11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV)
1 Peter 4:11
ESV - 11 Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God". (1 Cor. 10:13). Ephesians 4:29 says "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers". In other words as representative of God, when we speak we should speak only that which gives God the glory. Bear in mind the disease of gossip and unedifying words destroys a church, leaving the church to spend more time on damage control than on ministry. As Believers and children of God we are to be good stewards of God's grace. As we received the gifts of God we are to speak or minister the same to one another. When a Believer speaks we should therefore speak as an ORACLE of God, that is. As God gives us utterances, as a messenger of God; speak as God instructs us through the Holy Spirit, so that God will be glorified. In other words as an ORACLE of God we are a medium or agency of divine revelation, a response by or on behalf of God speaking only His Words. Col. 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another------------------with grace in your hearts to the Lord". Therefore, as ORACLES of God we have to do as 1 Thess. 5:11 says, encourage each other and build up one another, even as also ye, are doing.
In Exodus 19 Moses went up Mount Sinai to God. There GOD spoke to him and told him what to say to the children of Israel. Stephen's address in Acts chapter 7:38, "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him...and with our fathers, the one who received the living ORACLES to give to us, whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected." In Romans 3:2, Paul says that the Jew has a huge advantage, because the ORACLES were given to the nation of Israel. The ORACLES are the entire Old Testament, The Bible! This includes the Law, the Prophets, the covenants. He is affirming that the words of the Apostles is true. Hebrews 5:12, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ORACLES of God..." This truth is basic to life for all people. All who teach are admonished in 1Peter 4:11, (that is God's truth) to use The Word and rely on God's power to be effective. The Bible stands and always will as the Way to live abundantly, and eternally. Thank God for the Gift.
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