The Voice of God

Has your mouth ever gotten you in trouble? I often like to be just as surprised by what comes out of my mouth as everyone else. That is not always a good thing.

It was 2015. Pastor Jeremy had asked me to fill in as the interim youth pastor at Journey Church. As we were leaving for youth camp I was giving a little briefing for the students and the parents. Towards the end I said something to the effect of, “I promise you that we will return with the same amount of kids we left with. I just can’t promise they are the same kids.” Well, some of the parents had just met me. This did not instill a great amount of confidence as they hand over their precious 12 year old for the week. Needless to say I had a few meetings waiting for me when I got back.

I’m sure we have all been there, right? We misspoke, or said something we thought was funny but didn’t land. Often it is a honest mistake. Sometimes it is because we have not given complete control of our mind and mouth over to Jesus.

This week we are on our last group of gifts known as the voice of God. These gifts are used to verbally communicate or reveal something from God that builds up and encourages the church. There are 3 gifts we are looking at then we will wrap up.

Prophecy- different from the ministry gift, this gift gives Christians the ability to deliver a message or revelation from God under the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Is not primarily future telling. Proclaiming God’s will, challenging and encouraging the believers to do what is right and remain true to God.

The message may expose the spiritual condition of the hearers heart or offer guidance, encouragement, warning, or judgment.

Prophetic words must line up with God’s written Word to be judged as truly from God. True prophecy will not contradict, add to, or take away from what is already written. It must line up with Scripture.

Prophecy operates under God’s will, not the person. The message will be delivered when and how God desires. Though prophecy may work hand-in-hand with a prepared message, it is not prepared beforehand.

Tongues- this is a different purpose, or function, than the evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Tongues is any language not understood by the person speaking, such as the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 I once heard a young man praying in tongues as he was baptised in the Holy Spirit at camp. A man from I believe the Navajo reservation began laughing. The young man, who had never been to a reservation, was praise God in perfect Navajo. This gift was a huge blessing to the man who was praying because he had been asking God if He even cared about the Navajo Nation.

Tongues can also be an unknown language that is “heavenly” in nature. This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Cor 14:2

1 Corinthians 14:2 NLT

For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

This form of tongues does not require interpretation.

Tongues can be a sign. This use of tongues is usually a message for the church and requires interpretation, which we will come to next.

Tongues is the most regulated of the gifts when done in public for the congregation. 1 Cor 14:27-28

1 Corinthians 14:27–28 NLT

No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

3. Interpretation of tongues-interpretation (not direct translation) of the tongue that was given. Can be the person who gave the message in tongues or another.

Functions very similar to prophecy. Must be divinely inspired.

Gives the interpretation of the tongue and also applies it to the people.

If the tongue is in a earthly langue, the interpretation does not come through someone who speaks that language.

So why are the gifts important and why are we talking about them? 1 Cor 12:4-6

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 NLT

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

God is no respecter of persons. We have the gifts to help each other. I have many times devalued my own contribution to the lives of those around me. This is a robbery of those in my life. God has given me, and you, gifts that are for the whole body. How selfish and prideful am I to think I can do it on my own? It is important to understand that these gifts, and others mentioned throughout the Bible, are for the good of the Church and the world. We must be ready and willing to step into our gifting without hesitation. Others are depending on us, on you. Jesus established us that way.

The reason I wanted to end on these gifts is because our words are powerful. They can build up and tear down. Most importantly, in my opinion, is they are often peoples first impression of us and Jesus. It’s easy to get flippant with our words, but remember that out of the overflow of our heart our mouth speaks. What are your jokes saying about your heart? When someone cuts you off, what comes from your mouth? When you are pressed, is it sweet or bitter that flows? You see, fresh and bitter water cannot flow from the same spring. We must submit our hearts FULLY to the Holy Spirit. Then God will use our words as powerful weapons. I believe this is why these gifts are so highly regulated. You only regulate something if it is strong and, misused, can cause harm.

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