Being in listening mode. . . .

We took my dad for a hearing test. Mom said to the doctor, “Sometimes I say something and he seems to not have heard what I said.” Dad turned to the doctor with a twinkle in his eye and said, “Don’t you do that to your wife too?”

We chuckle at that, but there are times when spouses want to use a brick to the head when ignored, especially if the communication is vital.

It works concerning the voice of God as well. He says, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) and “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) But the question is if hearing the Word produces faith, how come not everyone who hears it is saved?

John Piper and many others would say that God’s ‘brick to the head’ is the gift of faith given through grace. He imparts new life and in that instant the ability to hear is also given.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1–10)

While these verses only imply the way grace provides both faith and the saving knowledge of Christ, this idea of both being given at the same time explains why many theologians say that the gospel message given to us from God is irresistible. We not only hear it but are given ears to hear at the same time.

The downside is like my dad’s joking remark to the doctor — that those to whom God speaks can be in a ‘I’m not listening’ mode. Pharaoh prior to the Exodus was like that. The Bible says he hardened his heart, a very similar description of someone who refuses to listen. I do it when someone says something I don’t want to hear. It could be bad language, a coarse joke, or even a request that I’ve no intention of answering. It might go around inside my head, but without a response, whoever spoke might as well not have said it.

If I do that with God, my spiritual life takes a nosedive into deafness and even darkness. Because Jesus promised to save me from sin, He will take measures to turn on the lights and turn up the volume. He has ways of communicating that do not involve words, such as circumstances or the actions of others. As He ‘speaks’ through whatever communication method He chooses, He makes me realize that my bad attitude is no joke. If I don’t listen to Him, I will listen to my own ideas, or the world’s ways, or the devil’s lies. It does not take long to experience the folly of being deaf to God.

Faith does come by hearing. The more I listen, the more my response to life and its quirks and foibles is trusting God with everything. Besides, unlike the noisy chatter that might be happening all around me, God never says anything useless or inane. His words are life-giving, inspiring, helpful, and a great blessing.

Some families play “I spy God” and share what they see Him doing. Another interesting activity is “I hear God” and sharing what He is saying to us, including what He is asking us to do!

PRAY: Jesus, as I meet with prayer partners today, remind me to share with them the answers to both questions and ask them to do the same. We are learning to be better listeners and also excited to hear You speak to us. Thank You.

God Communicates

When we moved into this new home, one large piece of furniture would not fit. Where we put it was functional but awkward. I began praying for a solution. Then, last week while visiting our son, he was excited about a small addition to his new home. It didn’t register then, but a day or so later, I woke up praying again about my dilemma and the Lord put two and two together. I was awake and saying “Yes, that’s it!” This woke my hubby and we spent yesterday moving furniture. The dramatic change was celebrated with apple pie and ice cream.

We knew this idea was an answer to prayer. Our son’s actions were part of it, but he had no idea that he was so helpful. What happened is another example of the power of God to communicate answers to prayer in surprising ways.

This is a small example. A bigger one is how He is working in parts of the world where Christianity is a crime and becoming one leads to severe persecution, even death. Those who are free to do so are praying for salvation for those people groups. But how can they be saved if they cannot hear the gospel? Some verses seem to say this is not possible. . . .  

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22–23)
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Skeptics often ask the same question; what about those who never hear or who cannot read a Bible? God blessed me and my hubby with a clue. We talked with a woman who came from one of those ‘closed’ countries. She told about her family being in the living area of their home one morning. Her father was upstairs. She said when he came down, they knew something had happened. He was glowing, his face shining in great peace. He had experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ, prior unknown to him, and he was transformed. Now a Christian, he took his family out of their home. They fled to a safer country, all becoming believers in Jesus — without a Bible or a sermon.

Since then, we have heard many stories like that. It gives no excuse not to preach or share the gospel, but it does assure us that God is able to reach anyone with truth about Jesus and redemption, with or without us. Some might argue that this cannot be a ‘real salvation’ yet changed lives and a deep love for Jesus say otherwise.

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit saying, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8) In my first encounter with Jesus, I did not physically see Him, yet I knew He was with me. Others testify to seeing Him, even being hugged by Him. Dare we limit God to what He can do to reach sinners?

Not only that, the NT church did not have the NT! They eventually had Paul’s letters, but none of them were written declaring the gospel until later.

