My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT) Have you ever made a promise that you either could not or did not keep? Many people have. Before I was saved I would make promises and sometimes failed at carrying them out. However, not long after I became a believer I completely stopped making any promises. Many believers
look at Gods Word and see things like, "For they (Gods Word) bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body" and marvel at the promise(s) of God. However, let's begin to see Gods Word as facts! This is what faith is built upon.
Luke 5 is one of numerous passages of scripture that paints a clear picture of hearing the Word of God and and responding to the facts. In Luke 5:12-15 we see a leper who asks Jesus if He is willing to heal Him. Jesus said, "I am WILLING, be cleansed". We see Gods willingness to heal this man but verse 15 holds a key that we need to see, "However, the REPORT went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to HEAR, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities." Isaiah 53:1, John 12:38 and Romans 10:16 all ask the same question, "Who has believed our report"? We see in Luke that a multitude heard His report, believed and were healed. But a little further into Luke 5: 16-26 we see a different perspective towards God Word.
On a certain day Jesus was teaching and as He taught the power to heal was present. But why do we suppose that these men mentioned here brought a paralyzed man on a bed to Jesus? It should be obvious, they must have HEARD and because they heard and responded, Jesus sees their faith in action. Understand, there was power to heal all who would hear, even for the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, but the scribes and Pharisees "began to reason."
"For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) This is contracting the promise that God gave Israel that Canaan, the Promised Land, would be a place of rest for them in the same way Christ is the ultimate promise of rest to those who believe in Him. Moses preached Gods promises to Israel and they did not mix it with faith (receive the Word as facts) and their unbelief caused a generation to die in the wilderness. When the Word is preached today the same danger exists. If believers do not hear the Word and let it penetrate deep into their hearts and act upon it, unbelief becomes the product and believers will be unfruitful. (See John 15:1-11).
There are many reasons why people, including believers, will not hear Gods Word and act in faith, but the effect is the same, unbelief. Think about this, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
Showing posts with label hearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hearing. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hearing and Believing, Part III
One of the best example that we have been given in Gods Word to help us understand the cunningness of the devil and his continuious assualts against believers to steal Gods word from their hearts is found where it all began, Genesis. Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. and the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17)
This is a very clear and concise word that God gave to man. It was not figurative, it was not a parable, it was quite literal, very easy to hear and understand. Now if Adam were in a sinful enviroment like man is today, then maybe this command from God could be miss understood. However, he was in an enviroment where sin was completely absent. Adam did not know good and evil, he only knew God. Eventually God saw that is was not good for man to be alone so He made a helper for him whom Adam called woman.
We do not know the communication that Adam and Eve share with one another nor do we know the communicvation that God had with them, what we do know is that Eve had an encounter with the serpant, the devil. Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) We see that it was the devil who intitiated the conversation with Eve. His cunning approach to Eve was to get her to reason as to what God had said.
Eve's response, And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (Genesis 3:2-3) The first thing that we notice is that she adds to God Word "nor shall you touch it." This was possibly the very opportunity that the devil was looking for to cause Eve to doubt God as well as His Word. Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5)
Two things have now unfolded. Eve's interpretation of Gods Word and the devil's twisting of Gods Word to generate doubt. If the devil cannot steal the Word of God from the hearts of believers, he will try to twist it. If he can get believers to doubt Gods Word then the privledges and promises that God has given to them in Christ will never manifest because they can only be received through faith. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
(Mark 11:24)
Ephesians 6:10-12 reveals the battle that believers are in. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12) Believers are in a noble conflict against Satan. The conflict is centered on who shall have the authority and is directed at believers because we know that ALL authority has been give to Jesus in heaven and on earth. Satan will try to either steal the word from a believer’s heart or twist the word to get believer’s to compromise or have doubts about God and His Word. Believers can no longer afford to sleep in the sense of not being watchful…Peter says it this way, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (I Peter 5:8-9)
The devil may roar, but his power has been stripped from him by Christ through the cross (Colossians 2:15) Jesus would not have made as many statements as He did concerning how faith through His name saves, heals, delivers, secures and prospers, etc. if it were not so, then and now. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1), He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). If Jesus is the Word of God and He has not changed which means the Word has not changed, then why does it seem that most believers struggle with recieving the privledges and promises that God has given them in Christ? If you do not have an answer to this question, then you might want to read "Hearing and Believing", parts I, II and III again.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
This is a very clear and concise word that God gave to man. It was not figurative, it was not a parable, it was quite literal, very easy to hear and understand. Now if Adam were in a sinful enviroment like man is today, then maybe this command from God could be miss understood. However, he was in an enviroment where sin was completely absent. Adam did not know good and evil, he only knew God. Eventually God saw that is was not good for man to be alone so He made a helper for him whom Adam called woman.
