Introduction
     “Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high … Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth … Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name … of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins … teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amein.” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Matt. 28:20). (King James Version used throughout.)

A Mandate to Witness
     So, there you have it – the mandate to witness, to testify of what’s been seen, heard, and personally experienced, even as the Psalmist beckoned, saying,
    Come [and] hear, all ye that fear Eloha, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul, Psalm 66:16.
    Nevertheless, as it is in all the economies of Yahweh, there is process and order and so, preparation becomes the principal thing. And while there are many who assume of their own initiative to run and prophesy, it may just be that Yahweh has neither sent them, nor spoken to them. Of them it might be asked, “Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?” (2 Sam. 18:22).
    Yet, many still run – speaking a vision of their own heart and not out of the mouth of Yahweh; erring in vision; stumbling in judgment; compassing sea and land, making to themselves proselytes and among whom, they judge for reward; teach for hire; divine for money; and of whom, they make merchandise … all the while, shutting up the Kingdom of Heaven against the other with smooth and feigned, fair speeches and great swelling words of vanity couched in damnable heresies, doctrines of demons and lies-in-hypocrisy.
    But alas! “it shall come to pass in that day, that the[se] prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision …” (Zec. 13:4). For as one preacher asserted, “Yahweh never sent a man out, just to send a second to correct the mistakes of the first.”

“… Let Us Wait …”
     In Romans, chapter 12, verse 7, we read peculiar words: “Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering …” “Let us wait” are words italicized in the Authorized Version and indicates they were supplied by the translators. And we may understand “let us wait” in terms of having two connotations. “Let us wait” can be understood in the context of Yahshua’s didactic in Luke 19:13 in which He says, “occupy till I come” – an exposition of the parable of the pounds in which He speaks of a nobleman (Himself) going into a far country to receive a kingdom and preparatory to his departure, divided his assets among his servants to increase his substance (“occupy”) that upon his return, he might have what he distributed to them plus the gain exacted from their labor (Luke 19:12-18).
    But “let us wait on our ministering” proposes also, a secondary meaning: deferring the work of the ministry, tarrying until we, too, have been endued with Power from on High, not unlike 120 others who remained sequestered ten days in an upper room until they should have received Power and a mandate to go forth and witness. “Let us wait on our ministering” may as well, imply remaining still, under the tutelage of tutors and governors until the time appointed for our release of the Father; until we are equipped to go forth to make full proof of our ministry.
    We can surely appreciate that even in the secular world, a graduated doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy serves both an internship and then, a residency under the tutelage of supervisory physicians and clinicians before he is released to inaugurate his own practice.

The Assembly, a Seminary
     And here, in the Assembly is seminary in which one receives his training as a witness. I recall, back in the day when I was in the first day church, that it was assume that just because a man was white-haired and elderly, that these made for him a credential to be a leader, and to sit as a member of the presbytery. Or, because one was credentialed and certified by the State Department of Education to teach kindergarten through 8th grade, she was qualified to teach children’s church or a Sunday school class.
    But what does the spirit of the Scripture answer to these things? The Apostle Paul writing to his protégé Timothy, had somewhat to say concerning proper credentialing of ministry. In his first letter to Timothy, chapter 3, verses 1-13, he affirms that if a man desires the office of a spiritual overseer, he desires a good work. (Incidentally, in the previous chapter, he disallows “a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,” 1 Tim. 2:11-12.)
    In that third chapter, among the qualifiers necessary for a man to be credentialed to serve as a member of the presbytery (elders and deacons), he declares that the candidate must be “blameless” (verse 2); “not a novice” (verse 6); “have a good report” (verse 7); and, “first be proved” (verse10).
    Now, this is not so hard to understand. It would be unthinkable for any sovereign nation that has a standing army, to dispatch troops into battle immediately after its soldiery had left the recruiting office.
    No, the armed services first put their troops through a rigorous and vigorous basic training, and then several more months through AIT, Advance Individual Training.
    My elder son spent an enlistment of four years in the Navy, and I remember him saying, that recruiters are eager to enlist young men and women, promising them they’ll get to see the world, then when once they get to boot camp, the drill instructors are just as eager to weed the recruits out of the service – guaranteeing that only, the very best are readied for service.
    Well, again we reference what was earlier observed: preparation is indeed, the principal thing.

Preparation, the Principal Thing
     Study to shew thyself approved unto Eloha, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, 2 Timothy 2:15. Why? so that we will be ready always to give an answer to any who ask us a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15); so that we will know how we ought to answer every man (Col. 4:6).
    Let’s break this down. “Study” may be understood in terms of giving diligence to, becoming ready always; knowing how to answer. Granted, being ready and knowing how does not necessarily require providing an answer, only certaining that one is prepared to do so.
    You will recall that when Messiah commissioned the twelve, entrusting to them authority against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Matt. 10:1), that He said to them before He released them to go out into every village and city whereto He would afterward come, they should into whatever city or town enter, first inquire who in it was worthy to receive the Message (Matt. 10:11-13).
    Being fervent in spirit and zealously affected toward delivering the Message are not alone qualifiers for delivering the Message. We should discern beforehand who will, and who will not, receive the Message, tempering both our fervor and zeal with knowledge – lest we give occasion to the enemies of Truth to blaspheme His Word and then turn to rend us (Matt. 7:6). And the reason? because as Paul observes in 2 Thessalonians 3:2, “all men have not faith” and not all men, upon hearing the Message will embrace It by faith.
    For sure, being fervent in spirit and zealously affected toward what is good, acceptable, and perfect are good attributes to possess and are also, prerequisites to sharing the Message.

