Kingdom Principle: Enriched with Speech and Knowledge, enables you to speak-less

We are to be called Saints, a Holy People, not because of what we do or say, but because of what has been done for  and spoken over us! Holy people are not about piety or perfection, for them it is about the process of God redeeming and flowing through their life such that others will see God who is holy. John the Baptist – says it well, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) This became true for the disciples after Jesus ascended and endowed them with power from on high. The disciples did not become super; rather it was supernatural power that was upon them. Acts 4:13 says it this way… “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” What others saw in Peter & John was “what” they saw in Jesus, and what they saw in Jesus was Power & Authority that was not from this world.  Therefore the disciples had been set apart – To be made Holy or to be endowed with Power, or to be enriched with Speech and Knowledge. If you are set apart – you too demonstrate the Power and Authority to Speak Less and Say More.

Jesus came in the flesh to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to heal the sick,(Matt. 4:23, Mark 1:14,21,39, Luke 4:15, 40) in this he destroyed the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8) We are called to walk as Jesus walked, and to do as he did, (1 John 2:6) and to do even great things than Jesus did. (John 14:12) This is the call to bear witness. Much like the call to be “Holy” it is not about what you do, rather it is you bearing witness to what Jesus has done.  Jesus was a witness only to what he saw the Father doing.  (John 5:19, 30) In much the same way we are to bear witness to what we see Jesus doing. John the Baptist was a witness  of and to Jesus, even though all of John’s fame was enough to draw his own crowd, he sought to bear witness to Jesus rather than to have any attention be on himself. While he was enriched and empower by the Holy Spirit with speech and knowledge it is with a simple phrase he has embedded truth in to the hearts of you and me today. “BEHOLD, the LAMB of GOD, who take away the sin of the world.” John in one sentence shifted all of history. It is found only here in the Gospel of John, and nowhere else in the Bible… yet is has had a ripple effect to all understanding of the rest of the New & Old Testament.

One can only bear witness to that which one has seen with their own eyes. (If it is gossip or hear-say– then you are not a witness by definition.  So the pre-requisites to speaking and bearing witness  – giving testimony of the Good News of Jesus – is for your eyes to be opened.  Second  – once your eyes have seen the power of Christ Jesus, God’s Chosen One, the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World, the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, The Redeemer and the Messiah (all names of God present in this week’s texts) then you have opportunity to speak of this  wonder and  wonderful truth. When you do speak, “Speak less” so as to demonstrate the Power & Authority of Jesus and not your own.

Speaking less is made possible through Revelation.  When others receive say you say is an act of Reconciliation. If you feel the need to convince another that you are right, or to defend your vantage point, it will take more words and be dependent on your own demonstration and persuasion.  Rather, trust that the Good News of Jesus Christ will be demonstrated in your Holy Calling, and boast of your weakness and his Great Works. (This is an act of Servant Leadership) In this way your words will be filled with Power, and your message will confirmed and strengthen, through the enrichment and gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we return to the need to seek the Power of Jesus Name and to demonstrate acts of Justice to unify the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. (Matt. 6:33)

We are in the season of Epiphany – this is the season of Revelation: of who is Jesus, and what he will do. He is the Lamb of God (Revelation), who will save the world (Reconciliation). This season culminates into Lent where we encounter the struggle, hardship and wilderness of Jesus to bear the sins of the world.  Revelation opens our eyes to see God, ourselves and others. Reconciliation opens our hearts to God and others. When Revelation and Reconciliation take place in our lives – a Revolution follows such that others see God in us, and even have their own experience of Revelation opening their eyes to see God, themselves and us as we really are.

When is the last time you experienced Revelation from God?

When find yourself wanting to be more convincing –  Seek Jesus’ Power, not your own.

In what ways are you experiencing Reconciliation; with God, others or self?

When are you struggling with reconciliation – Seek God’s Justice, not your own

What does a Revolution look like in your life?