Selective hearing v23n11

Selective hearing!

V23 n11

Have you ever caught yourself saying to someone or anyone else; “What did you say?” If a person was really listening, that is giving full attention to the person that was speaking, would one have found it necessary to have to ask the person speaking, to repeat themselves? How often is it, that one does this very thing with God?

Did you know, that a person has to hear the message from God, (the salvation message), in order to be able to respond to it? Yet, how many have in all reality listened closely to this message, in order to hear that which is being said, and then to properly respond to it? Father is attempting to show us, and tell us, how much He has made available to us, by and through this free gift, to anyone that will accept and believe this message. Yet, how closely, or attentively are you listening to that which Father has spoken?

It is as one continues in the faith, (and, we should all recall or remember, that faith is by hearing, hearing the message delivered by Christ), that is, if they continue to live the Word which they have heard. One must be stable or grounded in the Word, (Col 1:23), which they have heard God speak; and have the confidence to allow Him to continue the work, which He has started in each and every believer. (Phil 1:6) The majority of people, have more trust and confidence in their traditions, doctrines, or whatever other fables they have listened to and believed, rather then hearing and obeying God and His Word. Can you tell me why this happens? This happens because people do not have the time, nor make the proper effort to study His Word, seeking only His approval. So then, without this time with Father, they have not developed the ability to rightly divide the Word of truth, let alone to be able to discern between good and evil.

Most people are able to quote their pastor, or sing their favorite song, or quote from their favorite book, much quicker and much more accurately then they can from the Word of God. For those that are able to quote from the Bible, in most instances, they quote from the book of “pat answers”. This is because the Word is not real and alive to them. So, they can only quote that which they have memorized, or what they have heard others say or talk about. Does this description apply to you?

Many people do indeed have a zeal for God, but seldom, is it based in and upon a working knowledge of God and His Word. Hosea tells us that is “His people” that perish for a lack of knowledge of God and His Word. (Do you really think that God has done an incomplete job of presenting it to the whole world?) Many people have a form of godliness, and yet deny the very power of God. (1Cor 1:24) Others, are ever learning, but never able to arrive at the truth of His Word. Can you tell me why this is?

Could it be that they are quicker to follow after traditions, customs and man made doctrines, rather then the Word of God? Could it be that they are quicker to seek the approval and accolades of man, then they are to seek these things from God? (Isa 29:13, Ezek 33:31, John 5:44, 2Tim 4:3-4).

In the physical realm, there is not much that one will miss hearing, when they know that which is being said, will be of benefit to them, or for their immediate advantage. However, is one just as attentive when Father speaks to them? Does one stop what they are doing, or preoccupied with, and give Father their undivided attention, when He speaks? Has one forgotten, that the Word that He speaks to us is Spirit and it is life? Does one realize that His Word is in one’s best interest, in regards to where they will spend eternity, if they will hear and obey that which He is asking of them?

There are many that are not able to hear God, because they never stop talking long enough to hear and understand His instructions. Then there are others, that are constantly grumbling and complaining, and thus they are never able to have meaningful communications with God. Faith is by?

Romans 10:14 But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One whose voice they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 And how are men to preach unless they have been sent to do so? As it is written, <"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good!"> 16 But, some will say, they have not all hearkened to the Good News. No, for Isaiah asks, <"Lord, who has believed the Message they have heard from us?"> 17 And this proves that faith comes from a Message heard, and that the Message comes through its having been spoken by Christ. 18 But, I ask, have they not heard? Yes, indeed: <"To the whole world the preachers' voices have sounded forth, and their words to the remotest parts of the earth."> (Weymouth translation)

Wasn’t this epistle sent to the Church that was in Rome? Can you tell me why these people were so dull of hearing? (Heb 5:9-14) Could it be, that they were as most people are today, that is that they do not have time to hear God and His Word? In this present world, many have plenty of time for reading books, listening to tapes, singalongs, or whatever else one may use to occupy their time, and yet seldom have time for God and His word. Most have to many things going on in their lives, from jobs, to sports, scouts, plays, movies, ladies or men’s night out, or whatever else the excuse may be, then to have time to sit still long enough to have fellowship with God, let alone have time to study His Word.

What does it mean to be dull of hearing? ( dull = 3576 nothros (no-thros'); from a derivative of 3541; sluggish, i.e. (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid: KJV-- dull, slothful.) Has the Church as a whole, become lazy or stupid at hearing and obeying God and His Word? Has it come to the place, that people no longer want to hear sound doctrine? If one searches long enough and hard enough, they will be able to find someone that will preach exactly the things that they want to hear. Has it got to the place, that the Church no longer wants to hear sound doctrine? Do they heap to themselves teachers, that will satisfy their itching ears? It is only the truth of His Word, that can set a person free, and keep a person free, if, they continue in the truth!

Your souls do not keep pace with the doctrines and exhortations delivered to you. As dull signifies a person who walks heavily and makes little speed, it is here elegantly applied to those who are called to the Christian race, have the road laid down plain before them, how to proceed specified, and the blessings to be obtained enumerated, and yet make no exertions to get on, but are always learning, and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

So then, what exactly is it that you have faith in? Have you put your faith in what someone else has told you, that which they “think” the Word says? There is always a choice or decision to be made in that which one listens to. One is either in agreement with it; or in rebellion against it. So, one has to be sure of what they have placed themselves in agreement with. Is it based upon the facts of God’s Word, or on some persons preconceived ideas or notions?

Fables, traditions, man-made doctrines can cloud ones mind from the truth. It is the truth of God’s Word, that is able to set a person free, and keep them free, “if” they continue in the Word of truth. Yet, the majority of the time, one is quicker to listen to what some man has to say, because they want to follow the leader, or be a part of the crowd. Is one so stubborn and set in their ways, that they refuse to look to, and turn to the truth?

So what exactly is it that you have been listening to? Faith can only be developed by hearing His Word, that message delivered by Christ. How selective have you been in what you listen to?

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka

Next weeks newsletter: “Let’s negotiate?”