You Have A Voice

Not long ago I had the pleasure of exploring the book of Acts with some good folks. It’s one thing to read something on your own, it’s a lot of fun to open things up for others to share.

Now the clue is in the name of the book. Acts suggests it’s about things people did. It’s a record of what happened.

What emerged in conversation, however, was the degree to which this book is about voices and what people say. What’s particularly intriguing is the number of occasions where someone filled with the Holy Spirit begins to speak. Whether Peter or Stephen or whoever, the Spirit within leads to words coming out.

Indeed the fuss at Pentecost was folks from diverse backgrounds hearing people speak in their language. Not only were they speaking, but what they were talking about was captivating.

Recently I watched a documentary that followed a writer/actress preparing to sing at a famous jazz club. She wasn’t noted for her singing, but had in the past done a spot of gigging. She loved jazz. Yet this was beyond her comfort zone.

As I watched, I noted how a professional jazz singer encouraged her to find her own voice and make the song her own. That often meant going off script sometimes and venturing into new areas of what had been familiar songs.

The actress completed the task and performed well. What helped was how relaxed she appeared just being her rather than imitating her heroes.

So what does Spirit filled folks have to do with an actress doing jazz?

In the singing thing I saw the importance of using your voice. Pentecost caused a fuss and subsequent development as men and women as filled with the Spirit spoke as God directed.

Jesus-followers should be folks known for using their voice. Just as our Example spoke and demonstrated, so every believer has something to say. Every believer.

That’s not about preaching or being an eloquent speaker. That’s not about having prepared a five-point presentation with accurate scripture references and defining terms in Aramaic and Greek.

It’s discovering your voice as inspired by the Spirit – your voice in a phone call, whilst preparing the meal, cleaning the toilet, in a chat over a cup of … your preferred beverage, in a group meeting – and sure in a sermon or teaching session.

Church is the community to find that voice. Discover how we are edified and tremendously blessed when we use that voice God gave us. Not only us in the community of faith, but those wandering around waiting to hear that clarity that only comes from humble, Spirit-filled, Christ-proclaimers.

You have a voice. For God’s sake use it.

(Photo by Zach Guinta on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden