A Servant’s Heart

The Path to Christ-Like Service

A Devotional Study of
1 Peter 4: 7 – 11

By Kara H. Duckworth

Week 11: Serving Through Speaking

 Week 11: Serving Through Speaking
{Day 1} Words of God

Read: 1 Peter 4: 11a; Deuteronomy 8:3; John 12: 49- 50

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (NIV)

“…man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (NIV)

“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment –
what to say and what to speak.” (ESV)

As if you’re speaking the very words of God. Wow! What a tremendous weight of responsibility that is!

What would you do if you knew God were entrusting you with His words to communicate to His people?

If you were teaching Journalism or Business Administration in a public school or university, you wouldn’t really
need to worry about this. If you were recording a cover of “All You Need is Love” with your band, you wouldn’t
really need to worry about this. If you were reciting Keats at a poetry night, you wouldn’t really need to worry
about this. If you were performing Shakespeare in the park, you wouldn’t really need to worry about this.

But, if you find yourself addressing the body of Christ, well, that’s a different animal altogether. Your words will
carry the authority of God. Your words will be the food that sustains the body of Christ. And people will be
affected just as if they’ve heard from God as you speak. Hearers will be rebuked, corrected, encouraged, restored,
inspired, stirred, challenged, and filled with hope and life. That is some powerful stuff!

The gospel accounts tell us that Jesus spoke that way – with authority. And His audiences were astonished at His
manner. Jesus deflected the credit and said His authority came from God and that He spoke only what the Father
told Him to say. His pipeline to the Father was so direct and unhindered, that He could claim to know God’s words
and to share them exactly as God would say them.

If God has blessed you with a speaking gift, you can be assured that He will give you the words. He will give you the
authority. And the body of Christ will be nourished.

Ponder: Have you ever had an opportunity to address a group of believers as a

teacher, preacher, evangelist, prophet, exhorter, or counselor? Have you been
called upon to deliver a word of wisdom or knowledge? Did your words carry
the authority of God? How do you know?
Pray: Thank God for those in your ministry context who share their speaking
gifts. Ask Him to prepare their hearts for service for such a time as this.
Ask Him that their words will be His words and will carry His authority.

Week 11: Serving Through Speaking

{Day 2} Being Heard

Read: 1 Peter 4: 11a; Exodus 4: 10 – 16; 18: 13 – 27; 32: 15 – 20; 34: 1 - 9
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (NIV)

I’m not eloquent, Lord!

God got a bit irritated with Moses at that point. “Okay. You will still go back to Egypt to free my people; but I’ll use
your brother, Aaron, as your mouthpiece. My words will still be heard.”

I’m weary, Lord!

Moses could only counsel so many people and settle so many disputes in a day. His father-in-law, Jethro, saw his
weariness and advised that Moses add to his staff of judges/counselors. Moses followed Jethro’s advice and made
his workload much more manageable, while assuring that God’s words were still being heard in every situation.

I’m angry with these people, Lord!

Moses lost his temper when he descended from Mount Sinai with the words of God on stone tablets and he saw
the people worshiping an idol of gold. In his anger, he destroyed the first copy of God’s law. But God gave Moses
another chance. God’s words would still be heard.

I’m at the end, Lord!

Moses ascended Mount Nebo and God allowed him a look at the Promised Land before his death. But God’s words
would still be heard through his successor, Joshua.
God’s words will be revealed to His people. And He will use you if you’re not eloquent or if you’re flawed. And
when you’re weary, He’ll provide help. And when you’re at your end, He’ll provide a way for His words to go on.

Ponder: Have you ever given God excuses why you can’t exercise the gift He gave
you? Do you see yourself in any of these examples from the life of Moses?

Dream a Little: How does Moses’ story inspire you to use your gift?
Pray: Ask God to forgive you when you’ve made excuses instead of using your gift
and for when you’ve reacted in anger and impatience with other believers.
Ask Him for boldness in using your gift, for help where you need it, and for
a successor to train up.

Week 11: Serving Through Speaking

{Day 3} Rivalry

Read: 1 Peter 4: 11a; Exodus 15: 20 – 21; Numbers 12: 1 – 15; 1 Corinthians 12: 14 - 26

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (NIV)

“Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” (NIV)

Suppose a foot says, "I'm not a hand, and so I'm not part of the body." Wouldn't the foot still belong to the
body? (CEV)

She was called a prophetess. She had one of the speaking gifts. She served as a worship leader. She was a trusted advisor to
God’s chosen deliverer – her little brother, Moses.

As a young girl, Miriam had shown tremendous boldness and faith in approaching the Pharoah’s daughter about adopting the
beautiful Hebrew infant that washed up on her shore in his tiny boat. So concerned for the welfare of her baby brother, she
intervened to assure he was cared for.

Fast-forward 80 years until Miriam and Aaron reunite with Moses. Now, Moses has been called out by God to be the savior of
their people. Miriam, Aaron, and Moses lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. When Pharoah’s army is
drowned in the sea right before their eyes, Moses leads a spontaneous worship service, then Miriam leads the women in dancing
and song. In triumph, the three siblings work together beautifully to fulfill their God-ordained roles.

But something happens in the desert. Conditions are tough and patience grows thin. Aaron and Miriam get together to gossip and
gripe about their brother. Scripture doesn’t say who starts it, but because of her severe punishment, we have to assume it
originates with Miriam. What starts as a grumbling about a foreign sister-in-law, morphs into a full-blown jealous attack of
Moses’ more prominent position – the real crux of the problem.

