God Speaking

“At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

(Matthew 10: 19 – 20)

BE PREPARED!!

How often we heard that from our teachers, particularly if we were about to face an oral exam, so I was surprised to hear one of my son in laws describing an interview he had with a young lady applying for a job in his firm, who was woefully unprepared. I thought that would have been a given for any interview. It made me think about how, when Peter was writing to the believers, he warned them to be prepared to answer those who question about the hope they have in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is still a good reason for us today to make sure we are well prepared to present what we believe, to others.

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3: 15)

I love the story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. A faithful follower of the Lord God Almighty, but in exile with his fellow Jews, and mourning as to what was happening to the city of Jerusalem and in the foreign country he was living in, he was a cupbearer to a very powerful king. He had agonised over the fate of his country and had wept and prayed for days asking God for help. God suddenly gives him an opportunity to tell the king of what he is feeling and look what he does before speaking!

“The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…” (Nehemiah 2: 4 – 5)

Nehemiah knew that praying before speaking, would ensure the right words would come from his mouth and they did and the king granted his request to go back to Jerusalem to restore it to its former beauty.

What a wonderful example for us to follow. I have often regretted not doing this when impulsive words have come form my mouth which did not bring joy, but rather hurt feelings. Nehemiah’s prayer must have been a quick silent one. But we can do that as well, if we have done, also like him, spent many times seeking God’s wisdom and allowing the Holy Spirit to control our words.

Jesus has promised us his Holy Spirit will give us the right words if we ask him to supply them (Matthew 10: 19 – 20) Then we need to have confidence in those words and Paul assures us that we cannot even imagine what power our words will have when they have been covered in prayer before we speak;

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3: 20 – 21)