Wednesday, December 7, 2011
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I guess you could call it the two faces of Ian. See, Ian is a friend of mine who is the leader of a very effective youth ministry in New Zealand. And as you converse with him personally, well, it's obvious that he has a stutter. And sometimes it makes it difficult for him to complete his sentence, and I'm sure it's probably very frustrating for him. And while it's noticeable, it's not really that important to anybody. Actually he is a Godly, magnetic leader, stutter or not.
Now, the first time I ever saw him in a public setting was in front of 3,000 teenagers in a national youth convention in New Zealand. And to tell you the truth, I felt bad for Ian because I wondered how he was going to be able to communicate effectively to kids with that stutter. To my amazement I discovered that as he spoke there was no stutter. His speech was perfect! He preached and emceed that meeting flawlessly. That's what's so amazing about Ian. He stutters in private, but something happens when he has to speak well. He does...just like you.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Something Happens When You Have to Speak."
Our word for today from the Word of God is found in Luke 21:12-15. "They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors all on account of My name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict."
Well, the context of what Jesus is talking about here is really, you know, official persecution by the government, persecuting Christians. But I think it can be broadly applied to any believer who is in a pressure situation, especially where a Christian witness is involved. After all, God told Moses and Jeremiah He would give them the words to say. Here's His promise: "I will give you the words and the wisdom. You may not have it before you get there, but when you're in that situation, I will send through you the words and the wisdom that you need, and it will have an irresistible impact."
Well, when my friend Ian has to communicate and suddenly his stutter leaves him in those public situations, he seems to be beyond himself. He's carried beyond his usual limitations. You know, that's exactly what God wants to do for you and me. That has been the consistent experience of believers throughout the centuries.
Let's say you're going to be in a pressure situation where you're going to have to represent Christ, or where you really should. You say, "Well, I couldn't do that. I don't know what I'd say. It's easy for the fast talking guys like you, Ron. You can do that, but I can't talk like that." Well, God promises to take you outside of yourself and beyond your limitations. He'll write the script, and like an actor you'll just be delivering His words.
You may be in or you might be approaching a pressure situation where you feel inadequate to say what needs to be said. Well, Jesus said here, "Make up your mind not to worry about it." God wants to display His power by giving you words and wisdom that you don't even know you have. And you and the people who are listening to you will know it was God and not you.
My friend Ian has seen it happen again and again, and so will you. Something happens when you have to speak.