18/09/2013 - PURE LANGUAGE

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 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord.

Zephaniah 3:9

It is impossible to do God’s work with unclean language. In the new Testament, when prophet Isaiah received the Lord’s mission, he saw one of the seraphim taking a live coal from the altar with tongs and touching his mouth with it saying that his iniquity had been taken away (Isaiah 6:6-7). The New Testament, in turn, shows that the name of Jesus is exceedingly holy (Philippians 2:9-10). Therefore, our mouth must be purified for us to call on His name; otherwise the invocation will not produce the desired effect.

How will the Lord touch all people’s mouths? Christ said that only Peter’s feet needed to be cleaned because he had already bathed (John 13:9-10). What did the Master use to clean Peter and the others since their lips were not touched by coals taken from the altar? Jesus touched them when they heard the Gospel and believed. They listened to the Word of faith, which purifies us completely.

What basic difference distinguishes us from the preachers of the Old Testament? They did not preach about faith. It was Jesus who started talking about faith. The servants of God at that time received it in order to fulfill a mission, but not the way we receive it today. When it is given to us we do not even need to ask the Lord if we can do His work for faith allows us to use the holy Name of Jesus.

While praying to the Father, Jesus said that He came to make people know the name of the Lord, He also said that they would know Him even more (John 17:26). Peter said that faith comes by the Name of Jesus, who healed the paralytic at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:16). Our primary mission should therefore be to fill our hearts with faith because then we will do the best for people.

Faith enables us to face the worst obstacles and overcome them. It gives us the strength to heal the sick, undo unfavorable circumstances and create situations through which people will see God’s work. But where are the miracles as wrought by Jesus and the apostles today? Well, if in our meetings we do not arouse faith in people’s hearts, Jesus will be not be present and the Lord will not be pleased (Heb. 11:6).

We must do what Paul did in the pagan city of Lystra. As was his custom everywhere, he did not care to do anything else but preach the Word that produces faith. There sat a man who was a cripple from his mother’s womb. However, in order to receive the Word taught by Paul, he was filled with faith. So the apostle ordered him to stand up straight and he was healed (Acts 14:8-10)!

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares