Jesus was not an orator but a man filled with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate God’s Passion, Love, and Righteousness. It is often manifested when by the Spirit there is Righteous indignation that wells up inside of the body. Godly communication is not only for a harmonious relationship between family, and friends but for Righteousness sake. For when as the Body of Christ we speak to what is the yes and no of our circles and to the world on a whole; it is Godly Passion, Love, and Righteousness being expressed into action. The Bible fervently tells us about speaking up whether by vocalization or by prayer for we must communicate to the realities of our call. Godly communication is to effect change and is done to the hearing of the Body and world and also to the spirits that are required to bring about our communications. We speak with intent and purpose or else we are leaving it to Satan to frame our communications. I learned about a Christian marriage where there was verbal abuse so much so that fear had begun to dominate the atmosphere. The party that was suffering only stated the abuse but did not offer any solution to the dilemma. They remained stagnant with this problem rather than addressing it both physically and Spiritually. The Bible tells us we are “Our brother’s keeper” and “To encourage as well as admonish one another”. We must do this with wisdom under the knowledge and understanding of the Word and the Spirit. In other words, we are to communicate!
Selah.
Gen. 1:26, Ps. 37:30, Prob. 15, Eph. 4; 29, Col. 4:6.
There is one type of communication that God demands and everyone in the Body ought to respect and apply in their daily lives regardless of the world pressures. It must be precise, clear and direct. God and Jesus are not known for any political culture nor any social grace of cryptic conversations. Yes; Jesus used parables as metaphors but only to the ignorant. Those who were not ready, or required for the Revelation of Truth because of their own unspiritual minds. This is why the Word tells us including the Parable of the seed that many will not receive the Truth because of how the heard by their perception and how they treasured it. God through the prophets did the same thing but with the Spirit, and many including non-prophets were able to comprehend these messages and pictures; including Joseph who in turn gave the king detailed information of his dreams thus preparing them for what was to come. This is effective and efficient communication!
The Study Series
*archives*
It takes at least two to tango! But if one party is not participating, then it makes it harder to grow and mature as Paul directs us to do and is why many in the Body has built their foundation of Christ on unsuitable ground. Like a marriage or rather a covenant; each person must give a 100 percent of effort to establish, secure, and maintain communication that builds the relationship with understanding, appreciation, and strength. To achieve effective communication; we must be willing to bear the trials and tribulations of it. For only by practice will it become valuable for the past, present, and future. Righteous communication is never about an evil device of manipulation but states only facts, Truth and the whole of it. This is not to be confused with we use the wisdom of non-disclosure of withholding a particular fact that is related to the truth of a matter. For by the intent we use this tool will we be responsible for the outcome. When for protection of the innocent; we have God's Grace but when done with pride as in jealousy or covertness; we have God's judgment.
God said, “My words do not return to me void”. Not even God can take them back! He does not apologize for miscommunications because His approach is to be precise for the effectiveness of them. Consider; how the world has inverted this example and command. Some parents call their children idiots or clumsy. Some teachers do the same. And some pastors only preach the redemption of love forgetting or deleting the other equally requirements of forsaking sin and walking in Righteousness. How does Faith come? By hearing! The output of Faith is the action which starts with our belief and cycles through based on what we hear and receive in the body, mind, and spirit. So when we speak what is really unrighteousness in its many forms; we are creating or rather crafting the results. It is what the communications gurus refer to as a positive or negative communication.
Now, as a mentor, I must admit I use negative communication to motivate based on how the individual human condition is, as a result of years of abusive communication. But this is done with the intent of elevating and must be used with the “sandwich method, closed or open”. What this means is the communication is orchestrated and not used for punitive effects. This can often leave me with a sense of guilt (which is not of God) but with the Spirit is it often proved to be the right thing to do at that time and particular context. Recently, I had to talk about effective communication using the sandwich method which left the hearer a bit bruised but I knew the next day it was the right thing to have done because by the Spirit the first Bible verse I was led to read confirmed the details of this discussion. Now, did I use that verse to tell the person I was right, by putting in their face. Absolutely not! The Spirit for effective and efficient communication, especially with the Body is to direct, appropriate and empower the individual. But it must be done with precision.
Now, some may say that the Bible doesn’t directly talk about several life issues including how communication is to be conducted. There are clear reprimands by the Spirit to do this where all communication is to leave the hearer with no doubt as to what is being conveyed in the simplest; most straightforward and to the point method stating, “Let all your yes, be yes and your no; no”. Without this approach we place ourselves into the deep ends of unrighteousness and leave the influence by innuendos and gossip, resulting in the judgment of our words. The words we speak are the evidence used both by God and satan to legally pass judgment on us. If you think Grace by itself removes the damage our words have caused in the Spirit and then manifests in the world; then we are failing to have the mind of Christ. We live in a physical world governed by Spiritual laws.
Apr. 16, 2018.
The Practical Christian Series.
Communication.
As Christians; there is only one side, color and flag that we must be a follower of. And that is to be Righteous! There is no way around it because God gave us the free will to choose and we can’t complain about it and what we have received based on what we have done in and through our lives. Some of us may have had a rough, depressing and damaging childhood. But God said and continues to say with desire, action, and Salvation; He will direct our steps towards Righteousness making the foundational and completed statement of Shalom; the Truth to; “Listen to Jesus”. For the Body; this is our example of how we are to conduct our lives and our communications. Jesus said, “As you see Him and what He does; it is God we see, hear and how things in this world are to be dealt with”. For this to happen in this world; we have to be walking in and after the Spirit. Communication requires the body, mind, and spirit.
Letters to the Faithful.
God’s use of this is in the standards that Jesus demonstrated. Because He did it with integrity. That our words are reflections of who we are and imitated in our actions. We can’t expect others to have effective communication if we don’t do it ourselves. How is effective communication conducted? It is based on the context that is being dealt with. What this means is that it cannot be a mechanical approach. Jesus demonstrated this based on the different groups of people He was addressing. With the curious; He used parables with patience. With the apostles; He used a direct approach with astonishment and with the Pharisees; He used criticism with judgment. There are other approaches but these are the prime examples of how we are to address the world; the Body and those in authority. Effective communication is not linked to tone or level of speech. Therefore it can be mild, optimal or harsh. What matters is that it is done if not only for the caveat of it being said. The purpose of effective communication is for the hearer to take responsibility. As the Bible says; “iron sharpens iron”. Effective communication is a two way street. So as much as one is talking; the same is observing, listening and adjusting the conversation. Getting things off your chest is not effective communication.
From the dawn of time it was the method to get things done and without it, many things would be a hit or miss. Yet, it is one of satan’s prime device used by him to get us in the Body to disrupt God’s plans and put us in disharmony with each other and the church. There can never be a victory without effective communication and until we treat it as how God expects it to be used there will always be miscommunications that lead to confusion and all manner of it including strife, suspicion, and grudges.