You talkin' to me?
God doesn't waste words
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (John 11:47-52)
He thinks he is unpacking a slick political move to maintain the status quo, but the High Priest is actually speaking for God. The Gospel tells us that he did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied… The Priest’s assertion that killing off Jesus would prevent social unrest was actually God’s proclamation that Jesus’ death would bring salvation to the world.
God puts words into the world with a purpose, even overriding the intent of the speaker. The High Priest Caiaphas is one example; the Apostle Paul tells us of Christian preachers with bad motives who nonetheless spoke what God wanted:
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18)
God’s love for His people is such that even corrupt ministers, while bringing judgment upon themselves, will not be able to deny the blessings of the Gospel to the faithful. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion include,
XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacraments.
Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith, and rightly, do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men…
God does not waste words. Isaiah prophesied (that is, spoke for God), For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (55:10-11)
God made sure that Samuel’s prophesies were effective, going out like arrows or bullets that did not miss. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:19)
Those of us who have been blessed to preach for the Lord know that some sermons we thought to be our best efforts were too full of our own stylings, while some of the one’s we thought to be thin reached people in significant ways. We serve best when we let the Word do the talking.
Likewise people who hear or read the Word and don’t immediately understand can later discover themselves favored by God’s purpose. God gives the Holy Spirit to teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)
Preaching, teaching, hearing, studying — take heart in God’s loving purpose at work in your life. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) You will be blessed to know how the Word was fulfilled in your life.
We perhaps preach best through our actions. As a newly minted deacon [long, long ago in a place far, far away] a wise priest counseled me in words I have never begotten. He said that no one would remember any sermon I preached or teaching I offered. What they would remember was, was I there when they needed me? When they were sick, when a child was being married, when a loved one was dying, when a funeral was in order? Sometimes an old event will flash into memory out of nowhere and I will wonder, did I give me best?