How to Share Your Faith

Many of us have grown up in churches where we have been encouraged to share our faith.  Unfortunately, this may not come naturally to a lot of people.  Someone taught us a way to share one's faith that is a way to organize it in one's mind should the opportunity arise and you forget what to say.

Obviously, you're not going to say this acronym as you share but it helps to remember it for yourself to keep you focused and on track.

The acronym is RAMP and it stands for Resurrection, Apostles' witness, Miracles, Prophecies.  You talk about the resurrection of Christ, how He stood and died in our place for our sins bc we're all sinners.  There were more than 500 eye witnesses to His resurrection.  While on earth He performed more miracles than any book could hold.  Miracles still point to Him today.  There were more than 300 prophecies about Him before He came to earth.  I might be wrong as to the number of prophecies but you get the general gist.

That's the simplest way I know to share one's faith.  Usually, I share more of a personal testimony and how Christ has changed my life but this is a good one for apologetics and if you forget some of the basic reasons for belief in Christ.

Hopefully that helps someone who may suddenly blank out when they're given a great opportunity to share their faith!

Faith in the right Fear

At a Zoom meeting tonight for our ministry organization we were reminded by a preacher that often times we say faith over fear.  Sometimes though, we also need to put our faith in the right type of fear.  In Proverbs it talks about how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.  

Personally, I've wrestled through different seasons and thoughts about the fear of God.  Often people talk of it as an 'awe' type of thing.  But I read it more literally I suppose.  When people in the Bible come in contact with God, they are terrified.  Isaiah said how he was unworthy and was terrified.  There's a reason we say, "He put the fear of God in that boy."

My relationship with God has evolved in many ways.  One of those is to acknowledge that while God is called our Friend He is also our Lord and should be feared and revered appropriately.  Perfect Love casts out fear.  So, if we fear God than we don't fear anything else.

A high school counselor once told me "Fear not" is the most common commandment in the Bible.  I haven't cross referenced that but it makes sense.  God knows it's only human to fear things and situations in life.  But then He reminds us that if we have Him in proper perspective He drives out that fear.

So, fear God, and nothing else.  And be welcomed into His Presence when He purifies you and makes you holy as he did with the prophet Isaiah after the initial terror he experienced.  Come confidently before the throne of God but make sure to do it in a reverent manner, acknowledging that He is Lord and King along with so many other names in Scripture.

This is so much easier said than done and that's partly why I'm writing this, to remind myself of these truths.  Anxiety can creep in so easily these days during this pandemic.  But let's remind ourselves that God is still in control and this didn't take Him by surprise.  Let's put our faith in the One who alone can save us.

Dangerous Prayers

Some prayers are simply more dangerous than others.  Often times, our prayers will be answered by things we don't want to have happen.  Sometimes God causes those things to happen, other times He allows things to happen that put us through the purifying fire in answer to our prayers.

One of the more popular examples are when you pray for patience.  The old joke is true, pray for patience and you're inviting all sorts of situations and people into your life that are likely to make you want to lose your patience.

The particular prayer I'm referring to is a personal one I prayed last fall and just prayed again tonight.  Last fall I prayed for more faith.  Shortly thereafter the apartment above ours had a fire and we were forced to move around for a while before God blessed us with a permanent house.  Before that we had a miscarriage.  

I don't believe either of those things were sent by God but I do know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He used those situations to grow my faith.  God is a God of love and of life.  He is for us, and as such He uses all things for our good.

While it surprised me a bit today to repeat that prayer from last year, I did it.  I prayed it because I know that's what He desires for me.  He wants me to have greater faith.  He wants me to have faith as small as a mustard seed so I can move mountains for His glory.

Dangerous prayers are when you let go of the outcome and recognize that you are powerless to achieve the desired results on your own.  You might as well let go of the outcome because you don't have any control in the first place.  That's one thing we as a culture have learned from this whole Covid 19 thing, right?  

Dangerous prayers are when you pray God's will, no matter if that matches what you want or not.  Sometimes we mistake our own will for His and so it's always a good idea to add, "if it is the Lord's will" to the end of any prayer.  It shows a certain humility to acknowledge that even when we think we're following God it may simply be not what He wants for us or at least not in that moment or phase in our lives.

"Lord, answer our dangerous prayers in whatever way You see fit.  And if our prayers aren't dangerous, teach us to pray dangerous prayers.  Teach us to pray for Your Kingdom come, even when it doesn't look like what we might think."