    In Acts, chapter 18, verses 24-25, we read of one whom the Scripture tributes with having the following credentials:
        • eloquent in speech;
        • mighty in the Scriptures;
        • fervent in the spirit
        • teaching diligently the things of the Master.

    But this one knew only the baptism of John. Might we, who have perhaps even, more knowledge than he at that time, conclude of him that it had been better for him to have waited on his ministering – not in the sense of occupying till Yahshua should come, but in the sense of deferral … sitting under the tutelage of tutors and governors until the time appointed for his release to wait on his ministering.
    Acts, chapter 9, provides us with a second example. We read of our second subject who himself, had experienced that it is a futile thing to resist Yahweh, and that the more one kicks against the pricks, the more grievous the pricks become. He, what with doing many things contrary to the Name of Yahshua, like
        • breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of this Sect of the Nazarene;
        • bringing them bound to Jerusalem and shutting up many of the saints in prison;
        • punishing them in every synagogue, even compelling them weak in this faith to blaspheme that worthy Name by Whom they were thought redeemed, saved, and delivered;
        • and being exceedingly mad against them, he persecuted them to strange cities and was of late, come to Damascus for that purpose; and         • giving his voice against them when they were put to death,
confessed of himself that he was “before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Tim. 1: 13).
    In Galatians 1:17-18, the Apostle tells us that sometime following his conversion, he went into Arabia … where, is not exactly known, perhaps to a desert place, like Qumran, for the purpose of becoming further prepared by the Holy Spirit for the ministry on which he would subsequently embark. It was perhaps, while he was secluded in a solitary place, that he had “come to visions and revelations of the Master … and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:1, 4).

Must not Strive, Gentle, Apt to Teach, Patient
     And the servant of Yahweh must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if Eloha peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will, 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
    Let’s underscore these words: “… the servant of Yahweh must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves …”
    These words preclude debates, contentions, strivings about words to no profit that inevitably lead to, and usually end with, wrath, backbiting, swellings, and tumults (2 Cor. 12:20; Titus 3:9). If you want the person to whom you are witnessing to become one (echad) with you – that is, one in mind, speech, and judgment (1 Cor. 1:10). For how “can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos. 3:3).
    So, in our being gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing them, we’ll have to respect their exercise of free will and even conclude our didactic, expressing that attitude, by saying something, like, consider what I say; and the Master give you understanding in all things, 2 Timothy 2:7 – afterward encouraging them to, “prove all things …” (1 Thess. 5:21), as a noble Berean, who wouldn’t just take the word of one witness (the Apostle Paul’s), but sought out a second (the Torah).
    his, incidentally, considering what is said and proving all things that are said, is process and order and precedes one becoming fully persuaded in his own mind (Rom. 14:5) and necessary, too, because he who is persuaded against his will, may be of the same opinion still.

