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Friday, January 15, 2010

house to house


From house to house

At Acts 5:42 the words "from house to house" are translated from kat'
oi´kon. Here ka·ta´ is used in a "distributive" sense. Hence, the preaching
of the disciples was distributed from one house to another. Commenting on
Acts 20:20, Randolph O. Yeager wrote that Paul taught "both in public
assemblies [de·mo·si´a] and from house to house (distributive [ka·ta´] with
the accusative). Paul had spent three years in Ephesus. He visited every
house,
or at least he preached to all of the people (verse 26).

No Substitute for It

Here is scriptural warrant for house to house evangelism as well as that
carried on in public meetings."6 Commenting on Paul's words at Acts 20:20,
in 1844 Abiel Abbot Livermore wrote: "He was not content merely to deliver
discourses in the public assembly, and dispense with other
instrumentalities, but zealously pursued his great work in private, from
house to house, and literally carried home the truth of heaven to the
hearths and hearts of the Ephesians." More recently, it has been observed:
"House to house dissemination of the gospel characterized the first-century
Christians from the beginning (cf. Acts 2:46; 5:42). . . . [Paul] had
thoroughly discharged his responsibility both to Jews and Gentiles at
Ephesus, and they were left without excuse if they perished in their
sins."-The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4, pages 642-3.

Everyone a Witness.
With Jehovah's help, Christians should declare the Kingdom message from
house to house,
even if it is not received with appreciation. As God's
watchman, Ezekiel was to warn people whether they listened or not. (Ezekiel 2:5-7; 3:11, 27; 33:1-6)
Drawing a parallel between Ezekiel and Paul, E. M. Blaiklock wrote: "From [Paul's speech in Acts chapter 20] emerges a clear picture of the ministry in Ephesus. Note the following: First, Paul's urgent faithfulness. He was no seeker after popularity or the public's approval. Set like Ezekiel to a watchman's task, he discharged his duty with honest zeal and character to back his speech. Second, his loving sympathy. He was not the man to take words of doom upon his lips without emotion. Third, his indefatigable evangelism. Publicly and from house to house, in the city and throughout the province, he had preached the
gospel.".

God's abundant blessing upon his present-day servants leaves no doubt that
he is pleased to have them bear the name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isaiah
43:10-12)
Moreover, they are Christ's witnesses too, for Jesus told his
followers: "You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you,
and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and
Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) So witnessing is the responsibility of everyone who makes a dedication to Jehovah God in prayer through Jesus Christ.

DO YOU WANT TO BE TRAINED BY JEHOVAH

Isaiah 54:13 And all your sons will be persons taught by Jehovah, and the peace of your sons will be abundant.

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