Unspoken

I`m fascinated by the true power of love. The world thinks of love as an emotional bond. A feeling.

But true love is also like a reflex action. It makes us react and respond spontaneously. It is also something to be learned. Like a journey of discovery.

Love is a joy and a challenge. Whether we are talking about romantic love, love amongst family members or in friendship.

Corinthians tells us that Love is the most excellent way. You can be as "spiritual" as you want, but if you don`t express that in love then it just makes a clanging repulsive impression. Hmmm. 

There`s also that brilliant phrase "speaking the truth in love" in the book of Ephesians. If we pastor, prophesy or simply want to be helpful. If we teach, correct or truly want to encourage. If we really want to become great and excellent as Church then we have to learn to do it in love.

Being honest, but saying it in love. Now there`s a challenge. So the next time you want to open your mouth to speak your mind, check out your attitude. Because you may be right, but if you can`t say it in love, it will repel.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Ephesians 4:14 & 15 "...that we should no longer be children...but speaking the truth in love...may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ..."

When less is more

God speaks to Christians today. If you are listening, you can hear His voice. Sometimes He is telling us something for us alone. Sometimes it is for sharing. It`s not always easy to know whether we should share what we hear with others.

A good thing to do is to ask God first. A second thing is to check that what you think you have heard agrees with God`s word. He is always true and faithful. He won`t speak anything that does not agree with His promises and teaching.

One of the most important things that I have learnt is that "less is more". People often feel under pressure to share extended words from God, or to interpret them. But we are just vessels. Channels for the message. You don`t need to be the interpreter. You just need to learn to be a pure channel.

It isn`t more spiritual to interpret the message as well. It doesn`t make you a better Christian and it doesn`t mean you are more gifted or mature either. In fact, often those who stay closest to the heart of God speak very simply and profoundly. I think they`ve  learned the "less is more" tactic too.

Simply speak what you hear. Nothing more, nothing less. Let God interpret it into the hearts of others. The more we get out of the way and keep our own understanding out of the message, the purer it will be.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  2 Cor 4.7

Whose idea is prophecy anyway?

Dead bones. No flesh, no breath. Whatever life there was is over. Or is it? Something about the challenge of the impossible captures us. When you know the God of the impossible, then suddenly what we accept as reality is challenged.

We know a spiritual world exists, not just the physical one we live in. The moment we accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we confirm our belief in that spiritual realm. We admit it affects our physical world and our physical souls and bodies. That`s why the Bible puts so much emphasis on what we say and how we say it. Our words have power. They encourage, speaking hope and life. They can also hurt and destroy. We have a responsibility to choose how we use our tongue in day to day life. 

But our words are at their most powerful when they come fully into line with the will and heart of God Himself. As we agree with God, obeying Him and speaking the words He gives us. Take the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones (Ezekiel 37). As Ezekiel "prophesied" or spoke to the bones and the wind, a mighty army was formed from a valley of dry bones. A vision in the spiritual realm explaining something God planned to do in the physical world. But this vision also teaches us a very important lesson.

Prophecy is more than speaking out positive words. Prophesying is speaking something into being. There is a responsibility in that. It`s more than speaking positive things into or over a situation out of your own understanding. Ezekiel responded to the challenge of God. He spoke as God commanded Him. God didn`t show Ezekiel the valley and ask him to choose what to say. It wasn`t about what Ezekiel thought would be cool. In fact, I bet God`s dream far exceeded anything Ezekiel could have thought of. 

So God showed him the bones and shared His heart and dream. Then God gave very precise instructions.

If you want to prophesy, firstly learn to hear God. Secondly learn to obey. Because true prophecy isn`t about our dreams and ideas. It`s about agreeing with the heart of God and speaking as He commands. 

"So I prophesied as He commanded me,and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army."