We Cannot Stop Speaking

This is from an email newsletter from our pastor, Tommy Nelson.  Love this guy.  If you are interested in hearing some good teaching, you can subscribe to his podcasts HERE.  If you are not into the iPod thing, then you can go HERE to hear his sermons online.

''For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.''
Acts 4:20

The early church was commanded to ''speak and teach no more in name of Jesus.'' Their response was not that it violated God's command, but rather that it physically impossible for them to keep silent about the majesty and wisdom and glory and grave and wonder of Jesus. Like Elihu of old (Job 32:18-20):

''For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me.
''Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
''Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.''

Elihu spoke because truth demanded that he must. The error that filled his ears was so vexing that it had to be allayed by God's word.

Such was the witnessing of the early church - ''We MUST speak!'' They had ''seen'' the Life of God before them. They had beheld the only begotten God, full of Grace and Truth. They had seen the might of God exercised for the good of man through His miracles. They had seen at the transfiguration His majesty and beheld the angelic messengers at His rising into glory. They had also ''heard words such as no man spake.'' The very wisdom of God Incarnate had broken upon their minds like the light of a new day.

And thus, ''we cannot stop speaking about
what we have seen and heard.''

We all share thegospel because of the command of God and the edict of the dispensation of grace, but ''the love of Christ constrains us.'' We simply cannot quit speaking about what we have seen and heard. His Person is simply too magnificent; His work too benevolent; His gift too blessed. Like the lame man, we go walking and leaping and praising God. Like the blind Bartimaeus we cast aside our beggar's rags and accompany Him down the road. Like the forgiven Zaccheus, we count our wealth as His. These men did such things because they had to. His touch could not be contained within themselves. As the now sane demoniac we beg to accompany Him. ''Go back to your own people'' saith Christ ''and tell them what great things God has done for you.'' We must go and do likewise.