What chance does the gospel have to be heard in a world that has become so competitive with waves of noise, each more flashy and entertaining? So many have closed their ears. How can we be God’s megaphone, speaking the truth in love, and get them to listen? Should we beat the world at its own game in order to be heard?
I. 1 Kings 19:1-18. After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, he becomes discouraged by Jezebel’s death threats and runs away. After refreshing him, God shows Elijah His power not in the wind, earthquake, or fire but in the gentle whisper. Then, God shows him that He works in our weaknesses. It’s the same with the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). God’s grace is as sufficient for us as it was Paul (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
II. Ephesians 4:11-16. Jesus, our Head, supplies us with truth that equips us to attain to unity and maturity in Him. This seems strange in the boisterous world that believes that truth is relative. But, the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, who speaks the truth in love. That truth, His Word, is a living and active, double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12-13) that we wield as part of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) as we wage war differently than the world (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
III. James 3:1-10. So, in our weaknesses, Jesus’ body, the church, supplies the tongue. What a difficulty this is with such an untamable appendage! Yet, speaking the truth in love, we reach the lost with a low whisper and grow up in Him, working together to build ourselves up. Much like an adolescent must choose healthy food for his various body parts to grow up correctly into his adult-sized head, so the church must commit to knowing and living out truth to grow up properly into Him.
It’s God’s power and work, but He entrusts His weak and fallible servants to speak His words of truth in love to lead the lost and strengthen the saved.