The Lord will use His Word to teach us the principles on which His kingdom operates. Then He will speak to us personally, by the voice of His Spirit; through others obediently speaking what they hear Him saying to you; and through circumstances that show, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He is indeed with you. Within our lifetime, God gives each of us enough opportunities to get to know Him, if we are willing to look for Him.
By David Sanzo
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Jesus said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
By hearing the Word of God, we receive the ability to hear the voice of His Spirit. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). So speak, and hear, the Word of God.
You hear words, as well as speak them. Our faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. If our ears are open to hear what the Spirit has to say, we can receive faith. For faith only comes by our hearing. Jude said that our faith is built up as we pray in the Spirit (v.20). When we pray in the Spirit, we do not only speak, but listen. Prayer is conversation with God, who loves us and speaks to us personally.
The fact that prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue, is revelation. To the agnostic, even speaking to God directly is unfathomable. To say that God could talk back might send him shouting from the room. He lacks the proper context or background to understand how this can be.
The Word of God gives us the context as to how we can relate to God: it teaches us who God is, that we can come to know Him, and pray to Him. Furthermore, it teaches us how to pray, and how to listen to God.
We receive hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God helps us to “hear” from God. When we expose ourselves to the Word of God, we can receive hearing. When we have hearing, we can receive faith.
Jesus told His followers to “Take heed what ye hear: and unto you that hear shall more be given” (Mark 4:24). Jesus had been talking about the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mark 4:11-12). He told them that none of the manifestations of His kingdom would be hidden from them (Mark 4:22).
Then He told them to focus on what they were hearing. He said in verse 23, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” We are to pay attention to what we are hearing when we hear the Word of God.
I want to focus on what I am hearing. Moreover, if I do hear, then more is promised to me: “Unto you that hear shall more be given” (Mark 4:24). The fullness of blessings comes to those who hear. Through our hearing, we come to know God better. The more we know Him, the more we love Him, and want to serve Him. We find out how to serve Him, asking Him to reveal His will for our lives.
We must know the will of God, if we want to apply our faith to it. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). When we know the Word of God, we begin to discern the will of God, and faith becomes activated in us. The Word of God tunes our spiritual ear to hear the voice of God. Hearing the voice of God, in turn, activates the faith of God working in us.
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