John 1:23 – “He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  NASB

As a preacher, it is the cry of my heart to be a “voice” for God, not an “echo” simply repeating what others have said.  The Christian Church has been saturated with preaching to the point that we are almost anesthetized and have built up an immunity to its effect.  We have heard it all so many times, it is commonplace to us and because it is too frequently without any demonstration of the Power of God it is just more words or theory to many.

When John the Baptist was asked who he was this was his response, “I am a voice…”  Years ago, in a time of frustration over the lack of visible results from the meetings in the church I cried out to the Lord in specific prayer.  I prayed, “LORD, help me be a voice, not an echo.” 

What I meant and mean by that is, I do not want to simply regurgitate what men before me, or my contemporaries are saying about God.  I wanted to ‘hear’ what God was saying to me and to the church and speak ‘for Him’ not simply ‘about Him.’  I want to be able to practically apply the biblical truths to life situations and see the presence and power of God manifest.  I want to ‘pull down strongholds.’  I want to see the fulfillment of Jesus’ words, “the works that I do you shall do…”  Forget, the greater works for the moment and simply focus on doing what He did and enforcing the Victory He won at the Cross.

It has long been the cry of my heart for Isaiah 61 to be a reality in my life.  I want that anointing.  I want to fulfill the declaration of Jesus in Luke 4 when He quoted this passage from Isaiah and declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He anointed me to…”  He then detailed what the Spirit of God had sent Him to do.  Preach the Gospel, release the captives, give sight to the blind (spiritual and natural), and to free the downtrodden proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord or God’s Jubilee.

 We learn in Romans 10:17 that faith, that sometimes elusive mysterious thing in the minds of many Christians comes by hearing.  We learn that true hearing or spiritual hearing comes through the Word of Christ.  Earlier in that chapter, we are informed that salvation, deliverance, healing, and God’s redemptive power comes to those who hear. 

In Romans 10:14, the apostle asks, “How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”  Those questions ignited a spark that has become a raging fire in my heart.  I want to be a VOICE so people can hear, believe, receive, and be set free!  Echoes do not set people free, but voices do!  Echoes repeat old clichés and doctrines, that are wonderful and powerful if believed and received, but voices become a ‘Rhema’ to the soul igniting the fire of faith.

I have no desire to simply talk ‘about’ God, I want to see the fulfillment of Jesus’ instruction regarding prayer.  I want to see, God’s Kingdom come into my world, my life, and my presence.  I want His will to be done on this earth as it is in heaven and to be the prevailing determination of everything I am, and I do. 

I pray that God will help all of us to become Voices for Him and say what we hear Him saying and do what we see Him doing.  Taking His Word and applying it to our lives and situations with expectation.

May the LORD bless you and keep you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!