CHARISSA CHEONG reflects on our call to share God’s Word with others…
London, UK
Something to share? PICTURE: Tim Foster/Unsplash
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the Earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)
When God speaks, stuff happens.
He’s the One who spoke the universe into existence. If we flick through the Bible, we see example after example of situations where God said something would happen…and it did. I’m sure that if many of us flicked back through our own catalogue of memories, we’d also be able to pick out plenty of examples of God making good on His word to us.
“[M]any of us are afraid to speak out about Jesus and be His ambassadors and spokespeople on the earth. I’m very much including myself here. Though I’m trying to step out more in sharing messages that God has put on my heart for other people, I’ve still felt hesitant and fearful about speaking about Jesus on many occasions.”
Yet, as the church, many of us are afraid to speak out about Jesus and be His ambassadors and spokespeople on the earth. I’m very much including myself here. Though I’m trying to step out more in sharing messages that God has put on my heart for other people, I’ve still felt hesitant and fearful about speaking about Jesus on many occasions.
Perhaps some of us have had moments where we’ve tried to pray with someone or share a word of encouragement with them and have felt that it didn’t go so well. Maybe don’t think we’ve ever heard God speak to us about a message to give someone else, or maybe there are other reasons we’re reluctant to speak out.
Recently, I’ve been very encouraged by this verse in Isaiah 55, because it shows me how incredibly competent the Lord is at reaching people with His words. When He speaks a word, it “always produces fruit”. In the NIV translation, it says the Lord’s words will not return to Him empty. By that logic, when God speaks through His people, His words produce a harvest. It doesn’t matter if the person delivering God’s message feels shy, or if the person on the receiving end doesn’t seem to understand the message in the moment. We can trust that when God speaks, His words will always produce fruit.
This is because His words are life. In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus is the Word who existed at the beginning, and that in Him was life (John 1:1,4). Wherever God’s word is spoken, life is birthed. Just like the rain which comes down and causes grain to grow, Jesus is speaking life over our world. His voice is like the sound of rushing waters (Revelation 1:15) and there are oceans of possibilities of what He can do to transform humanity.
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I’m increasingly learning that God is looking for people who are willing to opt-in and say what He wants said. He hasn’t left us to work out how to share His word with people all on our own. Instead, He is longing to speak to us and to impart words of wisdom and revelation to us to share with those around us. The more willing we are to step out, the more we see those words sprouting into life in our communities.
When I think about how encouraged I’ve been by timely prophetic words shared with me by friends or by a Bible verse that I’ve come across that’s spoken directly into a situation I’m facing, I’m utterly convinced that God is eager to speak to His people about matters that concern us and concern the world around us.
The Lord sees the reasons why you may be scared about speaking out for Him, but I believe He also wants you to know you’re not alone in this endeavour. If you feel incompetent ad ill-equipped to share God’s words, know that our very competent, powerful, and loving God desires to speak to you and share His truth for the world with you.
He knows exactly what to say to the people you care about and pass by on the streets, and if you’ll open your heart to listening out for it, you’ll begin to hear Him whispering words of life that will open up floodgates of opportunities for communities, nations, and lives to be transformed. His words, spoken through you, will always produce fruit, whether you see it in the moment or not.