We do not know the communication that Adam and Eve share with one another nor do we know the communicvation that God had with them, what we do know is that Eve had an encounter with the serpant, the devil. Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) We see that it was the devil who intitiated the conversation with Eve. His cunning approach to Eve was to get her to reason as to what God had said.
Eve's response, And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (Genesis 3:2-3) The first thing that we notice is that she adds to God Word "nor shall you touch it." This was possibly the very opportunity that the devil was looking for to cause Eve to doubt God as well as His Word. Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5)
Two things have now unfolded. Eve's interpretation of Gods Word and the devil's twisting of Gods Word to generate doubt. If the devil cannot steal the Word of God from the hearts of believers, he will try to twist it. If he can get believers to doubt Gods Word then the privledges and promises that God has given to them in Christ will never manifest because they can only be received through faith. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
(Mark 11:24)
Ephesians 6:10-12 reveals the battle that believers are in. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12) Believers are in a noble conflict against Satan. The conflict is centered on who shall have the authority and is directed at believers because we know that ALL authority has been give to Jesus in heaven and on earth. Satan will try to either steal the word from a believer’s heart or twist the word to get believer’s to compromise or have doubts about God and His Word. Believers can no longer afford to sleep in the sense of not being watchful…Peter says it this way, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (I Peter 5:8-9)
The devil may roar, but his power has been stripped from him by Christ through the cross (Colossians 2:15) Jesus would not have made as many statements as He did concerning how faith through His name saves, heals, delivers, secures and prospers, etc. if it were not so, then and now. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1), He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). If Jesus is the Word of God and He has not changed which means the Word has not changed, then why does it seem that most believers struggle with recieving the privledges and promises that God has given them in Christ? If you do not have an answer to this question, then you might want to read "Hearing and Believing", parts I, II and III again.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Hearing and Believing, Part II
There is a very important lesson to be learned through the Parable of the Soils. When Jesus said, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" He was admonishing the reader of this parables great importance. Although Jesus explains the parable, Mark 4:15 should cause believers to become keenly aware that a battle rages in the spirit to try and stop faith from growing in believers. This is a very important key, because everything that believers receive from God comes the same way, through faith.
Notice the first thing that happens when the Word is sown, "Satan comes IMMEDIATELY to take away the WORD that was sown." It does not matter if you are sitting in a pew, watching a preacher on television, reading the Bible or listening to the word on radio, Jesus tells us that Satan will come and do one of the things that he does best, STEAL."The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..."
(John 10:10)
Take note to where the word was sown, IN THEIR HEARTS. This is a very personal invasion and believers should NOT permit Satan access to their hearts. I say it this way because that is exactly what believers do.
I John 3:8 says, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil! Satan has no authority over the believer unless the believer CHOOSES to give him place. So yes, it become the choice of the believer to permit Satan access to their heart.
The heart is the seat of spiritual life, moral nature, and affections, so an attack such as this should be seem as horrible a rape. Also take notice that the scripture says, “In their HEARTS” (plural). Satan’s interest is not in a couple of people, but as many as he can steal the word from. His assault is to the very core of ones faith. Take the word from ones heart, faith will never grow and if faith doesn't grow believers will never come to know the privileges and receive the promises of God through Christ.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Notice the first thing that happens when the Word is sown, "Satan comes IMMEDIATELY to take away the WORD that was sown." It does not matter if you are sitting in a pew, watching a preacher on television, reading the Bible or listening to the word on radio, Jesus tells us that Satan will come and do one of the things that he does best, STEAL."The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..."
(John 10:10)
Take note to where the word was sown, IN THEIR HEARTS. This is a very personal invasion and believers should NOT permit Satan access to their hearts. I say it this way because that is exactly what believers do.
I John 3:8 says, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil! Satan has no authority over the believer unless the believer CHOOSES to give him place. So yes, it become the choice of the believer to permit Satan access to their heart.
