The ability to listen!
V25 n10
Romans
Moffatt
translation.
Romans
Romans
We
have to hear the message of Father, through His Son Jesus Christ in order for
us {the individual, you or I} to be born again. We have to hear this message of
truth, in order for us to act upon His Word, and become that new creation in
Christ. However, do we hear this message with the physical ear, or with the
spiritual ear? {Those that are after the flesh, do
mind the things of the flesh; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God.}
As
we hear the Word of God, this {the Word} is what feeds, nourishes and
strengthens our spirit man. It is this ability that enables us to hear and obey
Him. However, unless we have ears and a heart that is willing to hear, to
listen to, and then obey Him, what will happen to us?
Many
claim to be listening to the Word of God, but in fact
and all reality, what they are listening to are well-constructed stories and or
fables. { 2 Tim 4:3-5, 3 You're going to find that
there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but
will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.
4 They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. 5 But you — keep your
eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the
Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. (from
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
All rights reserved.)} They are held hostage, kept captive, by the stories,
fables, man’s accounts of this world and how they think that it came into
being.
2 Tim 2:25-26, In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may
recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him
at his will. (KJV)
John 5:34, But I
receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
(KJV)
God
is a spirit, and they that worship God, must worship
Him in Spirit and in truth; His Word is truth! To have fellowship with Father,
we have to be living and operating in the spiritual realm, not the fleshly. {If
any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His!} Jesus Christ said
quite clearly, very plainly, that the words that He speaks to us, are indeed spirit and they are life. The flesh profits
nothing. Yet, how often do you take the time, and put forth a proper effort to
hear and obey all of Father’s counsel (words of Spirit and life)?
Faith,
our ability to believe God, is developed by the time that we take, to stop all
that we are doing, focus all of our attention on Him, and have fellowship with
Father in and through His written and spoken Word. However, many do not take
the time each day to fellowship with Father. They have not built up a personal
and intimate relationship with Him. They have not learned, nor know how to
trust Father for their daily bread, no, not even the physical, let alone the
spiritual.
We
need to learn to become selective in all that we hear, since it is our hearing
that will either draw us closer to God, or lead us further away from Him. Where
do your words have you located at (in the heavenlies
in Christ Jesus, or establishing a kingdom here apart from Him)? Is all that
you hear, all that you are listening to, bringing you into a closer
relationship with Father?
Ps 119:9-10, Wherewithal
shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed
thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee:
(KJV)
We
need to teach and instruct ourselves (being led and guided by His Spirit of
course) on how to give heed to His Word. Many times we listen to what the Word
of God says, but we do not hear the guidance and instruction that it is giving
us for our daily life. {Now faith is!}
Many
will sit in front of the TV set for hours each day, and listen to all of that which the commercials
suggest to them, of what they should have for good health each day. They will
take their vitamins each day {and the more they cost, the better they must be}.
They will sit down and eat their breakfast, and eat what the world has told
them is best for them. They will have their snacks or rolls with the morning
coffee. They will read and absorb the daily blab, rather then to feast in and
on the Good News. They will have a fast food lunch (little or no time for God,
in too much of a hurry); and then gorge themselves at dinnertime (on everything
but the Word). Can one really believe that all that they have ate that day has truly been healthy for them?
What
we hear; advertisements, peoples recommendations and every other such thing, is
much of what determines what we buy; what we eat; where we go; and whom we
choose for friends and hang out with. How often do we turn to the Word of God
before we make any of these choices or decisions?
The
decisions that we take from other people and try, we then recommend or suggest
to other people. We share those recommendations and suggestions with them and
tell of our opinions. We have now become an endorser and promoter of the
products or things that we have suggested to others.
Likewise,
what we hear about God from others; we then too make decisions and choices on who or what we think of God. We go off of what sounds good;
or feels good because of that which others have told us. We go off chasing what
we have seen other people do, not knowing for certainty which path they are on.
And then we will eventually recommend it to others, and tell them to come and
follow as well. {Have we forgot, that Father will hold us accountable for
anyone that we lead astray?}
However,
unless we have a personal and intimate relationship with Father, how do you
know that that which you are recommending to or for someone else, is what is
truly good for their spiritual well being? How sure are you of what you are
sharing that it is straight from the throne of God Almighty? How many people
operate in and off of hearsay evidence?
It
is no different then when most people go into a bakery, they do not get what is
best for them; rather they get what pleases their fleshly cravings. And this is
what most also do with God. They do not seek that of His Word what is best for
them, but rather that which has been twisted and perverted to please them, that
which will make them most a part of the crowd.
We
need to become selective in what we allow ourselves to hear and listen to. We
need to be sure that which we hear is truly good for our spiritual well being.
They have to be words that will bring us into, and maintain a closer
relationship with Father.
2 Tim 3:14-17, 14 But
as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of
which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],15 And how
from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the
sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the
understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus
[through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in
absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].16 Every
Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for
instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and
discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy
living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),17 So
that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly
equipped for every good work. AMP
Are
your ears fine-tuned to the voice and Message of God today? Or, are you one of
those that have turned aside to follow fables and stories? Your eternity is
what is at risk!
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka
J
Copyright © 2003 Rev Larry Gazelka all rights reserved