Acts 2:16-17 “No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.'”

When you think about it, this had to be the Holy Spirit simply using Peter as a mouthpiece, like the speaker on a telephone, because this was not a prepared message, and Peter was in no way a trained public speaker, much less a theologian. Just as when God had revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, (Matthew 16:16) God brought Joel’s prophesy to his mind. I greatly doubt that he had memorized it ahead of time! Crafted messages aren’t bad, and we aren’t to be lazy or presumptive, but every believer, and not just pastors, needs to hold themselves available to God for Him to speak through, should He so choose. In the 1^st Century Greek world, public speaking was an art form, and there were all sorts of rhetorical tricks that were used. Paul was quite possibly trained in such things, but he still wrote to the Corinthians, “When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1) If we are trying to convince people to believe by our own efforts, we aren’t likely to be successful. We ourselves can save no one, not even ourselves, but God can use even such as we are to do the job. Remembering that, we need to offer ourselves to God in all humility for Him to speak and act through, for the salvation of others and for His glory.

This of course applies in spades to me, as a missionary pastor. I have heard more sermons than I could count, and I have probably delivered more than that. Some of those have been a waste of time, or worse, but some have been the Word of the Lord. As someone with Teacher gifting, I indeed love to open the Bible and explain things to people, but when I stand in the pulpit, for many years now I have simply shared what the Lord has spoken to me in my morning devotional times. In that sense, the messages are far closer to prophecy than teaching. I do create an outline from my devotional notes, but it is rare indeed when I stick exactly to those notes. I also need to be aware that God doesn’t limit speaking through me to when I am in the pulpit. My brother-in-law once said to me, “Did you realize you were prophesying?” I replied that I was aware I was speaking God’s truth, but hadn’t thought of it in terms of prophecy. On our upcoming trip, I don’t have any formal speaking engagements scheduled, but I am to be ready at all times to let God speak through me to anyone or everyone. At the same time, I am not to think of myself as “God’s Spokesman,” but rather try to stay out of His way for whatever He might want to do, or not do, through me, for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Thank You for the message You’ve given me for tomorrow, and that You will be present in the business meeting to follow. May I speak exactly what You are saying and nothing else, so that Your Word may accomplish all that You intend, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for the blessing of my hearers and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!