“And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.”
Mark 4:24 AMPC
“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
Luke 8:18 NLT
I heard a preacher say that when he was asked what was the most important organ in his body by a cardiologist, his answer will shock you as it did the doctor, he replied “ my ears.” I doubt that we would have given that answer, but Jesus apparently thought so too. How we hear is just as important as what we are hearing. He wasn’t being funny, this preacher, he was being accurate. Most of us don’t give any thought to what passes through our ear gate, but we should. For Christians, this is vitally important. That’s how we became born again.
“But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
Romans 10:14, 17 NLT
We all take our ears for granted until we can’t hear or have an ear ache. But the ear is just as important as your heart. Because what you hear or are hearing affects your heart and your entire body. Think about that for a moment. Why are you anxious, sad, despondent, joyful, excited, glad etc? You may have heard or read something that brought on those emotions. Reading is hearing, because reading produces thought in the same way hearing does. That’s why Jesus said take heed or be careful how and what we’re listening to or hearing.
For believers in Jesus Christ this is a life or death decision. What you’re hearing can literally cost you your life. Doubt and unbelief will cost you spiritually, physically and financially. Our ability to grow and succeed as believers, depends upon how we hear and receive God’s Word. I’ll quote my spiritual mentor. “If you’re not hearing the voice of God, it’s because there’s no obedient ears to hear it.” Hearing always demands a response. And we are responsible for what we are hearing. We listen to learn not to memorize. We must see beyond the outward word, to understand the inner meaning.
Beware of not being a good listener. Memorization creates a robotic response, meditating on the Word of God produces growth and through your understanding of it, you go from the spoken Word being in your head (outward) to your heart (inner meaning) once you grasp by faith what you are hearing, or, as we say the light goes on, no devil in hell can take that revelation knowledge away from us. Paul saw that the man had faith to receive healing. How, the man was listening intently to the words of faith that Paul was preaching. Acts 14:9. Faith cometh by hearing not faith came, or having heard. Faith hearing, is always in the now. So how’s your hearing?
Again the words of Jesus, take heed how you’re hearing. If you’re not engaged with what you’re hearing, you won’t retain what you heard. Your outer hearing must translate to your inner hearing, which is your recreated spirit. We must make every effort to screen out what we filter in. Just as we have a physical outer and inner ear, we have a outer and inner spiritual ear. Take heed then, to what you are allowing in. Listening even to the words you yourself are speaking to and about you, will greatly affect outcomes in your life. The Word of God does not discriminate, it will work for anyone who chooses to hear and receive it. The psalmist say the Word or law of the Lord is perfect. Psalm 19. Truth will always hold to perfection. So how’s your hearing, let’s find out which category describes our hearing styles.
I Don’t Care Hearers: these hearers listen by obligation but are really not interested. They are the memorization Christians. They can quote bible verses at random but it has no effect on their lives. John 8
Treacherous Hearers: These hearers listen only to entrap you, to steal your credibility and influence. Mark 12:13-15
Scoffing and Taunting Hearers: These hearers present a superior attitude, they have all the answers, they’re the elitists hearing no one else but themselves and those like them. Matthew 22:23-46
Warped Hearers: These hearers pervert all things because they only hear with the natural ears. They don’t hear with the heart. They don’t believe or take the written Word literally. They criticize those who believe the Word for healing and prosperity. They’re stuck in a rut of unbelief. Or they believe so long as it serves their purpose. John 9:13-34
Blind Hearers: These hearers refuse to move beyond the salvation message. They don’t seek to grow in the Word. They’re satisfied with the status quo. These hearers will not receive the full benefits of their salvation. They’re complacent. Hebrews 5:11-14
Proud Hearers: These hearers are so puffed up and bloated with their own natural wisdom, they’re headed toward self destruction. Their response to every new information is “I know that.” The problem with these hearers is, they’re not teachable. When you have all the answers, what’s the question? Matthew 23
Sluggish Hearers: These hearers neither remember nor practice what they hear, because they’re not rooted in the Word. They’re always in church, in every auxiliary, on every board. But they never have time to sit and hear the Word of God. Busyness is never an excuse for not spending time with the Lord. Christians in name only. They’re the ones who misquote scriptures and know all the Christian-ease. “God helps those who helps themselves.” Mark 4:1-20
Whew! That’s an ear full. So how’s your hearing? Which of the above categories describes how you are as a hearer of God’s Word? Be careful how you hear, it will determine the quality of life you live as a believer in Christ. We are what we hear because our ability to hear produces a response, be it positive or negative. It will produce growth or stuntedness. Sickness or health. Poverty or prosperity. Hearing, especially as it relates to the things of God, is key to our spiritual maturity. We will never move beyond our thoughts, how we see ourselves can always be traced back to how we’re hearing or what we’ve heard. Hearing and receiving the Word by faith, will renew our minds. The renewed mind will take us from; I don’t care, treacherous, scoffing, warped, blind, proud and sluggish hearers, to victorious ever increasing, engaged, trustworthy, full of wisdom and godly vision, world changers, Bible believing children of God. We’ll become Psalm 1:1-3 people. You create the world you live or walk in by what you choose to hear, believe and speak.🙏
Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3... how’s your hearing?
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
March 03/31/2021