What if we were allowed to only preach & teach on subjects we have personally experienced with God? Would we have anything to say?
In John 3:11, Jesus stated to Nicodemus, "We SPEAK what we KNOW and TESTIFY [concerning] what we have SEEN.”
Before Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, Jesus spoke to him first about his need to be born again. Even though Nicodemus was a spiritual leader, Nicodemus could not grasp the concept of being born again, nor had he ever experienced new birth. Jesus responded in an astonished tone, "Are you not a master in Israel, and still you do not know these things” (Jn 3:10)? Jesus then went on to tell Nicodemus, "We SPEAK what we KNOW and TESTIFY [concerning] what we have SEEN.”
These words of Jesus are a powerful statement on the need for reality in the Christian's life - especially those who are spiritual leaders. Reality is what exits now. It is not merely theoretical, or even theological; it’s what is actual.
Here are two questions to ask yourself.
What do I know?
What have I seen?
Before you answer, remember, this knowing is much more than an intellectual knowing; it is also experiential. I have KNOWN it! I have SEEN it!
In fact, Jesus was actually communicating two truths to Nicodemus and to us: 1. We need to know what we are talking about. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "We speak what we know.” 2. We need a personal testimony that confirms the message. This is what Jesus meant when he said "We testify what we have seen.” In other words, we have heard the Word of God & we have seen it in action.
We need good theology; but we also need personal testimonies that confirm what we preach and teach.
How much of what we say, preach and teach about the things of God is actually real in our own life?
How many times do we teach and preach things simply because they are biblically true, but experientially untrue for us?
I am not suggesting that we be silent until our lives perfectly reflect what we teach and preach. However, God doesn't want us to just be dispensers of theological truths. His Word was meant for us to experience and live out in every day life. One of the most illuminating depictions of this truth is found in John 1:1. Consider it…”The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us."
This text means more than God became flesh. It also means that the life of Jesus was a fulfillment and mirror of Holy Scripture. As Jesus read from the scroll in the synagogue, he was literally reading the fulfillment of his own life (fathom it). Upon completing the reading of Scripture, Jesus said to his audience, "This day the Scriptures are fulfilled” (Lk 4:16-21). The Word had become flesh.
Paul also touched on this when he wrote, "I Am crucified with Christ, yet I live.” He went on to write, "The life that I now live” (Gal 2:20). Notice that Paul wrote about his life in the present tense. He wrote of his experience with God as a present fact and reality.
Somewhere along the way, many Christian leaders decided that it was okay to just talk about God. Once, they had testimonies of life changing experiences with God. Now, they just give lectures about God. No reality. No experience. Just words.
We must repent! We must capture our longing for God again. Paul cried, "[Oh] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Php 3:10)! David cried, "My soul thirsts for You” (Ps 63:1)! Isaiah cried, "Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down” (Is 64:1)! Moses pleaded with God, "Show me Your glory” (Ex 33:18)!
Will we cry out with them, or will we just carry on with our words?
Maybe what I am writing is just words. Only time will tell. How I live out my own
thoughts and words will determine if this is just an essay with good thoughts, or if it will be my hearts cry and pursuit.
My Prayer
May the Words on Your pages become the Words of my life.