Have you ever had to speak publicly and did not say exactly what you wanted to say? Scratch that. Have you ever spoken to your crush, friend, or loved ones and when the words come out…
Well, they cause less than favorable reactions.
I know how it goes. We as humans are prone to mess up when it comes to speaking! This is why it always baffles me when I hear self and truth preached above the Word of God.
For those within Christian circles, we know how it goes. Prayer’s opening services sound something like this:
“God, allow my words today, be your words.”
“Let my words today, be your words. Not mine.”
“Lord, speak through me.”
Churches across the United States, hear this prayer. Then within particular contexts, hear 15 to 45 minutes of stories, jokes, tear jerkers, etc. Then… If the congregation is lucky, a bread crumb or smidgen of Scripture.
If this resonates in any way, then please ponder the following question with me.
“How did it get to this?”
In the lives of Christians, when did experiences and self-exaltation become more comfortable to preach the Word of God, already spoken.
People will “rely” on the Spirit but ignore the complete Volume He has already authored for us. Without the substance of Scripture, speakers turn unto empty talk and what Paul refers to as “vain jangling” (1 Timothy 1:6).
Therefore, let us take the wisdom of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 and in the truest sense, let the Spirit speak what He has spoken, through us.
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”
The Lord has divinely revealed His attributes, His love, His truth, and His glorious redemptive plan for humanity through His Son Jesus Christ. He did so in His sixty-six book love letter to humanity, the object of His love. Why look anywhere else or minimize His words, under a blanket of foolishness.
Paul aims to reduce confusion around his intentions in ministry by proclaiming the following,
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
It was in Christ alone as revealed by God that Paul a few verses down can assure that, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (8-9).
One cannot get that assurance from five-step programs of men’s philosophy, but only the one-step program of the Gospel- Believe (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Let me summarize and flat-out state my intentions.
Get your truth from God’s truth.
Going to the Word will show you what is true and will illuminate what is of human devices. Only one is destined to enrich.
You’re so right! God’s word should come before anything!