Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh!

I was encouraged as I continued to read Jesus’ words to the Jews in John chapter six.  In verse 63 the English Majority Text Version of the Bible reads, “It is the Spirit who makes alive, the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are (filled with the) spirit, and they are (filled with) life.” (parenthesis mine)  Jesus was pouring out His heart to these folks and they refused to accept the truth that He was speaking because they couldn’t see past their own experiences in life.

In the context of this event Jesus continually pointed to the Word and the Spirit as the only true and reliable source of life!  What encouraged me was the knowledge that every time I read and speak out the Word into my life, to my wife, and into the atmosphere in my home, I am releasing the life giving, revitalizing, invigorating energy of the Spirit of God!  Okay… stop what you’re doing, take a deep breath and exclaim with me: “WOW!”

If that fact doesn’t stop you in your tracks, put a smile on your face and put you in awe of God, then I think you better pinch yourself to see if you’re still alive!  There are times in my day when I’ll look at the symptoms I see in my wife’s eyes and I may want to cry or even throw the closest object I can get my hands on across the room, but then I’ll stop, remember what He has already accomplished for her healing and begin to speak out the Word of healing over her and me.  And SUDDENLY everything changes!  The way I feel, the way I see her and the expectations of my heart burst forth with His energy and life!

It really hurts me when I see some who are close to my wife as they wallow in hopelessness over her.  They remind me of those to whom Jesus was speaking to in John chapter six.  Even though they are mature Christians in many ways, for some reason they refuse to see His truth as the key that I see as setting my wife free from this attack of the enemy.  Instead of joy, peace and the light of His love and encouragement, I see hopelessness, darkness and a sadness that wants to suck the life out of them and from Piper and me as well!  (and you know… my wife can also sense it as she gets very quiet when in their presence.  The opposite is true when she is around people with the hope of God in their lives.  We spent a fantastic evening the other night with my cousin and her husband and Piper lit up like a bright light as my cousin held her hand and talked and laughed with her.  Piper is still smiling and more alert than in the past… and it’s been three days now!)

Well, I refuse to accept anything that might bring me down!  I choose life!  Besides, as Jesus stated according to the modern Message Bible in John chapter six, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me.  You’re not in charge here.  The Father who sent me is in charge.”  So… if He’s really in charge why not speak His words over the situation and let His Spirit and His life invigorate, heal, encourage and bring life into every situation!

It works for me… how about you?  Why waste your time and your breath?  Simply speak His life into yours, as well as to those around you!  As the words from TobyMac’s song “Speak Life” say:

“So speak Life, speak Life.

 To the deadest, darkest night.

 Speak Life, speak Life.

 When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.

 Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;

 Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,

 You speak love, you speak…

 You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh)”

 

Kinda puts a hop in your step doesn’t it!  I like it: Speak Life! Oh oh oh oh oh oh!  Have a great day!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself: “Oh! Oh! What or Whom am I expecting today?”