![What Are You Hearing?by Lary R. Hale
One of the most powerful statements of sobering truth in the entire Bible is also one of the most vastly overlooked statements. It is what Abraham said to the rich man who was in hell, in regard to the man’s request of Abraham to send the beggar Lazarus, who was in paradise with Abraham, back to his father’s house to warn his brothers to not follow his example and end up in hell like himself. “And he [Abraham] said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Lk. 16:31). Now it is very integral to understand that most of Israel head Moses and the prophets read in their synagogues or in the temple every sabbath day of over thirteen hundred years. But the HEARING that Abraham was referring to here is with the heart, and not just with the ears and the mind. Just as when Jesus was here, and taught the people about the kingdom of God; he often said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mat. 13:9; Mk. 4:23; etc.). Well, EVERYONE within earshot heard him, but very few really heard with their hearts and took real heed to his sayings. In fact, Jesus said that only those with the heart type of hearing would be saved; as he exemplified in the parable of the two men that built their houses on sand, and on rock, respectively (Lk. 6:46-49). And in each of his messages to the seven pastors of the congregations in Asia, long after he had returned to heaven; Jesus was still preaching the same thing about hearing, with an added clarity: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT SAITH unto the [congregations]” (Rev. 2:7,11; etc). You see, after Jesus went back to heaven, the holy Ghost was sent back here in his name, meaning in his stead (Jn. 14:26). So then, whatever God’s “Spirit of truth” is saying to his people is what Jesus would be saying if he were here, and is indeed the word of God. And that is what we must be able to hear and to heed, if we expect to be saved (Psm. 119:105; Jn. 16:13; Rom. 8:14).Everyone has an ear to hear something or another. It is commonly said that “money talks.” If you have a mind and a heart for money, then that is in effect true. Jesus said that his true sheep WOULD HEAR his voice, and would not follow another (Jn. 10:4,5). Many have an ear for the worldly religion of Christianity, but not actually for Christ. The apostle John said something that everyone who names the name of Christ should seriously consider: “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us” (I Jn. 4:5,6). The key to understanding the magnitude of John’s statement is in truly realizing who the “we” is, and who the “they” are, and who the “he that knoweth God” is. The “we” were and are those who are truly speaking for God. The “they” was and are those who claim to be speaking for God, but are not. In that case it was the “false prophets” that he alluded to in verse 1 of the chapter. Today that would be anyone claiming to be a minister of the gospel of Christ, but is not preaching what “the Spirit is saying to [God’s people].” “He that knoweth God” is whoever was and is truly tuned into the voice of the Good Shepherd by means of his Spirit. So the question you must ask yourself is, what is it that you have an ear to hear? Is it really and truly the voice of God’s Spirit of truth, or is it just anything that SEEMS to be the word of God? Answering that question accurately with total honesty of heart certainly bears eternal weight. If you believe you are saved and will be saved simply because you have confessed faith in Christ, and go along with a nice, comfortable religious lifestyle; then you are surely in the danger zone and need very much to turn around (II Tim. 4:2-4; Eph. 5:3-7). On the other hand, if you truly fear God and feel that your heart will have to be free from all sin in order to be saved; you are listening to the right voice and need to follow hard in that direction (Mat. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; I Jn. 3:2,3). Yes my friend, hearing is everything; it’s just a matter of what we have an ear for, and what we follow. Amen.
Original Post at By One Spirit Ministries Facebook page May 23, 2012](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ok57uA3a1qkyp48o1_500.jpg)
What Are You Hearing?
by Lary R. Hale
One of the most powerful statements of sobering truth in the entire Bible is also one of the most vastly overlooked statements. It is what Abraham said to the rich man who was in hell, in regard to the man’s request of Abraham to send the beggar Lazarus, who was in paradise with Abraham, back to his father’s house to warn his brothers to not follow his example and end up in hell like himself. “And he [Abraham] said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Lk. 16:31). Now it is very integral to understand that most of Israel head Moses and the prophets read in their synagogues or in the temple every sabbath day of over thirteen hundred years. But the HEARING that Abraham was referring to here is with the heart, and not just with the ears and the mind. Just as when Jesus was here, and taught the people about the kingdom of God; he often said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mat. 13:9; Mk. 4:23; etc.). Well, EVERYONE within earshot heard him, but very few really heard with their hearts and took real heed to his sayings. In fact, Jesus said that only those with the heart type of hearing would be saved; as he exemplified in the parable of the two men that built their houses on sand, and on rock, respectively (Lk. 6:46-49). And in each of his messages to the seven pastors of the congregations in Asia, long after he had returned to heaven; Jesus was still preaching the same thing about hearing, with an added clarity: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT SAITH unto the [congregations]” (Rev. 2:7,11; etc). You see, after Jesus went back to heaven, the holy Ghost was sent back here in his name, meaning in his stead (Jn. 14:26). So then, whatever God’s “Spirit of truth” is saying to his people is what Jesus would be saying if he were here, and is indeed the word of God. And that is what we must be able to hear and to heed, if we expect to be saved (Psm. 119:105; Jn. 16:13; Rom. 8:14).
Everyone has an ear to hear something or another. It is commonly said that “money talks.” If you have a mind and a heart for money, then that is in effect true. Jesus said that his true sheep WOULD HEAR his voice, and would not follow another (Jn. 10:4,5). Many have an ear for the worldly religion of Christianity, but not actually for Christ. The apostle John said something that everyone who names the name of Christ should seriously consider: “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us” (I Jn. 4:5,6). The key to understanding the magnitude of John’s statement is in truly realizing who the “we” is, and who the “they” are, and who the “he that knoweth God” is. The “we” were and are those who are truly speaking for God. The “they” was and are those who claim to be speaking for God, but are not. In that case it was the “false prophets” that he alluded to in verse 1 of the chapter. Today that would be anyone claiming to be a minister of the gospel of Christ, but is not preaching what “the Spirit is saying to [God’s people].” “He that knoweth God” is whoever was and is truly tuned into the voice of the Good Shepherd by means of his Spirit. So the question you must ask yourself is, what is it that you have an ear to hear? Is it really and truly the voice of God’s Spirit of truth, or is it just anything that SEEMS to be the word of God? Answering that question accurately with total honesty of heart certainly bears eternal weight. If you believe you are saved and will be saved simply because you have confessed faith in Christ, and go along with a nice, comfortable religious lifestyle; then you are surely in the danger zone and need very much to turn around (II Tim. 4:2-4; Eph. 5:3-7). On the other hand, if you truly fear God and feel that your heart will have to be free from all sin in order to be saved; you are listening to the right voice and need to follow hard in that direction (Mat. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; I Jn. 3:2,3). Yes my friend, hearing is everything; it’s just a matter of what we have an ear for, and what we follow. Amen.
Original Post at By One Spirit Ministries Facebook page May 23, 2012
Source: byonespirit.com
