Rock-Solid Hearing
To Hear or Not Hear? That Is
The Question.
The one who hears my words and obeys them is the one who has a life that will stand up to the storms that beat against and challenge our lives. Jesus
Hearing, and applying what is heard, seems
to be extremely important, if we are going to experience rock-solid living in
this quicksand world. Whether or not we are victorious and overcome our wounds,
injuries, abuse trauma or sin is related to how we hear Jesus. How we hear
Jesus is so important that he taught a parable about it, and then he went the
extra mile to explain the parable to be sure we would get it. How we hear Jesus
will greatly impact whether or not we will put into practice what we hear:
THERE ARE 4 WAYS TO HEAR GOD… OR NOT.
Jesus
Based On Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
Based On Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
Back in the day, when
Jesus was teaching among humanity, He made it clear that He wanted rock solid living
to be a part of daily living. He also wants it for you and me in this 21st
century. Folks back then were not too very different from us, and He knew
that. Even though He was teaching some powerful stuff, people had to have “ears
to hear” what He was saying. Therefore,
He pointed out 4 kinds of people who would intersect His Kingdom Teaching.
Sadly only 1 out of 4 would “get
it.” I don’t know for sure, but I think the results are about the same
today?
First Group: I hope I am not
speaking to you when I say that you will miss the eternal life boat entirely.
Why? Because this one lets the Devil into the details… literally. In
this passage, God speaks loud and clear, and the physical ears are working just
fine. The hearer simply doesn’t
understand. He/she are not listening. She/he let the Word go in one ear and out
the other. Each has eyes, but do not
see. Each has ears, but
do not hear. Each has a heart,
but the heart is simply not receptive. I
suspect this is largely because this one is of the type that believes only what
can be actually seen. But all is not
lost. God has given us all what HE calls
“the measure of faith.” Anyway, trying
to hear the supernatural, with the natural, gives the Devil an open door to
snatch the Word away… not such a good thing.
This one’s heart never "gets it" because their mind is not
interested. They have no time for such things. In this case, God’s rock-solid
stepping stones might be stumbling blocks.
Second Group: “I can feel it.” Don’t get me wrong. Emotions are neither bad nor good. It’s what you do with them that matters. The BIG
mistake people make is that folks let “emotions be your guide.” Emotions are NOT reality. They are simply feelings, and feelings (among
other things) are based on what is thought. You can count on it: There is a thought of every feeling and a
feeling for every thought. Do a little “stinking thinking” and you will do some
"stinking feeling" as well.
The second group receives God’s Word, but they seem to base their
relationship with the Word on feeling good.
The problem is, as believers get persecuted, and as they get pain a
problem arises. Suffering is a fact of
life for most people. When pain becomes a part of the mix, this kind of person
simply lets “it” all go.
I once heard of a
preacher who was asked to preach a revival.
He started out saying, “Now that I met Jesus, I don’t have any
problems.” That is not the truth. I hope he does not get hit with daily living.
Problems are a fact of life. When I met
Jesus, I wound up with a whole new batch of problems. What do you think happens to a person who
follows Jesus for the purpose of not having problems? Initially they may have
joy, but then, when life happens, they become disillusioned and give up. Go ahead: “Feel it” if you like. Just don’t base your spiritual journey on
such a quick sand foundation. Why? The answer is this: Pain and suffering will
cause you to wither away from the Word, if feeling "good" is the
foundation for your faith. Feelings not properly used for what they are
intended will form a stumbling block –not a stepping stone- for your journey.
Fourth Group: The Word puts down root in the soil of
your heart, and it rests there for the Creator to work life transforming
creation miracles…BAM!!! Before you know it, the life blossoms!
Mere existence becomes REAL life! And the Word, settles "in" a
heart like this and produces more life that produces more life… Life's harvest
multiplies HUNDREDS of times! God’s spiritual harvest helps you work, face the
strain and overcome the worry and stress.
The Word simply rests in the heart, while being tended by the Creator's
Holy Spirit. Meditating on this Word, reflecting about this Word --and
being still with this Word-- is our part. Being still and knowing
(experiencing) God like this is full of wonder and positive growth! Hearing this way will be the key stepping stone to rock-solid living.
God’s Call: God
is calling you to group number 4. The
purpose of this blog is to give you Ancient Wisdom to have the stuff to be
enough. It is written so that you will be able to trade the quick sand values
for the rock-solid teaching of Jesus that is true and will set you free. Let
Him take His words and transform you to be free. Let Him grow liberty
from your inside out. Don't just let God's Word go in one ear and come out the
other. Don't base it on how you feel. Cast all our anxieties of
about what you have or don't have on Him, who cares for you. Let the Word
rest in you as you rest in God. Live one day at a time, by faith, through his
grace and discover rock-solid living in a quick sand world. Let Him pull you out of the muck and the mire.
Then he can put you on a solid footing for daily living.
Comments
Post a Comment