A Word Aptly Spoken
As we consider the launch of Holy Spirit led movements of households of loving-obedient worshipers of Christ, leadership development in the tough personal issues is a crucial component.
Proverbs 25:11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right
circumstances.
The Message (MSG)
11-12
The
right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise
friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your
finger.
Suri tilted her head as she considered the
pre-owned personally scripted answer which she guardedly embraced. Instead, she
gave a potentially risky response to my question, “Suri, you look gorgeous on
the outside at this wedding reception, but I wonder about the condition of the
beauty growth process which God has planned for you from the inside out?”
Sure, she could have handed me the page from her script
of self-protect and I would have spoken blessing over her, hugged her and moved
on.
However, the Holy Spirit, unbeknownst to me
brought Suri to the point of misery in her recent unrevealed bondage patterns
of pornography, Face Book self solicitation of sex partners, cellphone sex
talk, adultery, and other sexual sins. Thankfully, Suri chose to go toward
freedom at that “right circumstance” of the Holy Spirit’s stirring.
Suri teared up. I offered to meet privately with
her after this rather public meeting. She came over the next day. In that subsequent
time together she relayed how she could not stop thinking of the brief words I
had spoken to her. She kept thinking how much those words disturbed her yet,
beckoned her at the same time.
Suri has now chosen to take steps toward healing
in these areas. With the depth of darkness she has lived in for a period of
time now, her pathway will be highly difficult. Thankfully, with the power of
Christ and the hope of His healing hand there is a pathway to freedom, which
awaits her. Importantly, the words of exhortation and the words of comfort went
forth and the promise is that she can be transformed.
Indeed, God’s love is like that. He always calls
each of us who are in Christ out to His higher ways. He calls each one of His
children to these processes. Freedom is waiting. His perfect love is awaiting
each of His followers who choose His face above all.
Shane and Shane sing words aptly spoken in the
song entitled Your Love. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Agv--7tPk
The chorus cuts deeply through the realities of
the battle for the human heart as we yearn for His ways or not in our lives.
The
Power of the Word Aptly Spoken
The power of a word aptly spoken with grace and
mercy, in the authority and in the leading of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
is incalculable in a life which longs for God’s transformation.
As I reflect upon this past year alone, I marvel
at the words in which I can recall readily. The battle of words spoken to each
of us in haste or regrettably launched from others or ourselves is at stake
here. Do we readily assess our growth in Christ from the aspects of words
spoken in both exhortation (skillfully done or not) as well as those words launched
for comfort? Or do we assume and presume that only the words spoken to us which
spur us on in comfort are of the greatest value? I submit to you that both of
these aspects are two sides of the same coin. Let’s say, for the sake of this
illustration, that intimacy/worship/obedience in response thereof to Christ is
the coin. The two sides which can spawn great growth, then, could be said to be
words of exhortation as well as words of comfort and encouragement.
One way to evaluate this past year, as you seek
to get alone to listen to ABBA is to ask Him the following questions;
1.
Father, what words did You speak to my heart this past year which were
words of exhortation/correction/training in righteousness of which I did choose
to obey? Rejoice with Him in those areas. Give thanks.
2.
Father, what words did You speak which I chose not to obey? Talk with
Him about these areas and repent where need be (I John 1:9), rejoice where need
be, reclaim ground given over to deception (Satan’s lies) and choose to walk in
the power of the Holy Spirit in those areas.
3.
Father, what words of prophecy or word imagery were spoken over me
this year? Is there a word which inspired my heart in which I need to walk in
yieldedness in order to appropriate these promises?
4.
Father, direct me by Your Holy Spirit to embrace the reminders of Your
Word which You gave as banners to my heart this past year. Rejoice with Him in
gratefulness, review those promises of His Word and presence which He gave to
you faithfully this past year.
5.
Father, give me Your words for the themes or such which You desire to
impart to my heart to embrace for these next few months. Write these down,
record these and share them with those godly ones who will mutually hold
accountable in grace and mercy.
6.
Father, increase in my heart the tenderness and wisdom (skillfulness)
of when to speak, when to pray, and when to share words which could be aptly
spoken “like apples of gold in settings of silver”.
Father, Your perfect love is PERFECT. Cause my
heart to hear Your melody of love which can both tear me apart as well as put
me together. I renounce the self-reliant thought that You are somehow are not looking
for my best. Your goodness is my ground zero. You are good and Your mercies ARE everlasting. I give to You that which You desire, my total implicit unmitigated
dependence upon You alone. Ramp up my heart yearnings for surrenderedness to
You alone to have its way in my life. I offer you the totality of the vacuity
of my heart in deeper ways still for You to reside, abide, confide in my heart
because of my desire to fear only You, ABBA. Cause this coming year to produce
the yield of fruit You promise for Your Name and Fame and Glory alone in my
spheres of influence and to the ethne of the earth. Cause my heart to be
faithful in making reproducing disciples who obey You because of their fond
affection for the greatness of Your Name. In Jesus Matchless Name, I pray.
Amen.
