As I sat down to prepare for a meeting the Lord directed me to a life verse that was given to me 10 years earlier. Now there’s nothing new in that, we all receive verses and words from the Lord, but He was specific in asking me to read it in another translation.
So I did. I looked up my life verse in this other translation and my aha moment came. This old message (scripture) told in this new way (another version) was prophesying future things to come in my life and ministry. Wow, That led me to thinking, do we need to change the way we communicate the message of Jesus? So that the current and future generations can understand and receive His words? Simply put do we know our Audience? And are we speaking their language so they can recognise, see and respond to Jesus’s invitation?
An aha on how you know you are speaking the generations language is you are to deliberately take time to listen to them speak and share their thoughts without interrupting. That’s how you get to know them. These thoughts hold revelation which could be game changer if we want to participate and enter into bringing transformation to our communities. If so we declare They will be a Generation of But We see and hear Jesus!
Before we can help bring transformation we need to understand the keys the Lord has spoken so we can activate them:
1. How we LISTEN, even do we listen? Ouch, sometimes this is hard to do, because there is so much going on in our life and the issues we face, that talking about stuff seems to make us and it feel better. But the Lord clearly said we will truly know where people are at, when we shut our mouths, give our voice a rest, put our opinions aside and tune in to listen to what is spoken and what is not. For in essence when we listen we hear the language they speak, and the culture they live in, and we receive an invitation to enter their world and how they see things. Read John 3 we see Jesus Teaches Nicodemus who is a Religious Leader of the Day but missing out the whole point God is relationship not rule keeping.
2. How we SPEAK? Let’s examine for a minute how do you speak when you first meet someone? Do you say hi and ask them questions or do you say hi and talk all about yourself? How do you speak? This is important and often we overlook it in the Body of Christ, it’s like the first impression rule which says within the first 5mins of meeting someone both of you will make a judgement on each other, so make the impression count. This way has easily been adopted and is the norm in the world. But for Christians should this be our way? What would Jesus do? Short answer is no, our view of a person is to choose to see them as the Lord sees them, not by the appearance presented, the situation or circumstance you meet them in. I challenge you, don’t let the first impression rule lead you, let Christ lead you.
3. So apart from listening which includes showing interest in them and what interests them. We need to watch the tone, and delivery of our voice when speaking to others. Have a read Luke 8:43-48 and remind yourself of this amazing Daughter who reached out in faith and received from God that day her miracle.
4. So again do you know your audience? Have you taken the time to get to know your audience? For this is key to the impact of what will happen to the message you have been given to share. Wow, knowing your audience is key to the effectiveness of Jesus message being shared and encountered. However most of us have experienced this result, of speaking of the right word at the right time, to the wrong audience totally equals the message falling to deaf ears and the seed not being planted. But take heart because if you have taken time to know your audience and built relationship, then you can guarantee t will be better received, get planted and be watered by God. Have a read up and remind yourself of the Miracle when Jesus Fed the Five Thousand in Matthew 14:13-21
5. Use their language. Remember language is not only dialect, but manner, volume, heart and character. Jesus was able to speak and reach everyone in this way. When He spoke they listened, received and went away encouraged with a testimony to share with others. I believe we can all operate in this way, through being compassionate, vulnerable and transparent, in other words we are authentic and original. Read John 4 where we see Jesus Talking with a Samaritan Woman.
If you want life and community transformation then all these points are important and crucial for us to take on.
When I was a Youth Pastor I remember being invited with the youth, to an evening talk on Relationships and sex by the Pastor. The message was good and relevant, but he lost the audience because of the way it was delivered, and because of confusion by the wording, result was message lost in translation, simply because he didn’t know his audience. We then spent hours trying to interpret and translate the message for these youth. As it was for the pastor I believe it can be the same for us, that when we communicate we don’t use their language or know how to reach our audience and connect on a heart level, which brings transformation, encounter and a yes to invitation of Jesus.
So how do we get to know our audience in life, work and ministry? How do we stop judging a book by its cover? How do we realise and live out that every situation, circumstance and person, which is our audience will be different?
We start at being flexible, we decide we will be flexible. We see this modelled for us in Jesus ministry in one scenario He is teaching one to one, then in the next scenario he is speaking to a large crowd, and in another scenario He is silently drawing in the sand.
But He like you has a SECRET WEAPON! Do you know what it is? It is access to The Father! For He know’s all and sees all. Wow! We like Jesus have 24/7 access to the Father to how He sees and all He knows. Because of this truth Jesus chose to put aside His own agenda, opinion, and wants, to do only what the Father said and say what the Father asked him to. Jesus modelled for us how we are too wait for the right moment, words and action. Guess what we can do the same! And if we do the same as Jesus did then we will be effective in knowing our audience, reaching their heart, and the Father will be a witness in all our conversations, words or messages.
Challenge Time! Grab space with the Lord, your journal and open our heart to hear from Him and record what He says.
1. We’re going to start with Personal Preparation. A while ago I wrote this How are you preparing your heart for the day? So let’s start there, use the link to go back and read the message and see the secrets to excel in this area http:// www.encounterministries.org.nz/uncategorized/how-are-you-preparing-your-heart- for-the-day/?preview=true&frame-nonce=e012d699f8
2. Now your prepared it’s Action Time. Will you consciously listen? This will be hard for many, but the rewards are so worth it.
3. Ask the Lord for His timing, words and direction. Then follow through with all He directs you to do.
4. Take time and allow the Lord to direct you in conversation, speed is not the goal, intimacy and hearing the Lord is the goal.
5. Give thank continually as He works through you.
6. Turn off your phone! Keep your appointments with Him don’t allow distractions, be
in the moment 100% present with Him.
I remember being in the middle of two battles, yet confidently knowing that God was fighting them for me so I could say yes to meeting with people and be totally present with them as they needed support. I can faithfully declare this truth He never let me down on these ocassions, by allowing me to be with my grandma when she passed away and providing for my wife when she needed to go to hospital. In both these circumstance He waited until my meetings were finished, then ordered my steps and completed the impossible.
Today go back and read in different translations the words David wrote in Proverbs 3:5-6
Hmm what about a corporate setting you wonder, do the above points fit? Yes, believe me they do whether you’re in a large crowd, at the pulpit, a table or in a conference room. The effectiveness your message, the whole service or the meeting all comes down to the same points, which all begin and end with listening to the Father and doing what He says and speaking what He says to say. This scripture started me writing this message.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (TPT)
“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.
Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. Avoid every appearance of evil.
Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The one who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in you”
Father would You lead, direct, and teach to us how to take this message and apply it to our lives, work and ministries. Show us how to reveal and declare You to this generation and future generations in a way that reaches hearts and allows our Neighbours, Community and Nation to be transformed through the word, message and witness of Jesus they hear. Lord would You help us to be a generation of good listeners. In Jesus name, amen
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Apostlic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
