Do You Hear Him?

Do you hear when the Lord speaks?  Matthew 13:9

 

Matthew 13:9

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
NKJV

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus would often teach a moral Truth by connecting natural things to make incredible spiritual points. Too often; however, the people did not want to hear the Truth He brought. Jesus was fond of saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Obviously, God gave us ears for listening. Do we always? If we were honest with ourselves, we would have to say "no".

Here are some things overheard from people leaving countless churches across this land. "The teaching was on point today" or "I just wasn't feeling' it today." Why do we come to church? Is it to grade the teacher? Is it to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching? No. We come to church to hear from God.

The Apostle John wrote that the same Holy Spirit that instructs the teacher also instructs the Christian. The Bible tells us that scripture is God-breathed, and it is a discerner of the heart's intentions which does not return void (doesn't fail) (1 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11). So, whose fault is it when we go to church, listen to a teaching from the Bible, and don't receive? Here's a hint: It's not the teacher, it's not the Bible and it's not God. That's right. It's our own fault. We don't hear because we don't like the challenge.

We should never walk away from a Bible teaching church (no matter who the teacher is) without realizing a change or recognizing a step we need to take. Make it your personal commitment to find the life-challenge, the life lesson within each teaching, and apply it to your life. Share it with a friend or a family member. Ask them to hold you accountable for making that change.

James 1:25 "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV

Life Lesson: We should do the Bible not just hear the Bible.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. I know I am incapable of paying the debt for my sins. Thank You for providing Your Son, Jesus, to pay that debt. I am grateful that You delight in having a relationship with me. Lord, help me to apply Your Word in my daily life and live out a life of peace and faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Comments: Today I heard two young ladies say things they thought would have made it easier for them to stay awake during the sermon which was not boring. Yet they felt the need to critique how it was presented. One thought there should have been more going on the screen behind the Pastor to keep attention from wandering. The other agreed with some of what was said, but not all. Without checking out the Bible to see if the Pastor was right or if she was wrong.

Often we thing we need to be entertained or have our ears tickled so what we hear is what we agreee with even if it doesn't agree with the Bible. Why? Sin nature is the answer. We are about ourselves. Sometimes in this new generation they are so used to playing quick changing games, having their needs taken care of immediately, people playing to their "self-esteem" or "whatever they believe to be true must be because they say it is." How sad that we are so self-serving. Yes, when we give into our sin nature we find we do not listen to the Words of the Lord or sermons given from the Word of the Lord but to the false wisdom of the world.

A few days ago my beloved husband went to be with the Lord he served faithfully. He passed on peacefully yet had suffered for a long long time. His one hope and prayer was for his/our family and people he knew and worked with, that they would come to know, love and serve the Lord God with all their hearts and souls. He also, prayed they would have knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. Many have come to me in the last few days since his passing on, and said how his walk helped them. He was a quiet and unassuming man who was larger than life to those who knew him and loved him. His ears were opened to the Word of God after he lived a life away from the God who loved him so much He died on the Cross and took his sin upon Him so he could live forever in the courts of heaven.

He who has ears to hear....

Abba Father may we all hear Your voice through Your Words and may we open our hearts so we will take unto us all You wish to reveal in Your Word to us. Thank you Abba for removing our sins as far as the East is from the West. We praise you and glorify you Daddy for all you have done and are doing for us. Open our ears to your truths and help us to know and understand Your Word. Amen

Rebishka

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee