Thursday, June 2, 2011

Hearing And Believing

I was setting outside and wondering what to write for a post. Sometimes the Lord tells me immediately what He wants me to write and other times He doesn't tell me so quickly. I stew and fret and then stew and fret some more. I don't know why I do this because He has never once let me down.

Things were going through my mind and I started thinking about the Word of God. I started thinking when I read the Word isn't it like God is speaking and telling me what He wants me to know. I decided for me when I read I should try to actually listen so that I can hear what God is saying to me. Now other people may not feel this way and that is okay but I want to feel like God is talking to me. There are times when something is bothering me and certain a Scripture will come to mind and if I go read it, it is about what is bothering me so I know God had been talking to me. When this first started happening I thought I was the only one God talked to like that. I was so wrong; when I talked to some others about this they were telling me God would talk to them this same way also. At first I was sad because I thought it was just me but God spoke to me about it and I knew each one of us were being blessed.

Well, we can hear the Word by listening to our pastor giving us the message or we can hear the Word by reading. Both ways are an excellent way of learning about the Lord and knowing the truth.

I got off track about what I wanted to talk to you about, I wanted to say when we read the Word; God is speaking to us. John 5:24; "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word,, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life". So, if we read our Bible, go to church, and Sunday school we hear the Word. And if we believe in God, the one who sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins we will have everlasting life.

Hearing and believing point out a continuous action, this is not a single moment thing but something that must be continuing. Our eternal life is conditional on a living faith rather than just a momentary decision of faith. If it meant a single moment it would have said 'heard' and 'believed'. So, it means continually. Should a person stop hearing and believing then it means they have stopped listening and believing in the Word and God. The promise of an eternal life is no longer valid unless the person repents of this and his/her sins. True faith must continue after the initial act of accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. We want always to be near Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We could be hearing the Word by actually listening to our pastor, Sunday school teacher, anyone that is telling us about the Word or reading the Word and listening to what God is saying to us except not in an audible voice. If we are actually hearing the Word then we will believe in God, the One who sent Jesus Christ.

May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!

4 comments:

Debi said...

Hearing and believing...that's basically what my Wednesday Night Bible Time class was about. I have 4 amazing kids (4th-6th grade) and our class is about getting back to the basics of God. We are learning to truly have a relationship with God and not just 'go to church, etc.' The past 2 weeks have been on faith...hearing the word of God and believing it. Also...in order to build our 'faith muscles' we must SPEAK the words we are believing! When we believe God's word but we still go around saying I'm so stupid, blah, blah, blah...then our 'faith' is hindered because we believe one thing and speak another! God isn't able to work because our faith is hindered. I, for one, do not wish to hinder the Lord in any way. I struggle with this...I truly believe God's word...every word of it...yet, I still say negative words out of my mouth! Lord, help me to speak what I believe...help me build my faith muscles!

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

Wonderful point Deane; we need to be active in pursuit of our faith each day!

Have a Blessed Day!

Kandi said...

How true your words are Deane. I was still dealing with some anxiety yesterday. I flipped open my Bible and my eyes landed on Isaiah 41:10, do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen and help you. That has never happened to me before where I have just opened my Bible and the Word spoke to me so powerfully, it was as if God was right there with me. He knew the words I so needed to hear. Blessings to Deane, so happy to call you friend.

Kandi

Jenifer Metzger said...

Great post. I think of reading the Word as reading God's special letter written to me. I love it!