This morning was fruitful. I wanted to share a couple of words and thoughts that impacted me along with a theme that has been repeating in my mind. Let’s dig in.
Being a mouthpiece and not a sophist
Service this morning opened up with 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 but I would like to focus on a larger picture than these. I’d like to start with verse 17 as that is where my attention was led. A phrase that stuck out to me was when Paul said, “not with wisdom of words”. I have realized that God does not need me to know how to tactfully speak and deliver His words efficiently. That is His job. It continues to verse 25 and 27 when Paul says, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” … “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”. Now how does that apply? My point in sharing this is that God doesn’t need us, His Bride, to know the perfect words to say. When we try to plan what we will say or do when talking to people about our faith it is not for us to say the perfect words and try to make it witty. Instead it is about yielding to His Spirit, the river flowing from our hearts (see last post). We are not a witty speaker who “converts” people into our belief. We are ONLY mouthpieces to God’s heart.
Reaching the world as Christians
Our central passage this morning was Acts 17. We discussed being relevant to the world we live in, in order to effectively get our message out. Let me clarify the do’s and don’t’s of this statement. We are to reach the world by being relevant to the “culture”. We are not to CONFORM to the culture.
We are not called to the extremes of being either bombshell Christians who are lenient with culture and do not stand up for its evil monstrosities (one of many). We are also not to supposed to go out and conquer the world top-down and be Christian nationalists.
As John 17:18 says, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” we are sent into the world. However, we are sent as sacred, sanctified people.
Romans 10:15 – “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
We as the church must be the purifying River that flows and heals our world. We must not restrict its flow with legalistic concepts or with being disgruntle and not unified!
Acts 17:2-3 show that Paul took his time (three sabbaths) and used what they knew as a building block. For example, with the Jews, he showed them out of the Old Testament, whereas with the Athenians he used their ignorance about the Unknown God and their own pagan poet to teach them. Further down in verse 6, it states that the men of Athens knew Paul and his group as “These that have turned the world upside down”. That is such a compliment! Yet, we don’t see the church turning the world upside down today. We must purge the River! (see post for backstory if you haven’t already). We will receive pushback. It is guaranteed. In verses 17 and 32 it states that Paul’s listeners were mocking him. Nonetheless, God’s word does not come back void (Isaiah 55:11). We are God’s body and His mouthpiece.
The call
Verse 16 called my attention. Scripture says, “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” Is this our response? Is the Holy Spirit stirred in us against the evil we see in our day? What do you get righteously upset and burdened for? Follow that!
For example, my soul is burdened for those with questions who seek to know answers but are rejected. One of my friend’s friends was an example, for they are searching and had loads of amazing questions, but they told me they had been rejected by other Christians who said you shouldn’t have questions. That IS Wrong! This is what burdens my heart, making it drop and cave in despair. Those who are searching and have questions. Many times it is a simple truth they have misunderstood. That is why I started this blog (see post). James 5:19-20 states:
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Convert does not mean to make them obey and bend their knee to the Bible but rather to “cause to return, to bring back” to the Truth and love of God. This is my calling and I must follow it and anything included in this realm. For now, it’s writing. Writing feeds minds and nurtures hearts. Writing is the most controversial way of conversation. It makes us think. Now, that is not to say that everything someone says is true. In fact, we are encouraged to check everything to verify its veracity. This is one thrill I receive from researching: I see the intertwined messages and the widespread facts as they are placed before my face to which I have been blind!
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:1-3
Check everything with the most historically accurate document that is free to anyone. Do you have compassion? Are you stirred? Chase that stirring: it is your calling that God has given you a gift for. Let Him use you.
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
Paul was intentional in spreading the Gospel. He didn’t just wait for the right moment; he sought it (Acts 17:2). Step in faith. Wade deeper in the River of the Holy Spirit’s calling. Be His mouthpiece and His body. Don’t rely on your wits to “convert” people. Be open and ready to give a defense (1 Peter 3:15) but don’t sit waiting for God to drop someone in your lap.
Feel free to comment below.
The Wanderer 
I enjoyed your post. I would like to comment on your last two sentences. First, I have never been successful at “converting” people with my own wits. Only when the Holy Spirit takes over and I yield have I been successful. Really its not my success but my obedience to the Holy Spirits leading. Second, I agree how God does not drop people onto our laps. We need to stand up from our seated position, walk outside our home and step into the world where the lost are so God can do His work through us. Thank you for your post. I look forward to the next one.
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