Speak for Yourself. a Challenge

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John 9:19-23

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? how then does he now see?…

I. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SAVED MEN ARE COMPELLED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

1. When their friends desert them. These parents were willing to own that the young man was their son, and that he was born blind; but they would not go any further for fear of excommunication. So, declining any responsibility, for they had a well-founded confidence in their son's power to take care of himself, they threw upon him the onus of giving an answer likely to incur obloquy, and backed out of it. There are times with young people when their parents turn the cold shoulder to them, and some who hold back suspiciously, leaving others to champion the Master's cause when it comes to a hard push, quietly observing something about casting pearls before swine. But the most likely explanation of such cowardice is that they have no pearls to cast. It is lamentable how many seem afraid to compromise themselves. But whenever a man finds himself thus deserted, let him say gallantly, "I am of age; I will speak for myself."

2. When they are much pressed. The Pharisees question the man very closely, and he does not seem to have been disconcerted, but acquitted himself grandly. When we are brought to book, let us not be ashamed to own our Lord. If it comes to a challenge, let us say boldly, "I am on the side of Christ."

3. When others revile and slander our Lord. When they said "This man is a sinner," "He hath opened mine eyes," was the response; and when they averred that they knew not whence Christ was, the man twitted them on their marvellous ignorance, and fought for his Healer so trenchantly that they threw away the weapons of debate and took up stones of abuse. When men speak ill of Christ, shall we be quiet? No! let us throw the gauntlet down for Him. Christian people do not take half the liberty they might. If we speak of religion, or open our Bibles in a railway carriage, it is "cant." They may play cards, and utter all sorts of profanity with impunity. In the name of everything that is free we will have our turn. So we see that there are times when men, however quiet and reserved, must speak.

II. IT IS ALWAYS WELL TO BE PREPARED TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. When the parents said, "Ask him," there was a little twinkle in their eye as much as to say, "You will catch a Tartar." He can speak for himself. We want Christians of this sort who, when asked about their faith, can so answer as to be more than a match for their adversaries.

1. Cultivate a general habit of open heartedness and boldness. We have no need to push ourselves and so become a nuisance and a bore; but let us walk through the world as those who have nothing to conceal.

2. Be sure of your ground. "Whether He be a sinner or no I know not." So he offered no opinion on a subject on which he could not be positive. But when he had a hard fact there was nothing vague in his statement (ver. 25). And there are some of you in whom such a change has taken place. Put your foot down, then, and say, "You cannot misjudge this."

3. Have the facts ready to adduce (ver. 11). Let them have the plan of salvation, as you first perceived it, very plainly put before them. "Be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you."

4. Be prepared to bear abuse (ver. 28, 34). The man cared not an atom for their insinuations. Their scorn could not deprive him of his sight. He merely shook his head and said, "I can see." Some people are very sensitive of "chaff"; but what a baby a man is who cannot brave a fool's laugh! What does it matter if you are twitted with being a Methodist if you are saved? They will be tired of teasing when they find that our temper triumphs over their senseless tricks.

5. Feel intense gratitude to the Saviour for what He has done.

III. EVERY SAVED MAN SHOULD WILLINGLY SPEAK FOR HIMSELF ABOUT CHRIST.

1. Are we not all debtors to Christ if, indeed, He has saved us? How can we acknowledge the debt if we are ashamed of Him?

2. We each of us know most about what He has done for us. No one else can know so much.

3. The more individual testimonies are borne to Christ the more weight there is in the accumulated force of the great aggregate. A sceptical lawyer attended an experience meeting amongst his neighbours and took notes. When he reviewed the evidence he said, "If I had these persons in the witness box on my side, I should feel quite sure of carrying my case. Though each has told his own tale, they all bear witness to the power of God's grace to change the heart. I am bound to believe after this testimony." And he did, and became a Christian. Do you say, "They can do without my story." Nay, it has its own special interest, and may touch the heart of somebody like yourself.

(1) You are only a nursemaid, but your testimony will suit another lass like yourself. Who could have told her mistress that there was healing for Naaman but the captive maid?

(2) You are old and feeble; but you are just the man whose few words have full weight.

(3) You are only a working man; but who can tell working men about your changed character and home like yourself?

IV. AS EVERY CHRISTIAN, BEING OF AGE, HAS TO SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, WE MEAN TO DO IT. You cannot all preach, and should not try; if you all did, what a tumult there be! And there would be no hearers left if all were preachers. Your work is to speak and to let your influence be felt among your servants, children, trades people. You say "I am so retiring." Well, then drop a little of your modesty, and distinguish yourself a little more for your manliness. A soldier who was retiring in the day of battle they shot for a coward.

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