“Look at me! I’m not getting the attention I deserve. Think about what I’ve done, too. If it weren’t for me, Moses would have
been drowned or murdered as a baby. Why does Moses get all the special treatment?”

God is all over it immediately. He calls all three siblings into His presence and asks the most sobering question: “Why weren’t
you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

Ouch! It’s so tempting to take shots at leaders – their appearance, their leadership style, their decisions. God’s Word is clear that
He places all leaders into their positions of authority; so, griping against leaders is taking shots at God also. It’s a serious offense.

But there’s more happening here. Miriam is observing Moses in the spotlight and she’s wanting that for herself. She’s trying to
tear Moses down in order to lift herself up. And God is not having it. He puts Miriam on a strict diet of humble pie. God strikes
her with leprosy, which, interestingly, He’s previously given Moses the miraculous ability to heal. So, Miriam’s punishment
starts with having to humble herself and ask her little brother to heal her. But God doesn’t feel that’s enough. She also has to go
sit in time-out for a week, during which time she thwarts the progress of the whole nation who have to wait until her sentence is
served. And during which she has some serious alone time to contemplate what she’s done.
Could God have given all three siblings equal gifts? Of course. But God gifted Moses and Aaron and Miriam according to what
the body needed. And it all worked beautifully as long as everyone played their part.

Ponder: Let’s get real honest. Has there ever been a time when you wondered why God didn’t give you
the gift He gave someone else?

Pray: Ask God to forgive you where you’ve been jealous of others’ gifts or opportunities to
exercise those gifts. Ask Him to forgive you of griping about leaders. Ask God to use you fully
in the gifting He gave you.

Week 11: Serving Through Speaking

{Day 4} Accountable

Read: 1 Peter 4: 11a; Exodus 32; Exodus 28: 1; Leviticus 10: 8 - 11

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (NIV)

“What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?” (HCS)

I don’t even know how this happened! I threw their gold into the fire and out came this calf!

Of all the defenses anyone has ever uttered, this has got to be one of the more outrageous.
While Moses was meeting with God on Mount Sinai, the Israelites panicked as if Moses had left them and as if he
weren’t coming back. Instantly, they reverted to the pagan rites they’d been saturated with in Egypt. With his
accountability partner gone, Aaron succumbed to group think. To mob rule.

You may remember that God had softened the hearts of the Egyptians toward the Hebrews as they began their
exodus. The Egyptians showered the Hebrews with gifts of gold and silver. So, now we know the use all that loot
was put to – Aaron had the brilliant idea of collecting it and forming it into an idol. Although he clearly put some
thought and skill into the crafting of the golden calf, he downplayed his part in it. He blamed the whole incident on
the evil intent of the people, as if his leadership could have made no difference.

Aaron, whose speaking gift had been used very skillfully to muster the Hebrew slaves to the call for freedom,
suddenly felt helpless in the face of these same people. Aaron, who had been given the unique opportunity to
accompany Moses into his meetings with God, suddenly acted as if he’d never heard the voice of God nor stood in
His presence.

Yet, even while Aaron formed the image that violated God’s first two commandments, God instructed Moses to
consecrate Aaron and his sons to the highest priestly office. In spite of Aaron’s serious lapse in judgment and
leadership, God graciously allowed him to serve as His chosen spokesperson and intercessor for His people.

What can we learn from Aaron’s example?

If you are in a position where you’re addressing the body with the words of God, make sure that you are
accountable, that you have a strong support system, and that you don’t lead by mob rule. With your speaking gift,
watch where you lead.

And, Praise God that He gives second chances.

Ponder: How can you gather an accountability group around you as you use your
speaking gift? How can you come alongside a brother or sister who is
exercising his or her speaking gift?

Pray: Ask God that He will mightily use speakers, singers, drama team,
facilitators, and small group leaders in your area of ministry. Ask Him to
provide a strong network of accountability for each.

Week 11: Serving Through Speaking

{Day 5} What’s Left to Say?

Read: 1 Peter 4: 11a; Hebrews 4: 12a; John 4: 10 - 14

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (NIV)

“For the word of God is alive and active.” (NIV)

“…and He would give you living water …In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up
within him for eternal life.” (NIV)

Have you ever been reading your Bible and come to a verse or a passage you didn’t understand? You may come
back to it later in the week or even years later and suddenly the meaning is opened up to you. It’s like playing a
video game where you’ve played for hours (or days) then suddenly, the next level is unlocked, and you can finally
proceed. Some experience in your life finally triggers that mechanism of understanding. Now, you can apply God’s
word in a whole new way. That, my friends, is the living and active word of God.

For thousands of years, believers have come to the well of God’s word to draw out some meaning, admonition,
direction, or inspiration. Countless speakers, pastors, teachers, writers, singers, and pilgrims have drawn sermons
and messages from the well of living water. You’d think it would be exhausted. But no matter how much is dipped
out and shared, it’s constantly replenished with fresh water that flows from God’s throne. There’s always something
new, tailored for each hearer. Wherever it goes, it brings life. It resists corruption. It will not be stopped.

What could be left to say?

It’s endless.

Ponder: Think of the hundreds of sermons and messages you’ve heard in your
lifetime. Think of the many times you’ve read the same passages of scripture.
Can you think of a time when you heard a message from a familiar passage (or
when you read a familiar passage) only to learn something new?

Pray: Ask God to use His spoken word to speak to you in new ways as you prepare
to minister.