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Speak Only When Spoken To
Speak Only When Spoken To
By Allen Edge
Back in the day, my day, that is the day of rotary telephones and busy signals and only three television network channels that turned to snow at 12:00AM; back in this day parents and elders would admonish children to only speak when spoken to when they were in the presence of adults. Although no formal explanation was given for this censorship, I can only imagine that this directive was given in order to minimize the chances of a child saying something that would embarrass the parent and/or family. Also, children asserting themselves among adults were considered forward and disrespectful.
A misspeak or embarrassing word is always possible when one speaks to an issue that they have little or no first hand knowledge about. Imagine adults talking about the high price of bread, meat, and vegetables when a self assured seven year old interrupts the conversation and advises these slow witted adults to invest in oatmeal cookies, Mary Janes, Nutchews, and Cherry Drops (2 for a penny) instead and thereby experience a substantial savings. The child is, of course, speaking from their limited experience and under developed value system. The child cannot even spell "Vitamins or Nutrition". Nor does the child have the perspective of the long term effects of food choices or care. So it is better that the child remain silent in this advanced communication until asked to speak on a subject that they can best respond to effectively.
While we Levites are ministers of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, we are still housed in a human body. We are housed in a flesh body that is at odds with the spiritual realm and paradigm. The flesh is at odds with the things of God. It is written: "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Romans 8:5-8) We are therefore subject to fleshly expressions from a fleshly point of view. With enough intelligence and study, we can even express fleshly stuff and make it sound like spiritual stuff. It is, therefore, important that we intentionally pursue the unleavened rhema word of God. How is this done? I have a few suggestions.
It is said about computers that "garbage in, garbage out". Regardless of the computer's ability to accumulate and access tons of information, it can only regurgitate what has been programmed in it. So it is with the human mind and spirit. It is written: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalms 1:1-3) What we expose ourselves to on a consistent basis will affect our thinking and behavior. Also, consistent time spent in the word of God will familiarize us with His voice. God will not contradict Himself or His word. It is written: "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6)
Fasting is very effective when it comes to tuning into the Spirit of God. Fasting does not merely refer to food. Cessation from the overload of sensory stimuli that we all come in contact with on a daily basis, whether it's television, noises, or physical touch, will heighten our spiritual sensitivity. God's voice is speaking to us, but we can't hear it over the cacophony of sensory screaming. Try being silent for an extended period of time during your devotion time. You'll be amazed at what you might hear.
Also, expose yourself to the artistic expression of other Levites who hear from God. It is written: "After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you." (1st Samuel 10:5-7)
Finally, we must declare ourselves open to the voice of God and willing to obey His voice without hesitation or admixture. Believe it or not, there are artists who have not professed Christ as their savior, but are used by God because they are open to His spirit and act on His impressions without hesitation, regardless of what others think. While they have not formally recognized who God is or Jesus, their ready obedience tells God that they can be trusted with His precious rhema. It is written: "But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).
How many times have you received an impression from God, but edited it or rejected it based upon your limited understanding or because the magnitude of the vision was just too big for you to grasp? Just as we make a decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must make a decision to hear and obey.
The human specie is designed to hear first and then speak. We can only repeat what we hear. Levites, please join me in a vow today to speak only when spoken to. Selah.
(All Rights Reserved)
By Allen Edge
Back in the day, my day, that is the day of rotary telephones and busy signals and only three television network channels that turned to snow at 12:00AM; back in this day parents and elders would admonish children to only speak when spoken to when they were in the presence of adults. Although no formal explanation was given for this censorship, I can only imagine that this directive was given in order to minimize the chances of a child saying something that would embarrass the parent and/or family. Also, children asserting themselves among adults were considered forward and disrespectful.
A misspeak or embarrassing word is always possible when one speaks to an issue that they have little or no first hand knowledge about. Imagine adults talking about the high price of bread, meat, and vegetables when a self assured seven year old interrupts the conversation and advises these slow witted adults to invest in oatmeal cookies, Mary Janes, Nutchews, and Cherry Drops (2 for a penny) instead and thereby experience a substantial savings. The child is, of course, speaking from their limited experience and under developed value system. The child cannot even spell "Vitamins or Nutrition". Nor does the child have the perspective of the long term effects of food choices or care. So it is better that the child remain silent in this advanced communication until asked to speak on a subject that they can best respond to effectively.
While we Levites are ministers of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, we are still housed in a human body. We are housed in a flesh body that is at odds with the spiritual realm and paradigm. The flesh is at odds with the things of God. It is written: "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Romans 8:5-8) We are therefore subject to fleshly expressions from a fleshly point of view. With enough intelligence and study, we can even express fleshly stuff and make it sound like spiritual stuff. It is, therefore, important that we intentionally pursue the unleavened rhema word of God. How is this done? I have a few suggestions.
It is said about computers that "garbage in, garbage out". Regardless of the computer's ability to accumulate and access tons of information, it can only regurgitate what has been programmed in it. So it is with the human mind and spirit. It is written: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalms 1:1-3) What we expose ourselves to on a consistent basis will affect our thinking and behavior. Also, consistent time spent in the word of God will familiarize us with His voice. God will not contradict Himself or His word. It is written: "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6)
Fasting is very effective when it comes to tuning into the Spirit of God. Fasting does not merely refer to food. Cessation from the overload of sensory stimuli that we all come in contact with on a daily basis, whether it's television, noises, or physical touch, will heighten our spiritual sensitivity. God's voice is speaking to us, but we can't hear it over the cacophony of sensory screaming. Try being silent for an extended period of time during your devotion time. You'll be amazed at what you might hear.
Also, expose yourself to the artistic expression of other Levites who hear from God. It is written: "After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you." (1st Samuel 10:5-7)
Finally, we must declare ourselves open to the voice of God and willing to obey His voice without hesitation or admixture. Believe it or not, there are artists who have not professed Christ as their savior, but are used by God because they are open to His spirit and act on His impressions without hesitation, regardless of what others think. While they have not formally recognized who God is or Jesus, their ready obedience tells God that they can be trusted with His precious rhema. It is written: "But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).
How many times have you received an impression from God, but edited it or rejected it based upon your limited understanding or because the magnitude of the vision was just too big for you to grasp? Just as we make a decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must make a decision to hear and obey.
The human specie is designed to hear first and then speak. We can only repeat what we hear. Levites, please join me in a vow today to speak only when spoken to. Selah.
(All Rights Reserved)
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