The duty to speak out
And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset (John 15, 27)
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken. They will expel you from the synagogues, and indeed the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is doing a holy duty for God. They will do these things because they have never known either the Father or myself. But I have told you all this, so that when the time for it comes you may remember that I told you.’ (John 15, 26 - 16,4)
The Holy Spirit witnesses Jesus; the apostles’ testimony and ours is connected to His. Primarily, we must give witness by the way we live. But, should someone make a request or there is a need to spread the Gospel with a speech, then it is our duty to speak openly about Christ. We mustn’t forget that Jesus did not fail to foretell that proclaiming the gospel would be accompanied by the persecution of His disciples. This is why His disciples must be prepared for martyrdom. How often do you pray to the Lord for the strength to overcome temptations and eventually face martyrdom, if it is God's will?
