Understanding Our Voice: The Church and God’s Message

This is a vision from January 24, 2021.

I was getting ready for church this morning, talking with the Lord, praying, singing, listening to music. There has been a pressure around my heart, my spirit, the past few days, the past week. I was asking Him to reveal what was going on with me. I naturally assume it’s something wrong with me first, before interceding for others. Make of that what you will.

Then I began thinking about a recent revelation the Lord showed me.

A few weeks back I attended an online School of Worship, presented and taught by Salem Family Ministries. During one of the sessions, I had a vision of a hand over my mouth. It wasn’t my hand. It was the Lord’s hand. I thought He was keeping me from speaking, at first. But as I pressed into His Presence, the Holy Spirit revealed that it wasn’t the Father doing it. I was holding His hand over my mouth because I didn’t want to do it. I was too afraid to take it off my mouth!

Whoa!

Fast forward to today. I began thinking about this in relation my homework last night in the book/workbook, We Who Worship. Cheryl Salem shared a vision and, in a nutshell – get the book – people were unaware of what lurked beneath them (my interpretation). I began thinking about that and some other things on my mind when I flashed back to my revelation.

I didn’t want to speak.

BUT…

God gave me another interpretation of the same vision, only it wasn’t me; it was His Church. This time though, He reversed it. The Church had their hand on God’s mouth – in essence telling God to ‘be quiet’ because the church had something to say.

The Church doesn’t want God to speak right now in spirit & in truth. It’s sayin, “I got this, God. You just hush & be still.”

Oh my word! Oh my word!

Father, forgive us. Cleanse us. We are sinners. We have become a wicked generation. Lord, we repent, God. We repent. May our mouths be shut & Yours speak only in Your Church. Forgive us, Lord.

Oh, my Father. Forgive me.

The above is a vision and word from five years ago. I came across it the other day, and something in my spirit said to publish it.

Looking around the church landscape, there are a lot of people talking. Social media can give anyone a microphone or megaphone, right. There are a lot of people writing books and hosting podcasts and putting out new music projects.

Some with the help of AI and some not, but that’s a story for another day.

There is an oversaturation of Christian pundits. I call them pundits because what is coming out of their mouth is not building up or edifying the church. What they say isn’t about bringing Father glory.

It’s about them talking, not God. What they have to say is more important than what God has to say.

Think about it. Is there godly fruit coming from the lips of Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson? Is the wisdom of God that Proverbs so beautifully talks about dripping from their lips?

Let’s forget about nationally for a minute. Take a look at local churches around you. What’s coming out of pastors’ mouths? Take a look at yourself? What do you hear? Do you hear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? Do you hear about the love of Jesus toward all?

First, let’s make one thing clear about the love of God. Love does not equal acceptance. Why did God love the world so much that He sent His own Son to become the sacrifice and seal the covenant in blood?

Relationship.

Father wants relationship with all mankind. No matter where they are at. No matter what they have done. No matter what others have done to them. He wants a relationship with you and me.

As I have learned in the past five years since I wrote this, and even prior to it, our words, our sounds matter. Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

When you listen to people, they will reveal what is in their heart. That begs the question, “Is their heart led by the Holy Spirit?” Any who proclaim themselves a Christian and speak without being led by Holy Spirit, is what happens in the vision God gave me.

Their hand is over the mouth of God. “It’s okay, God. I got this.”

Father, please forgive us, your Church. We don’t got this, LORD. Our need for You is greater than ever. Forgive us for our idolatry. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness with the Blood of Jesus. Let our words to You and about You be honoring to Your ears. Let what we do honor You in Your sight. In Jesus’ name we ask this, Father. Amen.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” _{Matthew 12:36-37 (NKJV)}

***