1 Corinthians 12:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

During my years training within a charismatic administration I noticed an abundance of desire within that body to be the mouth. People don’t mind being the hand, it is a power potion, sort of like playing power forward on a basketball team. How to act as a foot seems less intuitive.

They never lacked someone willing to offer a “Thus saith the Lord.” Sadly at times it was misplaced judgment. Knowing the intimate details of a person’s life does not give us the right to use scripture in a public setting to offer chastening and correction. That is only judgment.

Abuses aside, it is the Lord who decides where we fit within the body of Christ. We do not get to choose our role because it is easily seen. That is vanity run amuck.

1 Corinthians 12:18 English Standard Version (ESV) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

Yesterday it was said to hear a Word and repeat it. That does not have to be prefaced with a “Thus saith the Lord.” The Spirit within each of us recognizes His Word when heard. What it does within the hearer is according to the will of God. If we try and add our own understanding that may frustrate the efforts of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit to work the Word in everyone’s personal situation and not our own. If their understanding is not perfect, the Holy Spirit will render truth in the moment.

Psalm 81:10 English Standard Version (ESV) I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Micah 2:7c English Standard Version (ESV) Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?

The Word of the Lord does good just by our speaking the Word. What we fail to comprehend is the inherent nature of God’s voice. He spoke creation into existence. We quote scriptures to encourage and educate yet do not give a seconds thought of the power being released on the hearers.

Isaiah 55:11 English Standard Version (ESV) so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

We often quote the Word of the Lord with intentions which may or may not serve the will of God. Our intentions cannot change His will or cause His Word to fail. When we do not see the expected results we may doubt ourselves but we should not doubt God. Look to Isaiah 55:11 again and in particular to the line “return to me”. His Word comes full circle and we have no idea how long that will take to accomplish.

The first Line of Micah 2:7 contains the words “Has the Lord grown impatient?” No He has not, we have.

Impatience weakens faith, not in its power but in our execution. Being human we are subject to human frailties. Our weakness does not affect the power of His Word, it might even empower it. Hidden within our emotions of weakness lies the embers of humility.

James 4:10 English Standard Version (ESV) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Humility, especially in a group setting, allows the Word of the Lord to be heard. Hear it, repeat it and allow the Word to do what it alone can do.