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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for June 25, 2010
“Scarecrow in a Melon Patch”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Those foolish old tribes.
They worshiped sticks and stones and contraptions made by their own hands.
They cut down the tree, whittled on it a while, then put it up on the mantel and said, “There is my god.”
Seems silly, doesn’t it? But it wasn’t just some nutty backwoods weirdos. Listen to what Paul wrote about some church members in First Corinthians 12:2. “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.”
Now pick up on those last two words, “mute idols.”
That is a major weakness of idols – they don’t speak. They are mute.
What good is a god that doesn’t speak?
Habakkuk 2:18 says that they made “idols that cannot speak.”
Psalm 135 says, “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak…”
Jeremiah 10:5 says, “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak…”
The Bible paints a thick black line between idols and the real God, creator of the universe. And one major difference is that idols don’t speak, but God does.
Moses was well aware of this when God spoke to Him through the burning bush. God spoke to various people throughout the Old Testament.
And He spoke through people. Acts 3:21 says that God spoke “by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Second Peter 1:21 says that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:25 says that God spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of King David.
That’s God speaking, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of holy men of God.
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus told His disciples that something like this would happen to them. He said, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Well sure enough, the disciples were arrested, and they certainly spoke. So when they opened their mouths and words came out, was it the Spirit of God speaking through them?
Before Stephen was stoned, he delivered a powerful speech. Acts 6:10 says his enemies were not able to stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
In Second Corinthians 13:3, Paul made the audacious reference to Jesus Christ speaking through him.
In First Corinthians 2:13 Paul said that he and the others spoke “not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit…”
Okay, so God spoke through the Old Testament prophets, and through early Christians up to the apostle Paul. Then it ended there, right?
Ah! Some of you said yes, and some of you said no!
Well we know it didn’t end with Paul based on Paul’s own teachings.
But first, let’s go back to Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:17 he said this was taking place, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…”
Prophesy? What does that mean?
It means speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be speaking. In John 16:13 He said that when the Spirit of truth comes, “He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
Paul brings up two interesting points in First Corinthians 12. In verse two he brings up the old criticism of “mute idols.” Then by contrast he introduces this fascinating topic – people “…speaking by the Spirit of God…”
Then he talks about manifestations of the Spirit in the church, including prophecy as well as messages of wisdom and knowledge.
“But Doug, that all passed away. God doesn’t speak to us anymore.”
If that is true, then our God is mute, like the idols. Is that what you are saying?
But First Corinthians 14:39 says “…my brothers, be eager to prophesy…”
Romans 12:6 says some were given the gift of prophesying.
First Corinthians and Ephesians both say that God has placed prophets in the church.
What is a prophet? Someone who speaks under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
First Corinthians 14:31 says, “For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.”
“Doug, that is ridiculous. That is all past. There is no prophesying today.”
Well First Thessalonians 5 says, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.”
“But Doug, you are opening the door to all kinds of nonsense!”
Well First Thessalonians also says, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”
First Corinthians 14:29 says, “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.”
So yes, we must be wise and mature. We don’t accept every “word” as a word spoken through the Holy Spirit. And we definitely use the written Word, the Bible, as our foundation and authority upon which any other “word” must be tested.
But God, the real living God, is not like those mute idols! The Holy Spirit is alive within us, and He speaks. And He speaks not only to us, but He speaks through us to others.
I know this is a tricky area. I know there are charlatans out there, even liars and thieves. I know it’s easier to shy away from this than open up to it.
But this is the contrast.
The other so-called gods are mute, mere scarecrows in a melon patch.
But our God speaks, through His Holy Spirit, as He moves upon His people.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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