by Dave Miller
That moment in the front yard when I send our youngest out to call her siblings in for dinner. Neighborhood football is in full swing. Bikes are racing up and down the street. Scooters are being scooted. Fun is being had by all and it must pause because dad said it was time to eat. But dad didn't deliver the message, sissy did. The inevitable response? SAYS WHO?
How do we know the message really came from Dad?
My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. - John 17:16-18
The Word of God brings with himself the power of the Holy Spirit. When we choose to speak our own words we bring our own glory. The Lord is a jealous God and will not give his Glory to another (Isaiah 48:11). Therefore, our words carry no weight and are devoid of the Holy Spirit’s power, instead they bring disruption and pretense.
If there is one thing we see clearly emerging in our culture, it is a plethora of our words. Words we believe have authority. Opinions, that when rebuffed, spark relationship strife all the way to social media shouting matches and beyond. Pick the week and you can find the topic “requiring” my input. Silence is to condone at best and complicit at worse. Somehow we have driven ourselves to believe that we must speak our minds. Ironic, considering the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6)
The irony of course, is we are made to speak, we are expected to speak. We were created to carry the weighty message of the Lord whose image we are to bear. We were made ambassadors of a message not our own, but duly delegated to us as we seek the glory of him who sent. The Father sent the Son. If there ever was anyone who should and could speak on his own authority it would be Jesus. Yet, we see, that even the King of Kings speaks the words of the Father who sent him. The gospel of the kingdom.
We speak often. We speak on our own authority often. We seek our own glory often. We are full of falsehood. We need the Word of God. We need him to speak into our lives. We need to speak the Word of God into other’s lives. When we do, the Holy Spirit empowers the outpouring of Glory, recognizable to him who believes. You see, if anyone wills to do the Father’s will, he or she will recognize the Word of God as the authority of God. My cunning and craftiness adds nothing. My opinion is of little consequence. My perspective is always limited and lacking. Yet, when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to give you something worth saying. In those moments do not be quiet! In the proclamation of the Word, the Holy Spirit empowers the coming of the Light, even in our weakness! (1 Cor 1 &2)
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. - 2 Cor. 4:1-6
If we seek the Glory of the Father our Creator God through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, then the Word of God must be on our lips, in our hearts, and transforming our lives. We must not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. May the authority of God’s word be your trust as you are filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing that as we trust the word of God, we walk as Jesus walked.
Then in our speaking, He will let light shine out of darkness and show hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For more thoughts on the necessity of the the Word: The Word, The Holy Spirit, the Power of the Kingdom, and the Ambassador.