The heart is the seat of spiritual life, moral nature, and affections, so an attack such as this should be seem as horrible a rape. Also take notice that the scripture says, “In their HEARTS” (plural). Satan’s interest is not in a couple of people, but as many as he can steal the word from. His assault is to the very core of ones faith. Take the word from ones heart, faith will never grow and if faith doesn't grow believers will never come to know the privileges and receive the promises of God through Christ.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Hearing and Believing, Part I
In Mark's account of the Parable of the Soils, Jesus makes a statement that is very important for believers to grasp..."He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mark 4:9). This is not to mean to only listen, but to grasp in understanding. Why is this so important? Because Jesus makes another statement concerning this parable that should cause one to hear, understand, grasp..."Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" (Mark 4:13) It is very important that believers really give ear to God's Word. The Apostle Paul said, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Faith in Christ is the result of hearing the word and then faith continues to grow by hearing the word.
Let's look at Mark 4:13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? from other perspectives. (My intent in the following is in no way trying to add or subtract from God's but to give us something to think about, to hear) so think about Mark 4:13 from this perspective...
Do you not have a full understanding as to what salvation is? How then will you understand kingdom principles like faith, grace, healing, deliverance, prosperity, baptism of the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc.
Do we really have ears to hear God (His Word) or do we tend to only have ears to hear what man says about God? Let's face it, the four gospels show us Gods will lived out in Jesus Christ, but many in the church teach that there are things which do not apply today as it did in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. For example healing. I like to reference healing because this seems to be one of the the biggest controversy's among evangelical believers. The controversy is whether God heals today or not or when people pray for the sick and they do not receive healing then God has a mysterious plan for them. If either of these are so, then why did Jesus spend so much time telling us about the incredible power that is release through faith? Why does the Book of Acts and the Epistles devote so much time talking about faith in the name of Jesus and how much incredible power that is released in His name?
Even Peter did not take the credit for healing the lame man in Acts 3 but it says, "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." The key is FAITH, not hope, not wishing, not demanding God to make good on His word, not saying it didn't work for me so it must not be for today, but FAITH. Jesus said, "If you have FAITH and do not DOUBT", "These signs follow those who BELIEVE", "He who BELIEVES in ME, the works that I do he will do also" (to name a very few).
Now if these words are true (they most certainly are) and Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" and Ephesians 5:30 say, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones" it appears we have a problem that is contrary to the Word of God. Could it be that many ministers in pulpits today say the word faith but do not teach it, preach it or demonstrate it? Could it be that much of the Bible that is being taught today is mingled with phychology to help us feel good about ourselves? Could it be that many in the church today do not have ears to hear God's Word and therefore do not believe? You decide...
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Let's look at Mark 4:13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? from other perspectives. (My intent in the following is in no way trying to add or subtract from God's but to give us something to think about, to hear) so think about Mark 4:13 from this perspective...
Do you not have a full understanding as to what salvation is? How then will you understand kingdom principles like faith, grace, healing, deliverance, prosperity, baptism of the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc.
Do we really have ears to hear God (His Word) or do we tend to only have ears to hear what man says about God? Let's face it, the four gospels show us Gods will lived out in Jesus Christ, but many in the church teach that there are things which do not apply today as it did in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. For example healing. I like to reference healing because this seems to be one of the the biggest controversy's among evangelical believers. The controversy is whether God heals today or not or when people pray for the sick and they do not receive healing then God has a mysterious plan for them. If either of these are so, then why did Jesus spend so much time telling us about the incredible power that is release through faith? Why does the Book of Acts and the Epistles devote so much time talking about faith in the name of Jesus and how much incredible power that is released in His name?
Even Peter did not take the credit for healing the lame man in Acts 3 but it says, "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." The key is FAITH, not hope, not wishing, not demanding God to make good on His word, not saying it didn't work for me so it must not be for today, but FAITH. Jesus said, "If you have FAITH and do not DOUBT", "These signs follow those who BELIEVE", "He who BELIEVES in ME, the works that I do he will do also" (to name a very few).
Now if these words are true (they most certainly are) and Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" and Ephesians 5:30 say, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones" it appears we have a problem that is contrary to the Word of God. Could it be that many ministers in pulpits today say the word faith but do not teach it, preach it or demonstrate it? Could it be that much of the Bible that is being taught today is mingled with phychology to help us feel good about ourselves? Could it be that many in the church today do not have ears to hear God's Word and therefore do not believe? You decide...
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
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