Dec 16, 2002

While meditating on the cross of Christ and studying First Corinthians, the Lord suddenly spoke this to me:

"Words are cheap unless there has been a price paid to say them!"

Words are important. Words are the overflow of what truly exists within the human heart. Words hold creative power. God watches over His words to perform and fulfill them. Words change the atmosphere with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. (1 Corinthians 2:4)

Words are cheap unless there has been a price to say them. What is the price? The cross of Christ must be worked in and through a person's life. As God establishes His apostles and prophets throughout the earth today, the power of their words holds great significance. For words spoken through these men and women of God must be backed up by the power of the cross that is substantially worked in and through their lives day by day. .

God began to show me in Scripture that He is placing a great emphasis on anointing our words with a demonstration and power in the Holy Spirit so that people's faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. The message of the cross will resound throughout the true apostles and prophets of God as they sound forth the words of Christ Jesus as His life is lived through each one. These words will resonate from each life that is submitted to the message of the cross which is humility, submission, and obedience. These inner qualities are essential for God's power to be established within each apostolic and prophetic life. This goes beyond self-proclaimed titles, which are built on a need for reputation, honor and esteem from man.

A divine commissioning will take place by the hand of God when God sees that the cross of Christ has been worked through our lives. Until then, we will continue to proclaim without much of a visible demonstration of power issuing forth from our proclamation.

I sensed a soberness from the Lord as I read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Paul shows forth the heart of a true apostle.

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (NIV)

This is the heart cry of a true apostle. God is not looking for persuasive words or excellence of speech to captivate the heart of man based on man's wisdom. He is looking for words that flow out of lives that have been crucified to all self-interests.

1 Cor 2:2 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (NIV)

Paul determined to know nothing except what he discerned to be the outworking of the cross in a person's life or the life of a church congregation. The cross of Christ, worked in and through Paul's life, related to the cross in another's life. A bonding in the Spirit one to another occurred on a sure foundation of the cross. First, God to man and then man to man. He wanted to know nothing about them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This is solid ground for the apostolic to build upon.

The cross is not just a meeting place for procuring our salvation. It is a gathering place where we meet again and again to fellowship and to evaluate how much of eternity has been worked through our lives.

The cross must be a daily meeting place for those called to the apostolic and prophetic office. It is a place of empowerment, identity, authority, and intimacy. It is a place where hearts are purged and purified so that the overflow of words will come forth in power to shake nations and change lives. Why is there a lack of power in the church even with apostles and prophets emerging on the scene? There is a lack of the cross being forged within individual lives. When Christ is lifted up in each life, all men shall be drawn to Him, not our personalities, great ministries or human endeavors. It is about Jesus.

Then I heard the Lord speak these words:

"To expound upon, convey, and relate the mysteries of the Kingdom, one must return to a clear revelation of My cross. The foolishness of this message and the simplicity of this message goes far beyond what man's words can even hope to accomplish. For I have ordained it so."

1 Cor 1:18 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

"For My words are truth and truth pierces the darkness. Sound forth My words that overflow from the cross being worked in and through your life. Then the world shall see a demonstration of the Spirit and of power as you go forth into the darkness that will shake nations."

Heb 4:12 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)

"The darkness awaits you. Sound forth My words from lives dead to themselves but alive to Me. You shall then see the light of My truth explode in your midst with signs and wonders. Words filled with the power of the cross will cast down everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of My Son - the Living Word! Then you shall perceive the Kingdom is indeed in your midst."