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Come And See |
Spiritual Hearing Aids Having God’s word to listen to is the greatest blessing that each soul must desire. For the Bible says our, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) Being able to capture life’s sounds within those tiny spaces on each side of our head we call ears, is one that can never be replaced by any of the “hearing aids” that are being manufactured today. For those who have lost their ability to hear as in their youth, know what I am talking about. I have been in conversations where one’s ear piece will begin a high pitched squeal unawares to its owner, yet it sounds as an alarm to all in the local environment. While others sit with fingers in both ears as if to plug them, in reality they are trying to adjust their “aids” for the discussion at hand. In this article we want to discuss some “spiritual” hearing aids that will give us a stronger faith in God and an understanding of what an important place our Bibles should have in our lives. Are you one who has heard the message of the gospel and been saved? Do you need some “aid” in hearing what God is saying? Use these hearing aids, and be sure to listen carefully.
WE NEED TO HEAR THE RIGHT MESSAGE So many times individuals appeal to a magazine, creed book, minister, or perhaps a bulletin (like this one) for their source of spiritual guidance (Matt. 15:9). These are deaf spiritually, unless they have read and confirmed their belief system by the word of God. So let us consider the scriptures on what we need to hear. The Bible resounds with the message, “For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:13-17) Notice that our salvation is dependant on being obedient to the word of God after hearing and believing what has been preached. This does not mean that we can be content with the words of some influential preacher, but that we rest our hope in the “gospel” truth. We cannot lean on a perverted version of the gospel, seeing that the one who proclaims such, along with its adherents will be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9). Jesus once said, “It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45). This passage indicates that before someone can come to Christ, they must learn of Him. This learning comes from the Father, whose words are truth (John 17:17) and are recorded in the Bible. It is no wonder that when God revealed His words to inspired writers, that they would write, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). Whether someone reads these words to us or we hear them on our own, we must make sure that we understand God’s will for our lives. God has blessed us in sending His Son to reveal His will to us (Matt. 17:5), and if we continue in this truth it will set us free from the bondage of sin.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO HEAR There are many responses that one can give to the hearing of any message. To a speech about abortion someone may become irritated to taking a stand against the practice. To a lecture on better study habits in school someone may be turned off. Regardless, of the speech and its speaker, the response that comes from a participant is based upon how well they heard and understood what was said in its delivery. We need to consider the following for scriptural pointers on how to hear: -Hear The Word Gladly (Acts 2:41) The recipients of the first gospel sermon by the apostle Peter, “gladly received his words and were baptized”. When the gospel is preached or when you study it, do you hear it “gladly” and obey what it is you are being taught. -Hear The Word Swiftly (James 1:19) The many religious errors in the world today could be resolved simply by everyone shutting their mouth and letting the word of God speak. Even when we speak, we need to let the word of God fill our speech with truth (I Peter 4:11). -Hear The Word Meekly (Jam. 1:21) James in his epistle penned, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” We must humbly accept the message of the gospel in obedience. -Hear The Word Reverently (Luke 10:16) We need to respect the Bible as God’s word (I Thess. 2:13), without rejecting the message, regardless of who is speaking (if they are speaking truth). Jesus said, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). Our respect for God Himself can be seen in how well we listen and apply the teaching and preaching of his word. -Hear The Word Wisely (Matt. 7:24-27) Jesus taught, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching…” We must be wise and do what we hear (James 1:22) If we fail to respond in obedience to the gospel, we will be lost without salvation (Heb. 5:8-9). It can only be wise to heed the counsel of God. Do you have good hearing? May these spiritual hearing aids help you to hear and heed the words of God. |
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