E3 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - Heart and Mind of Jesus - Hearing His voice - lesson #2
Date: 4/19/2021
Contact: info@hopesharbor.net
To have a visual for this devotion, when you get a chance do an online search for Harold Whittles – 1974. A picture should come up of a young boy with a startled look.
That look is from hearing sound for the first time after a procedure enabling him to hear.
What would it take for us to hear GOD’s word as if for the first time? Well, that’s what I’m asking you for.
You can practice if you want by listening to music for a few minutes.
Then listen for a specific instrument. Once you hear it try to listen for it only.
This easy exercise helps with listening with intent and not glazing over Scripture.
Key verse(s): / Luke 4:4 - ‘And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of GOD.”’
· I want us to focus on this important truth: Men don’t listen! And it’s true across the board, whether Christian or not. What are we to do about this lamentable fact? PRAY
· Women listening to this, go easy on us. A man’s mind is compartmentalized. It’s why we don’t normally multi-task very well.
· Though GOD created us this way, but still, He expects us, all of us to listen to His Word. And this goes for listening as done here or when His Word is preached in church.
· I’m going to read from Eph 1:18 - it’s a verse every one of us should pray for ourselves every day.
· Eph 1:18 – ‘The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,’
· Understanding: dianoia dee-an'-oy-ah
From G1223 and G3563; deep thought, properly the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication its exercise: - imagination, mind, understanding.
It could read like this: using the mind in deep thought we exercise our minds until we understand in the heart, the spirit. This process passes through our minds and ideally lodges in the soul.
· And then Paul said Enlightened: phōtizō fo-tid'-zo
From G5457; to shed rays, that is, to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively): - enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see.
· For Paul to feel it necessary to pray this for believers tells us we don’t see nor understand on a spiritual level. And this is where GOD operates.
· So when I say we need to listen I mean more than hear the sound signifying a set of words attributed to Scripture. I mean to listen to the message.
· Let me reiterate - This involves thinking about what we read or hear from GOD’s Word after reading or hearing it and then mull it over until it passes through our mind’s filter and into our spirits.
This is where all spiritual growth occurs.
· Let me ask all of you something: how many people wearing the Christian label can quote Bible verses to you but their life betrays their claims.
· These may even be devout Church members. But they are carnal in their ways and words when not spouting Scripture.
· I am hitting this hard because we as a nation of ‘Christians’ are weak and powerless in the face of difficulties and struggles.
· Do you know why we’re weak and powerless? Because we believe we are. Satan has us deceived.
· I am asking each one of you to listen to this message as if it’s the first time you’ve ever heard GOD’s Word.
Lesson point: Listening takes intent
I’m reading from several verses in the New Testament where Jesus tells us to listen:
Mat_11:15 - He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat_13:9 - Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat_13:43 - Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar_4:9 - And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar_4:23 - If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar_7:16 - If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
· Then Jesus gives a parable about sowing the Word of GOD as seed:
Luke_8:8 - And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bear fruit a hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
· About salt too weak to give flavor (it doesn’t change anything for good)
Luke_14:35 - It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
· In Revelation Jesus gives a discourse intended for the first-century churches and the messages are also intended for the present church age. I’ll paraphrase some…
· And take note of the word ‘overcomes’
Rev 2:7 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To you who overcomes I give you to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of GOD.
Rev 2:11 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:17 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
· In the context of Jesus’ discourse to the churches, He is encouraging people to overcome the greatest threat to them.
· And what is the greatest threat to the human race?
· Unbelief is the greatest threat. But how so?
· People by and large don’t believe what GOD declares about Himself as revealed in the Bible.
· A large portion of the world’s population doesn’t even believe in GOD.
· And so Jesus tells the people of that day and He’s telling us to overcome unbelief.
· The way to do this is listen, read, and study the Word of GOD.
Rev 2:29 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:6 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:13 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:22 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 13:8 - And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 - If any man has an ear, let him hear.
Hear akouō ak-oo'-o A primary verb; to hear (in various senses): - give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
17 times in the New Testament Jesus said to listen. He above all others knows the human heart and tendency of people to let the Words of Scripture, His Words, go no further than the eardrum.
Why do you think this is so?
Summary:
· I am action-oriented. I don’t know where I got it from, but it has served me well when dealing with addiction and the mental distress of PTSD, depression, and chronic anxiety.
· When attending counseling in the ‘90s I was told it was a pleasure having me as a patient. I asked why. The counselor said most people who come in only want to complain, but never read any of the recommended books and wouldn’t apply the principles that would have improved their lives.
· Not me. I wanted to become free of any and everything hindering me from having peace of mind. I listened to all the counselor told me and applied every psychological principle I could learn and practiced until I mastered the techniques. The relief I obtained from depression and anxiety wasn’t total, but I alleviated both about 80%.
· This is one reason why I know it’s so important to not only learn what GOD declared in Scripture, but to apply its lessons.
· Who would hold a bottle of life-saving medicine in their hand and not take it? Holding the Word of GOD as knowledge only and not applying it results in… well, the results are often tragic.
· There is a reason GOD saw fit to record the Words and Deeds of His Son as He walked the earth and lived among common people of His day.
· He wants us to listen and learn. Doing these two things bring about the abundant life Jesus promised. Not pain-free living by any means. But abundant interaction with Almighty GOD on a daily basis and conveyed in deep Spiritual Love to your very heart and soul.
Do you want this? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you…
Action to consider: Read a familiar passage of Scripture as if seeing it for the first time. If you don’t have a passage in mind, may I suggest Psalm 23? Look at each word for what it means and then place it in the context of the whole passage. Think of the background for what is happening and the context.
Doing this brings the Scriptures alive. It may take practice before it begins to take effect on your outlook of that passage, but it will enhance reading the Bible.
Next week’s episode: Moving forward in the spiritual life after we hear -