The words we speak are a vehicle for good, evil or indifference. Jesus said, John 6:63: “It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life”. God’s word is creative and will fulfil itself. When God speaks, my part is to say “Amen”, to trust and obey. God does not require my quick answers in the flesh. His ways and thoughts are not mine, but far higher for divine purpose. In humility, I will become part of that divine purpose. My lack of understanding a situation is irrelevant. My part is to trust God with what He has shown me. He will reveal His full purpose in the fullness of time.
Do I understand the difference between speech and utterance? Acts 2:4 “They all spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”.
Ephesians 6:19 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”.
Colossians 4:3 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ…..”.
People may have a natural gift of eloquence, but without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, their speech is soulish. Their words may produce a feel good factor, but resemble someone who goes window shopping but ultimately, it was just an experience without purchasing the goods! Nothing to show for it! I cannot impart revelation, only the Holy Spirit can impart to man.
Holy Ghost utterance is an anointed vehicle of words, conveying the message where even eloquence cannot reach. The words impart a living message of God…….spirit and life! Their source is God, their purpose is divine. There is nothing of man in them other than a conveyancing vessel. I need to recognise my need for full dependency on the Holy Spirit : John 14:26 Jesus said, “But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”.
In the discipline of love, a godly parent will teach, guide and correct their child. Teaching includes correction. How do I respond to the correction of the Holy Spirit? I cannot be a disciple of Jesus without embracing His discipline, which is for my highest good. If I refuse the discipline of the Holy Spirit, I am nothing more than a follower of Jesus, a wayward child, never maturing and having to endure the consequences of my choices. How sad! A stubborn will fails to access the joys of obedience. Every act of obedience to the Lord incurs an incremental deposit of another measure of the fullness of Christ – our inheritance! (Ephesians 4)
In embracing the correction of God, I must take care to refuse offence. Any offence I take results in a stumbling block to me, no matter what excuse I bring up in justification and self-righteousness. Forget it! I am going NOWHERE in God with that line.
In humility, may we request of the Lord to so work His will in us that we come to the fulfillment of the following scripture: Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they who love thy law, and NOTHING shall offend them”. (In the Hebrew, the last part of this verse translates: “they shall have no stumbling block”.) What a place to desire. Complete surrender, nothing to prove! ” No longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me!”
The reality of Jesus reigning and dwelling comfortably in my heart, becomes an expression, (His expression), on my lips.