Let’s “Hear what He would have said” to Us
My friend Jack Swayze said something once in a prayer that touched me. Speaking to the Father he said, “Help us to hear what You would have said.”
The Bible says that the Word of God is living and active.
“For the word of God is living and powerful (active; operative) , and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
It also says that God will complete the work that He started in us...in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
Whenever we study the Word, God is doing something....something for each of us individually and I believe that He would have us "hear what He would have said", to each of us – individually. The Word accomplishes a lot, so when we go on a track and see something, a rabbit trail if you will, God might be in that.
Or when each of us has a comment and we think things like, “I'll not say anything", what you have to say might be something (a "rhema" word – freshly spoken word from God – Acts 28:5, Romans 10:17, Galatians 6:6 and others) that someone else needs to hear for their sanctification.
Our meetings and studies must be places where one is free to do that because God’s initial and forever plan for His body was to function in safe and vital Gatherings like that.
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)
So as we study and each time we gather, let's approach it like that:
assuming God wants to address us specifically as individuals (because He does) and
assuming that God might do it through each of us...not just "the teacher" this can be an exciting life if we let the Lord have His way with us (because He does).
And let’s remember that the word “church” is the Greek word “ekklesia” and it literally means “the gathered believers”. Whenever Christians meet…for what we call worship or for a lunch or a ladies’ or men’s meeting – this is “ekklesia”.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Jesus visits among us and He’s speaking to us.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
Let’s listen to Him.
If we live in the body in this way we will each be more likely to experience what Jack said in his prayer: “Father, help us to hear what You would have said.” We will be more apt to hear what we each need to hear from Him.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries
Decatur, TX
© October 14, 2010
(For use with permission)