Faith came by hearing — and anyone who knows Christ knows that the Holy Spirit is capable of speaking to the human heart. He convicts of sin, speaks of righteousness, and warns us when we forget or err in what we do. God even speaks of sending His Word to do His will:

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Again, this is not license to sit back silent and merely pray for the lost, but it is assurance that no one who is chosen by Jesus will be lost. Another truth is also illustrated: when the Spirit speaks to me, I must listen. I have the Word to make sure what I am hearing is written by God also, yet Isaiah tells me that obedience is part of His success in His will being accomplished by those who hear Him.

PRAY: Jesus, Your great power to make Yourself heard makes my ability to listen and obey a partnership with what You are doing. I’m deeply humbled yet must never be speechless. You are the Savior and this is what You want me to say, loudly and joyfully, and deeply in awe. Yet I know that You have the power to speak in other ways besides using my mouth.

 

Hearing the Word, hearing the Spirit

Over the decades, most if not all the churches I’ve attended have been strong on hearing and obeying the Word of God. For them, that Word is the Bible. If the Bible does not back it up, then all our ideas are either from human, worldly, or even demonic wisdom. Any inner voice could not be called the ‘leading of God’s Spirit’ unless it could be verified in the written Word.

Most Christians I know realize that God does impress truth and direction on our hearts and minds. We might not be able to find a chapter and verse to prove it even when the principles of God’s Word are not being violated.

Over the past couple of years, our current church has offered an eight-week study called “Hearing God.” The women are currently in a study by that title. I’ve several books with the same title or topic. These are wonderful attempts to help us with discerning the voice of God as Jesus said we could . . .

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

God can speak inside our heads. As Tozer says, hearing the Bible read, or reading it ourselves is not enough. Even had I stood on the earth at the time of Paul, his speech could do nothing for me without the voice of the Holy Spirit backing it up loud and clear in my conscience. I need to listen to that inner voice. Otherwise, the Bible is just a jumble of words. This is what James refers to when he says:

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18)

No person is reborn without that combination: The Word of truth and the Holy Spirit speaking truth into their heart. One without the other is either incomplete or dead.

These last few days God is speaking to me about obedience. I can hear and understand. I can know where this verse and that passage fit into the plan of God. Yet understanding is not enough. James also says:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22–25)

The intent of God is to transform me into the likeness of His Son. He does this by the power of His Word, but without obedience, nothing happens — except that I can become a Bible-know-it-all with a fat head and little evidence that I practice what I preach.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I don’t want to be a pain in the neck to those around me. Your intention is that I hear and follow You, that I am a ‘firstfruit’ who lives out what You are putting in, a doer of Your Word, a listener who obeys. Too often I fall short. Forgive me. I thank You that You grant grace to my ears, but also to the rest of me that so I will respond with a changed life.

Not my will . . .

Human choice intrigues me. What makes one person decide to wear jeans and another to wear cords? Why does one child choose a truck and the other a ball and bat? Preference pops to mind, yet what is behind the preference? I love chocolate, but my husband does not. Why does he say ‘no thanks’ and I will almost always gladly eat it? This one I know the answer; his body reacts to chocolate. He feels sick and does not prefer to feel like that. I could then ask why does he feel sick, but that isn’t about the will.

The Bible has much to say about the will of God and human will. In many instances, God’s will is the easier of the two to understand. He loves us and that motivated Him to send Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. He opens our hearts to the Gospel because He wants us restored to what He created . . .

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18)

I have choices to make all along my spiritual journey, but it was the will of God to put me on the path in the first place. Without His loving choice, it would not have happened. He says to me . . .

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:1–10)

Dead in sin means being separated from God, unable to connect. My sinful choices were influenced by the “prince of the power of the air” who is the devil. His lies and my inability to hear God kept me making choices based on my sinful desires, just like every person on the planet.

“But God” has to be one of the most exciting phrases in history! Because of His will, He chose mercy instead of wrath. Why? His choice was based on His great love, yet the more I realize what sin deserves, that choice remains an incredible mystery. Grace is amazing, truly amazing, yet it is also a mystery, a kindness, a choice made by God that deepens my love and awe for Him the more I think about it.

While I must willingly repent and yield to the Lord Jesus Christ, and would not experience salvation without cooperating with God and believing Him, my will is not the cause of His grace. Even though ’whosoever will’ may come to Christ and be saved, the Bible is clear that grace draws us. Otherwise, no one has the will to come. In ourselves, we don’t want to nor will we submit to God.

*********************

Jesus, that day when You came into my life, the choice was a total no-brainer. How could I say no to the love and power of God? Your revelation was entirely irresistible. All I could see was the incredible grace of God. I did not deserve it and certainly had nothing in me to be able to earn it. Yet I had absolutely no reason to reject You. My heart filled with glad surrender at the wonder of You — and it still does.