HELEN SANDERS
5-31-2021
HAVING AN EAR TO HEAR
As a child I encountered all the childhood diseases. Measles, Mumps, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox, and chronic bronchitis and they all settled in my ears. By the time I was in sixth grade I had a hearing loss. I lived with this loss of hearing for many years. I had not been to a professional audiologist for a checkup but when I finally went it showed a hearing loss. A dear friend gave me a pair of her hearing aids, and my world changed. I didn’t know that the clock ticked and once again I was hearing the birds sing. No one knows the limits that a hearing-impaired person faces. I have had many pray for me for restoration, and I believe that will happen, but the “hearing aids” have changed my life for the better. Without them things are very quiet. Yes, there are times that that proves to be an asset. LOL
There are also spiritual hearing aids that help us to “hear the voice of God.” The first and most important is the Word of God, itself, the Bible. We hear God’s voice through the written word. We must spend time reading it to “hear it for ourselves.” Many Christians rely totally on their Pastor or Bible teacher to tell you what the Bible says, but that would be the same as a “hard of hearing” person always relying on someone to tell you what someone else is saying. By the time they give you what “they” heard, it may be distorted.
We are commanded in II Timothy 2:15 to “study to show THYSELF approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (holding a straight course) the Word of God.” Do you notice it says “thyself”? That message to Timothy is also for each of us.
The second way we hear what God is saying is through preaching of the word. Faith comes through this kind of hearing. Yet, we must know the word ourselves to make sure what we are “hearing” is lining up with scripture. The more preaching you hear based on the word of God, the more your faith will be built up.
The third way we hear is through prophetic words. I believe in prophetic words as God has used me mightily in this gift. Yet, once again, ALL prophetic words will NEVER contradict what the word of God says, so you once again must know the Word of God for yourself.
The fourth way is that Holy Spirit speaks to us individually. It can be a “rhema” word as we read the “logos” of the Bible, or it can be audible. Once again, Holy Spirit will never contradict the “written word” so you must know the Word to not be deceived. Very few people hear the audible voice of God. Don’t pursue this. Satan counterfeits God’s voice very subtly. If you aren’t mature in the knowledge of the written word you will get off track.
When it comes to hearing, the greatest way to “hear” is from the Word of God. You must take time daily to read and study it. Never take a verse out of context. Get a concordance or a Bible with cross references so you can see the “whole” picture. Then as you read, listen as Holy Spirit speaks to your own spirit through the Word.
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