Over my 78 years, I have learned that Hearing the Word of God is ESSENTIAL.
I learned as my godly parents read me the Bible. Everyone, like me, has a measure of faith, but we need to read the Bible for it to grow.
Listen as you read today's article so you will HEAR the word of God.
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So far, we have looked at “PRAYER” and ‘’READING THE BIBLE,” steps 1 and 2 in 7 Ways to Know Jesus Better series. In this article, we discuss step three, Hearing the Word of God.
This third step combines the first two. As we pray our desire to know Jesus grows and leads us to His word, the Bible where we find those words we need to hear. But how do we get from reading to hearing?
Hearing the Word of God
It does not mean allowing sound waves to enter our ears. Just letting words roll over us is not hearing, even if they are the Words of God!
God’s people saw God and His almighty power exercised on their behalf. More amazing still, they stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai when the LORD actually spoke to them! The 10 Commandments and more! So, their ears took in the sound of God’s voice, but their hearts shut it out.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, Heb 3:7
They “hardened their hearts” through fear and unbelief. And so, they could not enter into the Promised Land.
They did not know God and His love and mercy because they did not hear with faith! FAITH is the key ingredient.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. – Hebrews 4:2
But we have faith, praise God! And so, our hearts are open to His words, His words of Life!
What Is the First Step to Hearing the Word of God?
Where do I find what I am to hear? In the Bible, the best-selling book in the world and found in every home in America. About 32,000 “RED LETTER” words in the New Testament are the words of Jesus.* (4BC-30AD) Listen as you read them as the multitudes did to His Sermon on the Mount. As you do, you will surely know His teaching, but better still, you will know His character personality, and nature.
An asterisk after a name means the person is in SPIRITUAL LIVES.
It is pretty easy to hear His invitation:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Mat_11:28
But while the red-letter words of Jesus are a visible starting place, they are really a small portion of what we need to hear. EVERY SCRIPTURE IS HIS WORD, and that Word is powerful and each one helps us know Jesus better.
Every home also has a dictionary but having a copy does not mean you read it. To understand both, you must hear the words, because hearing leads to understanding andfaith. St. Paul* (5-67) tells us
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. –Rom 10:17
It is a symbiotic relationship; faith brings hearing and hearing brings faith. What a wonderful dynamic God has given us to know Him.
FAITH is Essential in Hearing the Word of God
What is faith? Simply belief in the truth and authority and power of God. How do we get it? The same way the disciples got it, by hearing the words of Jesus! The hearing itself leads to knowing and then seeing the goodness and truth of God. But it is not merely knowing the contents and meaning of the Bible but in particular, the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for us, rose again from the dead, and is preparing a home for us with Him in glory!
I have faith in many things, but only as I know them. For faith in Jesus, I must know Him. I have been blessed in Hearing the Word of God from many sources. First, from my parents' teaching, then from Sunday school, and later from hearing preachers and other Bible teachers. Most of this “hearing” was from ministers’ sermons, but some from Bible teachers and group Bible studies.
What Are Some Good Ways to Hear the Word of God So That You Will Know Jesus More?
Listen to the Bible read in church and take notes
Listen to the testimonies, prayers, and prophecies of other Christians when you meet and see how they might apply to your life and circumstances
Read the Bible to yourself out loud in your secret time with the Lord in prayer.
Buy an audio version of the bible and play it in your car. As it plays ask Jesus to show you how it touches you.
Find a good Spirit-led Christian Radio station and/or LISTEN TO SERMONS ON YOUTUBE
Spend half your prayer time in quiet, listening for the word God gives you in your heart. How does this happen? Pray the scripture you have read and ask the Lord to make it real to you.
This need not be a long time. Just a few minutes will be enough to start. Then just sit in silence until you know you have been heard. Listen carefully then to the thoughts the Holy Ghost puts in your heart. You may not get much at first, but as you spend more time alone with Him, He will reveal Himself to you more and more.
How will you know they are His thoughts and not your own?
Trust me, you will know. They will always be in 100% accord with the scriptures, but they will lead you in a direction you would not have taken on your own. Once that becomes clear to you, pray it back to Him, asking for His help in bringing it to pass.
You will also find that He speaks to you in the circumstances He puts you in. Speak to Him as each one unfolds and wait stilly for His word. It will surely come.
Remember that in doing this, you are responding to His grace and to His call. He has chosen you, before the foundation of the world, the Bible says. Listen for the knock Jesus makes at your heart’s door and ask Him to come in. He will and He will open the ears of your heart so that you will surely hear His voice.
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. – Luke 9:35
Speak, O Lord, Thy servant heareth,
To Thy Word I now give heed;
Life and spirit Thy Word beareth,
All Thy Word is true indeed.
Death’s dread power in me is rife;
Jesus, may Thy Word of Life
Fill my soul with love’s strong fervor
That I cling to Thee forever.
Oh, what blessing to be near Thee
And to hearken to Thy voice;
May I ever love and fear Thee
That Thy Word may be my choice!
Oft were hardened sinners, Lord,
Struck with terror by Thy Word;
But to him who for sin grieveth
Comfort sweet and hope it giveth.
Lord, Thy words are waters living
Where I quench my thirsty need;
Lord, Thy words are bread life-giving,
On Thy words my soul doth feed.
Lord, Thy words shall be my light
Through death’s vale and dreary night;
Yea, they are my sword prevailing
And my cup of joy unfailing.
Precious Jesus, I beseech Thee,
May Thy words take root in me;
May this gift from Heav’n enrich me
So that I bear fruit for Thee!
Take them never from my heart
Till I see Thee as Thou art,
When in heav’nly bliss and glory
I shall greet Thee and adore Thee.
Words: Anna Sophia of Hessen-Darmstadt, Der treue Seelen-Freund Christus Jesus (Jena, Germany: 1658) (Rede, liebster Jesu). Translated from German to English by George A. Rygh, 1909.
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