Speaking Before God’s Face

Speaking Before God’s Face

If it is possible for someone to stand before God’s face when he speaks, then everyone can understand that his words will be holy, truthful, pure, reli­able, and believable. His words will be free from an artificial tone of voice and free from worldly education and polite mannerisms. They will also be totally free from all thoughts of pleas­ing people, from all whitewashing and all “sugaring” the truth. They will be free from all thoughts of a col­lection and gain and honor of people.

That it is in fact possible to stand before God’s face when we speak is evident from the above-stated verse. Paul says expressly: “We speak in the sight of God.” Both he and Timothy (and several others) did this.

In the beginning we cannot do this, because we have never done any­thing except speak before the face of man. However, we can learn this art from the Master. Speaking before God’s face is something that is in op­position to speaking before the face of man. There is an immense difference between these two things.

In the beginning (when we are weak, so to speak) it is best to turn one’s eyes away from the assembly when we speak, because it is so easy to be disturbed and distracted from standing before God’s face by see­ing the various faces and people. At a later point in time, once we have been grounded in speaking before God’s face, we can—if we want to— look the entire assembly right in the eye while we speak without being distracted in the least.

The Spirit of God leads us when we speak before God’s face. However, if we stand before the face of man our powers of motivation originate from other sources, and we become ex­tremely human, and quite often also Spirit-forsaken and unclear in our words. Before God’s face we speak purposefully, with spirit and power, and with authority. Before God’s face we lay down our life, whereas we are busy thinking about ourselves and our own appearance when we stand before the face of man.

Before God’s face one can use amazing and awesome words in godly zeal, plus a corresponding con­duct which does not find favor in the eyes of man but which will, neverthe­less, remain standing before the eyes of the Most High, because they have been born there. A man of the Spirit can behave strangely and incompre­hensibly in the eyes of man; but there will always be spirit and life and power and meaning—a serious meaning—in what he says and does.

I would rather hear and see a man of the Spirit “acting like a wild ani­mal” in his zeal for the truth than lis­ten to and see a trained, educated, and well-spoken “priest” give a well-rounded and nicely presented, ra­tional, beautiful, and human speech, with a corresponding tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures. In the latter case a godfearing and spiritual person will have the urge to throw up.

I would like to exhort with all my heart all those who are in need of this—particularly the younger brothers—to make every effort to learn this noble art of speaking before God’s face, through devotion and faith. Present yourself—without reservation—to be led by the Spirit of God. Let Him lead you as He wills! Keep nothing back! Do not think a single thought about yourself! Offer your­self for the salvation of souls! Let your old man die! “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the chil­dren of God!” Away with everything that is human! Let Christ be in the forefront together with the truth! Don’t worry about yourself and your reputation! Be a man of God! Be God’s friend! Let this be sufficient for you! Never be a “priest” or a “diplo­mat,” which is worse than any­thing!!! On the contrary, be a man of the Spirit in word and in deed! Oh, how my heart loves to see and hear such people!!! May their number increase greatly in these days!