In Jeremiah 15:16-21, we see three conditions to be a spokesman for God.
First of all: "Lord, I found Your words, and Your word has become for me the joy and delight of my heart" (Jer. 15:16). God's word must be the joy and delight of your heart. Just like a businessman has joy in making money, your joy must be in getting into God's word. Many want to be preachers today, who do not spend time digging into God's word, and who don't look at God's word as the joy and delight of their hearts.
Secondly: "I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers" (Jer. 15:17). When other people in Judah were partying and having fun, Jeremiah went away by himself to be alone with God. If you don't discipline yourself to stay away from the jokers of this world, you can never be a spokesman for God. I am not saying that humour and clean jokes are wrong. But many Christians don't know where to stop in such matters - they are perpetual jokers. Jeremiah made sure that he didn't spend time with such people.
Thirdly: Jeremiah made a complaint to God in verse 18 saying, "Lord, why have You let me down? You have been to me like a deceptive stream, like unreliable water. I come to the stream thinking there is water there and there is none. You have let me down." The Lord said, "Don't ever say things like that to Me."the Lord rebuked Jeremiah for speaking words of unbelief (Jer. 15:19). God never lets us down. He is not like an unreliable stream. Jeremiah was depending on his feelings and looking at his circumstances. The Lord told him, "If you return to Me, and get rid of the habit of speaking worthless words (like the ones you just spoke - idle, useless words and words of unbelief) and ensure that you speak only precious words (of faith and goodness), then you will be My mouthpiece."
How many of you want to be God's mouthpiece? I am not talking about being a preacher of dead sermons that come from some book you read, but being God's spokesman. If you want to be that, then don't waste time in useless company, but redeem your time and spend it digging into God's Word. Let that be your delight. Get rid of useless conversation and speak words of faith always and only good words in all your conversation. Then the Lord will make you His mouth. There is no partiality with God.
Be the first to react on this!
Zac Poonen ( - Present)
God called brother Zac Poonen to a new work early on in his Christian experience. The movement is now called Christian Fellowship Churches where the New Covenant of New Testament Christianity is clearly preached.Brother Zac Poonen has written 25 books most of them being on the deeper Christian life. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages and have been circulated widely around the world. He clearly and passionately shares the narrow way of Christian discipleship that is neglected by so many modern preachers.
Recommends these books by Zac Poonen:
Through The Bible by Zac Poonen
The Final Triumph-A verse by verse study of the book of Revelation by Zac Poonen
Beauty for Ashes by Zac Poonen
Zac Poonen is a former Indian Naval Officer who has been in full time ministry in India for nearly 50 years as a Bible teacher and preacher. He holds responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He currently pastors the Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. His messages are available on audio and video format.
Like the other elders in his church, Zac Poonen also supports himself and his family through what he describes as "tent-making" and does not receive any salary for his services. He does not receive any royalties for any of his books, CDs or DVDs, that are published by Christian Fellowship Centre, Bangalore.