Words Fitly Spoken

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Prov. 25:11), or perhaps a little closer to the Hebrew, "like apples of gold sculptured against a background of silver." The idea is that an arrow which hits the target is better than a dozen arrows which fall short.

One of the happiest things that a minister of the Gospel can hear is that a word he has spoken in his sermon, when totally unconscious of the need of an individual, has been the exact word needed for an individual.

Some time ago in Schenectady, N.Y., before an audience which included many young engineers from General Electric, I spoke of feeding upon Christ, pointing out that the physical action of today was the result of last week's food, and that the spiritual action in any life is the result of previous feeding upon Christ. I said, "For example, a young man trained as an engineer, with bright prospects before him, hears the call of God to go out to Africa as a missionary, leaves his position, and faces the Dark Continent. He has been feeding on Christ."

I had no more than pronounced the benediction than a young man came up to me and asked, "Why did you say what you did about an engineer going to Africa?" I answered that, as I was preaching, the Holy Spirit had led me. And the young man replied, "I am an engineer and God is calling me to Africa, and I must leave my career and go there as a missionary." It was a "word fitly spoken" which reached his particular case.

I once received a letter from the pastor of a Baptist church in suburban Philadelphia who wrote of having attended my church on a Sunday night. His letter contained this paragraph. "Last August I buried my three-year-old nephew and the following Sunday his parents attended your evening service with us. You preached from 1 Peter 5:10, and probably without knowing the reason you said, 'God had a purpose in taking your three-year-old son . . .' and that 'God would strengthen, establish, and settle the sorrowing heart.' Those parents are born again but your message brought increased faith and strength."

I did not have the remotest idea that anyone was in the audience who had lost a three-year-old child. But the Holy Spirit knew and gave the fit word for that particular need. It is possible for a believer to be so in the will of God that as he unconsciously lives and speaks, the words which fall from his lips shall be of the Spirit and shall reach the needs of those around us. Thus we become a believer out of whose innermost being flows the river of living water. The Lord is the source, and the Lord is the supply. His is the glory.

1. What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life?
2. Does the Holy Spirit affirm the word of God in our hearts? If so how does he do so?
3. If the Holy Spirit assists the preacher in his task of preaching what does that say about church gathering and sitting under good preaching and teaching?