamed Yisro'el, the name God's people would carry even today. Moshe is said to have had a speech impediment.
Ex 4:10 But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Regardless whether this meant Moshe had an impediment, he who was trained in Pharaoh's court thought he was not eloquent enough to do the job. YHVH's reply leaves no room for doubt who will do the work:
Ex 4:11 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
So regardless our inadequacies, whether real or imagined (or just excuses), God knows what He is doing when He says "Go!" He is also able to use our weaknesses, leaving no doubt it is a Divine work and not the work of a charismatic personality. So really we have no excuse. Go, do ... obey!
Dan C
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Post by alon on Oct 27, 2014 8:19:26 GMT -8
Another message we can take from Ex 4:11 is that God takes responsibility for our infirmaties; "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"
God makes us as we are for a purpose, and He doesn't make any apologies for it! We are to serve Him as we are, and as He calls us.
Dan C
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Post by Elizabeth on Oct 27, 2014 8:21:03 GMT -8
Maybe it is because I am not a man, but preaching doesn't feel like the approach for me to take. Most of my witnessing takes place in relationships. Speaking the truth is primary for sure. That's the example Yeshua gave and that's when most people shut their mouth or soften their hearts. I also try to remember his example of silence when being accused, especially when dealing with people who know exactly what to say to provoke you. I try not to get pulled in and just rely on the fact that G-d knows the truth, and so there is no need to defend myself. Satan loves an argument, and the second I start arguing for myself I loose sight of G-d as well as any credibility. It's such a struggle, but at least I know the goal.
That is interesting about Moses. I also wonder how the people would have looked at him differently had he been raised along side them. Maybe he had to be separated from them for a time so they would take him seriously, and not limit him simply because they thought they knew him so well. Maybe he had to be a bit of an outsider briefly for them to accept him as one of their own, but do so on G-d's terms. Perhaps there is a parallel here between Moses and Yeshua; the way G-d uses the time spent apart... don't know, just thinking.
I think just like trials, he also blesses us according to what we can handle. That is in and of itself a blessing. He won't give us more than we can handle, but we are still given a choice to rely on him or self. The right attitude about leadership helps me find a sense of humility. If you are called to lead someone, you are actually in a position of servitude not only to G-d, but to them. Your purpose is their welfare for his sake. One thing I am amazed by G-d, is that He has a way of humbling you at the same time he lifts you up. I love that. He's the only one who can do that. That's one of my favorite things about him.
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- there are 70 faces to 
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