Keep Talking

Acts 10:39-43 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
 
IF you’ve been reading through Acts with us, you’ll likely read this Scripture and say, “I’ve heard this before.” You are right.
   Earlier Peter had told the Jews in Jerusalem, “You killed the author of life” (3:15); to the rulers he said, “You crucified him”  (4:10); and to the Sanhedrin he replied, “You killed him by hanging him on a tree” (5:30). And Stephen told the Sanhedrin, “You... have murdered him” (7:52). Also, on five occasions in Acts, the apostles said they were witnesses of the resurrected Christ (2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:41; 13:30-31). (from Bible Knowledge Commentary)
   The truth needed to be told. By his grace, the Lord arranged numerous circumstances for the gospel truth to be spoken. We can be sure the apostles spoke the gospel many more times. After all, it is the central message of God’s story throughout the Bible. People then and now need to hear once, twice, three times and more. We pray at some point they will say, “Yes, Lord!”
   Jesus’ messengers must repeat the truth because endless lies assault him. For example, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection the Jews contrived a lie about the disciples stealing his body. (Matthew 28:13) As the church developed, there were many false teachings attempting to reduce Jesus to a mere ghost or to reject his life entirely.
   When you know what is true, you must repeat the truth. It is very easy to feel the opposition’s assault against your faith. All types of people want to tell Christians we are fools to believe. If they can keep us quiet their noise will dominate the world.
   Be steadfast to make noise for Jesus! A lost world needs to know the way home to God. Yes, it’s often true that when we talk the good news we may feel no one listens. Be encouraged. The Lord wants you to know he has chosen people to listen to the truth. Keep talking. In the same way someone has told you, you must be God’s good news messenger.