Speaking His Words

"When the truth is, God works with us."

A LOUISIANA preacher takes a Scripture literally and applies it. God honors His Word and what that preacher believes comes to pass. The preacher shares it with his congregation, who also apply it, and it comes to fruition. They have great abundance. But others say, “He’s taken that out of context,” and, “That isn’t what is meant,” and, “He shouldn’t make that a priority.” Yet, he has had his belief in it sustained, and they are not in his shoes, with his results.

What are we to do with preaching AGAINST someone or something? God wants us to preach FOR THE TRUTH. Nothing said in the pulpit should ever come from a negative angle but always encourage, even if it is God’s rebuke. And there’s a word we don’t understand. What is a rebuke? It IS NOT a shaken pointed finger, “Bad Christian!” It is the example my mother uses – Don’t say, “Don’t go in the street!” But instead say, “Stay in the yard.” A child will picture either the street or the yard. Which one do you want them to see?

We must study Jesus’ examples and have revelation in the Spirit. He must reveal them to us and us not assume with our minds. Truth is what we’ve learned through experience and not what we can quote because we remember it. The Spirit rebuked me once. He took me to a Scripture, and without Him speaking, I knew what I’d done wrong and committed myself not to do that again. He never brought it back up. There was no harangue.

Another example: Don’t preach AGAINST death, this leans toward the opposite, acceptance of it. Instead, encourage FOR Life. Tell people not to give up.

Writing has made me conscious of my words, and it’s been a good thing in my life. I am careful WHAT I say and HOW I say it. So was Jesus. He spoke what He heard from the Father through the Spirit and not what popped into His head. He didn’t have to recant and only had to explain when asked what He meant. Revelation of His words came from the seeking of the hearers. Were they listening through the power of the Spirit (even being WITH them and not IN them, He could bring revelation, John 14:17)? Or were they filled with their father the devil (John 8:43-44)? When what He said made them angry to the point of murder, that was Satan.

“You are so infected with selfishness and so sick in mind that I could easily spend my time pointing out the extent of your sickness, but the One who sent me is the source of all truth, and my mission is to spend my time revealing the truth about him to the world.” (John 8:26, Remedy)

See the Pharisee Nicodemus in John 7:31. He’d gone to see Jesus, their conversation recorded in John 3. Here in chapter 7, he asks his colleagues a question, and they round on him with hate. He asks, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing what they have to say, and without examining the evidence to find out what they are doing?” They’d gotten worked up over having Jesus arrested, which hadn’t happened like they thought it would. They reply to him, “Are you a Galilean also? Then why don’t you go and investigate, and you will discover that prophets do not come from Galilee (John 7:51-52, Remedy).” The Holy Spirit was working on Nicodemus’ heart. We see him carry a great weight of spices to Jesus’ burial in John 19:39.

“Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” (John 7:50-52)

See also Caiaphas the High Priest, who despised Jesus, yet we are told he prophesied of Jesus’ death. Here, too, is the Spirit, but Caiaphas never realized who Jesus is (John 11:49-51). If he had, it would have been because he heard the Spirit and stopped listening to the devil.

“He did not realize the full meaning of his words, but spoke them in accordance with the Spirit of God, prophesying that Jesus would die as the Remedy for sin;” (John 11:51, Remedy)

Look next at Peter who knew Jesus is the Christ through revelation from the Father (Matthew 16:16). Our words matter, but this is even greater than that. They must be God’s words, what the Spirit is saying. Because He anoints the speaker when they are called into that place to work there, regardless of much of their chosen topic. He anoints a thirty-minute sermon that the speaker believes is what God wants and also a three-hour sermon that the speaker believes is what God wants. When the truth is, God works WITH US. If thirty-minutes is what’s allotted for that service, He will give what can be explained in that time. If three hours is what a speaker is in the habit of doing, the Spirit can speak many things in that time, but perhaps, the one in that pulpit should listen and say only what God desires.

“ … whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)

But both, being in the Spirit, saying His words, should speak from the bottomless depths of God’s love to encourage and uplift, and leave their opinions at home. The apostle Paul’s instructions in Romans 14 apply this to how we castigate others about food, and come to a point at the end of the chapter. Don’t do in another man’s face what you know will cause them to feel condemned and take away their peace. Even if you think you are right, don’t say it. If this applies between believers, then how much more from the church pulpit? We are not arguing with men’s minds, nor with the devil, who is de-feeted. We are not arguing AGAINST nor FOR any point of doctrine at all. But in every word, showing Jesus Christ. We’re highlighting Him. If we will do this, then many sermons will turn to dust.

“Therefore consider the wellbeing of others, and do whatever we can to assist in their healing and to promote peace with each other. Do not destroy God’s work of rebuilding his character in humanity by arguing over food … it is wrong to eat anything that you know will confuse, upset or somehow undermine your brother’s or sister’s growth with God.” (Romans 14:19-20, Remedy)

“So whatever you believe about such inconsequential things, rather than stir up unnecessary controversy, keep such things between yourself and God.” (Romans 14:22, Remedy)

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com