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Are You Frozen At The Mouth?

"It is a pity that many Christians are like the rivers that flow into the North Sea - frozen at the mouth." - Encyclopedia Of Sermon Illustrations

Recently, we heard of a Pastor of 23 years who stood before his congregation and repented that he had never witnessed to any one in his entire ministry. He was starting a series on Soul Winning in his church and realized what a Great Hypocrite he was in trying to teach on a subject about which he knew nothing.

Although we rejoice that this brother was brought to repentance and a stark realization in his spiritual life, we are greatly disturbed to think that he is not alone - There are others in leadership positions in the Church who are guilty of the same sin of omission.

Our question is - How can men or women call themselves leaders of God's Flock and not know the fundamentals of the Faith (like witnessing) or at least know them enough to practice them?

Didn't Jesus call us all, at the moment of salvation, to take up our cross and follow Him?

Mark 16:15 - Didn't He commission us to "...Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" whether we've been to Bible School or not?

Acts 1:8 - Didn't He promise to pour out His Spirit upon us, following our salvation experience, so that we could be mighty "witnesses" for Him?

If it be so (and it is), then every Pastor or leader should be the first in fulfilling the Great Commission. This task should never be relegated to a certain few in the Body who calls themselves Evangelists.

We are all called by God to speak openly for Him in the designated places where He plants us.

1 Corinthians 3:9-11 - We are all called to be "...labourers together with God..." as well as "wise masterbuilders" in people's lives, laying the "foundation" of "Jesus Christ."

To deny this is to deny most of the Bible for this truth is found throughout the Scriptures.

Adam Clarke made this statement in his Commentary on Matthew 10:32 - "...It is not sufficient to have the heart right before God; there must be a firm, manly, and public profession of Christ before men."

In other words, it is not enough just to say that we are saved and our sins have been washed away in the Blood of Jesus. We have a duty to publicly profess Christ before all - that includes outside the four walls of the Church.

How is it that some are found "frozen at the mouth" as the opening illustration indicates? What would cause people to be "shut-mouths" when it comes to witnessing for the Lord on the job, in their family, or in their neighborhood and community?

The Scriptures give us several possible reasons.

1. The Fear Of Man

John 7:13 - "Howbeit no man spake openly of Him for fear of the Jews."

Proverbs 29:25 says - "The fear of man bringeth a snare..." In other words, it brings people into bondage. It makes them the slave of another. They are not free to be themselves - act or do as they like - because they are constantly concerned about what others are thinking.

Are you bound today by this awful spirit?
Do you feel so spiritually crippled whenever you get around certain people, especially your superiors?

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

You will never be used by God in the capacity that He desires until you overcome this foul spirit. It will constantly torment you each time that you open your mouth to speak for the Lord. You must come to the place where you are only concerned about obeying God, no matter what man says or does.

2. The Fear Of Rejection

John 12:42 - "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."

So many find themselves "frozen at the mouth" because they are afraid of the consequences of speaking out for God on the job, in a friendship, in their family, or among their neighborhood. They are afraid of the trouble, shame, reproach, contempt, ridicule, slander, name-calling, despising, and over-all persecution which oftentimes follows being a fearless witness for the Lord.

What about you? Are you afraid to be cast out of certain people's company, to be ostracized by friends, to be laughed at, frowned upon, and called names by others because of your uncompromisingly, strong stand for holiness and purity of life so you simply keep quiet in the presence of others?

3. The Desire For The Approval Of Man

John 12:43 - "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Sad to say - many Christians today are bound by a man-pleasing spirit. They do not in any way want anyone to be mad at or upset with them. Hence, they hide the Truth rather than speak it, lest it stir up trouble.

Sooner or later, we all must come to the place in our walk with the Lord where we realize that we cannot please both God and man. We have to come to the place where we decide that we are going to serve and love Jesus even if it means that we are totally rejected by others.

It is wrong for us to disobey God by keeping back the Truth because we want certain individuals to like and accept us.

We have to face the facts that as long as we are in right relationship with Jesus, we are going to "step on some people's toes" and make them mad with the Truth.

4. The Present Generation

Mark 8:38 - "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation..."

Jesus termed it right. It most certainly is an "adulterous and sinful generation" - a generation that has gone a whoring from God, loves darkness rather than light, laughs at sin, embraces the world and the flesh, and opposes and runs down all that is godly and holy.

In the midst of this type of generation, we are called to be God's "witnesses."

If we are not constantly filled with Holy Ghost Power through prayer and the reading of God's Word, we can easily become intimidated by the controlling spirits behind this age who are wanting to shut down all Preaching of the Truth.

No matter how ungodly and wicked this generation gets, we must stand up for Jesus as brave and daring soldiers of the Cross. We cannot afford to be quiet and allow the forces of darkness to perpetrate their lies to the people.

Matthew 10:32 - We must "confess" Jesus "before men." That is, we must openly acknowledge Him as the Lord of our lives.

Mark 8:38 - We cannot ever afford to be "ashamed" of Him or of His Words.

There are serious and dreadful consequences for all those who "deny Him" with their silence on this earth. Those who will not share in His disgrace here will not share in His glory hereafter.
What a sobering thought!

• If we fail to tell others about Jesus because we are fearful of the consequences, then we are, in a sense, denying Him before men. 

• If we deny Him, He will deny us before His Father in heaven.

• If we are "ashamed" to stand up for Him in this "adulterous and sinful generation," then He will be ashamed of us when He returns in His glory.

Matthew 10:32-33 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Which is in heaven."

Mark 8:38 - Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

No doubt about it! Jesus is returning not for those who are "frozen at the mouth" but for those who are unashamedly professing Him before men no matter what the consequences.

May we all be found in that number on that Great Day!

May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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