In Us And Through Us

Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).

We need to clear up a misconception. Verse 32 is an Aramaic ‘idiom’ (an expression that has a meaning not specific of the individual words, i.e. ‘raining cats and dogs’). The English translation is a Greek translation of the Aramaic idiom which should read “everyone who confesses in Me before men, I will also confess in him before My Father who is in heaven.” This is a most important point to make, and explains why much of our efforts in witnessing proves fruitless.

The correct translation of the verse speaks of a oneness or unity with Jesus Christ. Witnessing is not simply telling someone about Jesus. It is Jesus telling someone about Himself through you. Big difference. As Jesus told His disciples to depend completely on God for provision, for words to speak, for protection from persecution, for leadership and guidance in their mission of preparing others for the coming of Jesus Christ, so we are to do the same. We are to be so dependent upon Jesus as we share the Gospel with others, that it is really Him speaking through us about Himself.

One of the big fears I hear people confess to about witnessing is “I don’t know what to say,” or “What if I’m asked a question I can’t answer?” If we go as the Lord leads us, speaking the words He gives us, depending completely upon Him to minister through us, leaving all the results up to Him, then what’s to keep us from letting our Lord be Himself in us in every encounter? This should help relieve us of that fear.

Verse 33 speaks of the result of rejecting Jesus. There was the real possibility that people would reject Jesus. There's an even greater possibility now. To ‘deny’ Jesus is to refuse Him, to disavow Him for who He truly is. Those who reject Jesus in this life will be rejected by God the Father when they stand before Him as their judge in the next life. But those who confess in Jesus Christ before men, He will also confess in him before the Father in heaven.

“Lord Jesus, what a wonderful truth You have given to us that we should have no fear whatsoever in letting You speak Your truth to others through us. And what a marvelous assurance You give to us that You will bear witness of our faithfulness to the Father when we appear before Him in glory. May we rejoice in these truths and never fear to minister them to others. To Your praise and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor