Every so often I have a Sunday morning experience that I am quite certain is not unique to me. I call it the Yes But. Anyone who preaches on a regular basis has probably observed the Yes But at some point in their ministry.
Sound familiar?
Before you decide I'm being overly critical of the Yes But, though, let me finish. I have discovered that the Yes But can teach me a great deal about the words I just spoke.
Sometimes, when confronted by the Yes But, I find myself feeling defensive. I immediately begin planning my response. I look for ways to show the Yes Butter that they are clearly in the wrong.
You can be certain that this response clearly indicates that the words I just preached were not God's, they were my own.
The more defensive I am of the words I preach, the more likely it is that they reflect my ideas, not God's.
Sometimes, though, when confronted with the Yes But, I don't feel the least bit defensive. Sometimes I feel quite peaceful, and sometimes, I have found myself feeling a genuine concern for the spiritual journey of the person speaking to me. When I don't feel the need to defend my words, it is likely that they were really Gods words.
The beauty of speaking the word of God is that I never have to defend myself. As long as I can say, "I am simply preaching directly from the Word of God", I never have to worry about the Yes But. I can always say, "you don't have to agree with me, but please make sure you aren't disagreeing with God."
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