Speaking the Truth in Love
     James and John, the sons of Zebedee – and aptly named the sons of thunder (Boangeres … sons of commotion, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, G.993) – itinerating with the Master in a village of the Samaritans, were refused accommodations by the residents there, and queried of the Master, saying, “Master, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Eliyah did?” (Luke 9:54). Note well, the Master’s reply: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:55).
    None of us were there in the first century when the Record of the Brit Chadashah was being experienced. But given the tenor with which the messengers of the Evangel spoke to their hearers, we may have cause to wonder whether communicating the Message was always void of striving, and delivered gently, patiently and whether they to whom the Message was entrusted, were always so very much apt to teach, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.
    For example: We read in Acts, chapter 13, of Paul and Barnabas going into the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia on the Sabbath and sitting down. They did not presume to address the assembly until invited to do so. After the reading of the Torah and the haftarah, the ruler of the Assembly invited these two, if they had any word of exhortation, the liberty to address the gathering (Acts 13:15).
    Seems cordial and hospitable, enough … but then, we are left to wonder if Paul’s citing words taken the Prophet Habakkuk, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you, Acts 13:41 might not be regarded as somewhat provocative and further aggravated, by his dismissal of them as being unworthy of everlasting life (Acts 13:46).
    As we said before, none of us were there and while we need be careful not to fill in the blanks left us of the Scripture narrative, nevertheless, what’s written is written, and thus must be thought necessary, for our learning and our admonition.
    Much later, when the Apostle was at the Aeropagus of Athens awaiting his company’s arrival from Thessaly, he observed the epicurean and stoicks’ devotions, asserting to them, “I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious” (Acts 17:22) – perhaps in our day and time, as it proved so in his day and time, probably not the best way in which to win friends and influence one’s adversaries.
    Again, none of us were present – neither at the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, nor on the hill of the Aeropagus – to appreciate the dynamics occurring there. But for sure, such a tenor of approach is better reserved as the evangelist’s last resort rather than his first recourse!
    Before proceeding, we want to spend a little time on these four words, “those that oppose themselves” (2 Tim. 2:25) – that is, those who embrace error; those who array themselves against the Truth; those who so choose to set themselves at variance with, at enmity against, and contrary to Truth.
    We have a high priest Who was, and yet is – so long as mercy is rejoicing against judgment – able to have compassion on them that are ignorant, perhaps even willingly ignorant until they have occasion to hear the Truth, and out of the way.
    And so, if they to whom we deliver the Message are dull of hearing the Message – perhaps even, after the first and second exposition – we must not assume the posture of Moses who, in speaking unadvisedly with his lips (Psa. 106:33), was not later able to move the Holy One to forgive his indiscretion by allowing him admittance into the Promised Land (Deut. 3:25-26).
    Indeed, if others are slow to see the Truth, we must exercise care in not prematurely becoming weary and impatient. Let’s consider just how slow we might have been and maybe, still are, slow to receive the Truth.
    We must not hold others up to public reproach and scorn but instead, if it be possible and as much lies within our abilities, be set about the business of patiently instructing them; calmly, gently, showing them what the truth is and never with such retort as that which got Moses into trouble, saying, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this Rock?” (Num. 20:10).
    Instead, let us consider that speaking our counsel gently, patiently and clothed upon with love, will go farther in drawing others from the darkness of their error into the marvelous light of Truth.
    For if we make the other angry, we’ll also struggle to rule our own spirits and thus frustrate the grace of Eloha and cause the other to despise what might have been a gesture of Yahweh’s mercy toward him.
    Always, it remains the prerogative of the Set Apart Spirit to challenge people’s sensibilities, and we must exercise care in showing ourselves exemplary of the believer in word, in behavior, in love, in spirit in faith, and in purity... yes, using words when necessary, but so few as necessary, compel the other to consider what is said, and then to committing what was said to the workmanship of the Set Apart Spirit to enlighten, inspire, and reveal. For saying much more than necessary risks entering into collusion with the adversary who’ll see to it, the other’s understanding is kept darkened.
    Remember this: Ours is the business to lead another from the broad way of his error to the narrow way of Truth – a business that cannot be facilitated so long as we take the tact of becoming contentious ourselves. “And the servant of Yahweh must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves …” – sound, wholesome words, and best employed in presenting the Message.

As Much as Lies in You
     One thing is certain: In our witnessing, we will discover the Truth of, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you …” (Rom. 12:18).
    Sometimes, we experience sorrow of them of whom we might have rejoiced … if, we had in our witnessing the Message, made sure that we had ruled our spirits and brought into captivity our emotions and exercised our fervor and zeal in a manner that might have produced a “yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of Yahweh” (2 Cor. 1:20) response. But instead, that which might have been decent, orderly, and good to the use of edifying, is become a disappointment … and hence, a discouragement. And not only so, but perhaps irreparably, those whom we would convert is made to become an exercise in which our labor was bestowed in vain and they, made to become an enemy of the Truth.
    For this reason, the Apostle in his epistle to the Ephesians, penned the words, “Speaking the truth in love … maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15, 16).
    Quite, then, if in our witnessing to others; if in our being apt to teach those who oppose themselves; if in our being ready to give an answer to all them that would ask us a reason for the hope that is in us … if a part of that being ready should include, tempering our fervor and our zeal with knowing what and how to answer, we might actually encourage interest and dialogue with others.
    Certainly, there will be some to whom we will not, even with a properly-tempered fervor and zeal, be able to witness because of their foolish questions, contentions, debates, and inclinations toward strivings about words to no one’s profit.
    And just as we are commanded to mark and avoid and withdraw fellowship from those of our own company who will neither behave themselves nor behold what manner of persons they ought to be … until perhaps, they come to repentance and acknowledge they have but opposed themselves, how much the more ought we to mark and avoid and withdraw from them who after the first and second exposition, still persist in the error of their way. Else, we might unwittingly permit our own good manners to become corrupted with their association.

Conclusion
     So, now we come to the conclusion of how to witness. In our approach, may we suggest initially being short on asserting declarative statements, and long on asking rhetorical questions, like for example, first asking,
        • “Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?” before asserting the declarative statement, “I tell you, ‘Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” or asking,
        • “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?” before asserting the declarative statement, “I tell you, ‘Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5).
    Questions, we say, which are purposed to inspire introspection and reflection that might just evoke an acknowledgement and conviction that precedes a contrite repentance and confession.
Questions, we say, which are purposed to inspire introspection and reflection that might just evoke one to leave her waterpot and walk away with the Well of Living Water and return to her place and saying to any who would listen, “Come, see a Man, Which told me all things that ever I did” (John 4:28).
    For who among us, wouldn’t want to experience that which is expressed in Isaiah 65:1: “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not …”
    Who wouldn’t want such fruit to remain, to his spiritual account, of finding and employing a better how with which to witness the what?
    Again, we propose the key: “… must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.”