Meaningless Words

[Chad]

Meaningless Words
A.W. Tozer

At the risk of shocking some tender-minded persons, I venture to list here a few words and phrases that to millions of evangelical Christians have no longer an identifiable content and are used merely as religious sounds without any relation to reality. They have meaning, and they are good and sacred words, but they have no meaning as used by the speaker and as heard by the listener in the average religious gathering. Here they are: victory, heart and life, all out for God, to the glory of God, receive a blessing, conviction, faith, revival, consecration, the fullness of God, by the grace of God, on fire for God, born again, filled with the Spirit, hallelujah, accept Christ, the will of God, joy and peace, following the Lord--and there are scores of others.

We have reared a temple of religious words comfortably disassociated from reality. And we will soon stand before that just and gentle Monarch who told us that we should give an account of every idle word. God have mercy on us.

 

[Brother Mike]

Catch Phrases..............

Being guilty at various times for those things mentioned above. I would suggest, that from someone that knows the word and helping others with the power of the Word of God. The responsibility would then be placed onto the one hearing them.

I for example have found that just telling someone that they have the victory today, does not register that in fact they are suppose to then look for a sudden outcome of change to their situation. The Words go in one ear, and out the other. They have no concept of expecting and believing something.

Even at a sales rally, many catch phrases are used...."We are on fire." and though on the outside we see a response with clapping a cheer's it does not register on a deeper emotional level. Some sales prep rally, different day.

Telling someone to have faith in God, makes sense to someone, they will mentally asses that they do have faith in God, and even tell you they do have faith in God... but that does not invoke a reality to them that keeps them from Worrying, or speaking against what they really would like from God.

Someone still down, depressed, saying things like they Hope God does something, is a clear indication they have no faith, and do not even understand the concept. After all God may choose not to help them in some divine will of his that nobody can fathom.... Real faith.... NOT...

How about the Name of Jesus?? We just use the name all the time without regards to the fact that the Name of Jesus has authority over everything that has been given a name. In heaven and in earth.

Peter said in the name of Jesus, rise and walk to the crippled man at Gate beautiful. Peter reverenced the Name of Jesus and knew that the name being spoken in faith, and faith in that name would take authority over the mans condition of being crippled.

When Peter was asked by what authority is this man made whole, Peter said that no other name under Heaven given to men where we are Saved, protected and healed of disease.. (Thayer)

With that kind of authority, Power, and Glory, the Name of Jesus ought to invoke something very real and Powerful to us.

Jesus Is Lord.