Ephesians 6:19-20

"and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." ~ Ephesians 6:19-20

God has truly blessed me over the last two months by allowing me to speak at a number of churches and youth groups. It is always difficult for me to speak at a church that I am not familiar with. So many times I wrestle with, "What does God want me to say?" It is very easy for me to tell a number of stories and share encouraging moments from my life with a little bit of God's Word sprinkled in. At the beginning of August I read those two verses from Ephesians 6 and I came away very challenged by Paul's words.

Here's a man who is in prison and is facing many difficulties. He could likewise take the route that I have been tempted to do. Take the easy route...use existential stories to encourage...offer little challenge to the audience. Yet, Paul asked the Ephesians for both the ability to speak God's Word and the boldness to proclaim it without fear, doubt, or partiality. Martin Luther speaks in a similar tone:

"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ however boldly I may be professing Christ."

I came away very challenged to be a teacher who is biblical grounded, at times encouraging, but one who is not afraid to challenge myself and others with the Bible. The boldness that Paul prays for is the same I find myself constantly praying for. Being passive in teaching God's Word can come in a number of avenues. Fear of "going too deep", fear of being boring, or even the fear of preaching something that convicts not only the audience but the speaker. To teach from conviction is not hypocrisy but reality. Peter taught of faith and his faith wavered in the garden. Paul teaches of unity in the body but argued with Barnabas, could not reconcile, and the two went their separate ways. These teachings are not nullified because of such, but something that is better understood after the fact because of the conviction of one's shortcomings through the Holy Spirit.

Its interesting to note so many youth groups and churches pride themselves on being Biblically based. Even my seminary's core verse is 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". Its a remarkable verse that the modern youth group can leave two gaping holes in. We like to teach and train in righteousness. Yet we doubt, waver on, and even ignore Scripture that is critical or that corrects specific issues and sins within the body of Christ. We do not truly believe in the profitability of Scripture unless we use it for all these things: teaching, training, critical analysis, and correcting lacking traits. My prayer is that I and other teachers and ministers boldly (yet humbly) teach God's Word in spite of our fears of reprisal or inadequacy. The Gospel is an offense. Why should we expect otherwise?

1 Corinthians 12:7-8

"A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit" ~ 1 Corinthians 12:7-8

Paul follows his discussion on the variations of gifts and ministries within the body of Christ, to a discussion on the certain manifestations of the Spirit and what sort of fruit is produced by the Spirit in the life of the believer.

Verse 7 is an encouraging verse which reminds the believer that the Spirit is active and working in the life of the believer. The Spirit works in the sanctification of the believer, the equipping of the believer, and intercession are all works of the Spirit that are of benefit to the believer and to the body of Christ as a whole. The word "manifestation" is a continual verb, meaning that the Spirit is at constant and lasting work in my life. It is humbling knowing that this is a gracious gift of the Spirit...I have done nothing to attain such a gift. Yet not only my good is produced by His gifting but also "for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). God grants us these gifts as an encouragement and sign of His working but also to tend to His other sheep. This mutual blessing shapes the body of Christ and makes it stronger.

Verse 8 begins to talk about the different manifestations of the Spirit. This verse has a pair of somewhat similar gifts: wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom is referring to the one who has great insight into matters of theological doctrine. This would certainly the man who delves into the depths of Scripture and discern its meaning. Such a manifestation would be made up of the equipping to do such and a passion to pursue the depths of Scripture. The manifestation of knowledge is referring to an undestanding of life and how to apply God's Word to it. Where wisdom would be shown in Peter's Pentecost sermon or Paul on Mars Hill, knowledge is seen in action as Jesus and the disciples minister to the people or the setting up of the deacon ministry in Acts.

We often think of the gifting of the Spirit as an actual action that we can complete. Yet, in this verse we are reminded that those who seek to immerse themself and others in Scripture are men and women who the Spirit has set aside for such things.