Be ready to give an answer
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:”
In my ladies prayer meetings, we include this prayer….”That we might be given a word in due season, that we might know what to say…at any given time, to anyone…about Christ.”
How important our words are to the Lord:
Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
First notice….that we are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts….for out of the abundance of the heart,…the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34-35)
If Jesus is sanctified in our hearts….then our mouths will gladly answer all who ask about Him in our lives.
Sanctified here, means venerated. Do we honor our Lord in our hearts….enough that it comes through in our speech?
We think we need a prepared testimony…..(not that those are bad,they are not)…but sometimes we simply need to answer the question asked…..from our own experience.
Be ready always….
Give a reason for the things you do, and don’t.
(We always bow our heads to pray over our food….and we have had some interesting remarks about it. But we always just say….”God is worthy. This is what we do at home in thanksgiving for our food and blessings….and we are just as grateful here.”)
Peace, kindness and gentleness (fruits of the Spirit within us) are great witnesses….bringing out many comments and questions.
How many witnesses are “stored” away by the Holy Spirit….until the right moment…..when they are remembered….and a difference made!
Give a reason why you expect Christ Jesus to return soon. “Surely, I come quickly…” (Rev. 22:20)
Ecclesiastes 12:11 “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.”
There are words which cannot be gotten around. They prod the hearers, until there is a decision made. God fastens them to the hearer’s hearts and minds.
Psalm 40:10 “I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation (those assembled).”
God is Sovereign…..man is responsible. Responsible to use the means God provides….to bring about the ends He sees and purposes.
Responsible. The root word is “response”. God expects us, as His servants……to respond to His love and commands. We respond in heart….then in word and deed.
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Our hearts and our mouths are always linked together.
What we love and honor, comes out.
Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
But we are not left without help to speak, no…..
Matthew 10:19-20 “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”
A word spoken in due season…..how good is it!
It can bring life to the lost…..it can be just what the hearer needs to hear to return them to Christ.
And it begins in our hearts…..honor the Lord there….and the tongue will speak with grace…seasoned with salt….knowing how to answer every man.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 