The Essentiality of Having an Ear that can Hear God
The Essentiality of Having an Ear that can Hear God
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. John 8:47
Are you a good listener and if so, how do you know?
According to selfimprovementbox.com, a good listener would enjoy and exercise the following ten characteristics:
1)Focus, 2) Verify understanding, 3) Be able to Give Feedback on the message, 4) Avoid judgment, 5) Show interest in the communication and the speaker, 6) Enter a dialogue, 7) Extend dialogue and questions, 8) Transform the message and process it, 9) Internalize the message, and 10) Following up on conversations.
They concluded by saying that good listening means more than just hearing or paying attention submissively, but it also involves actively engaging with the speaker.
The ten characteristics of an effective listener are insightful for our horizontal relationships. That is the relationships that are associated with our personal, private, and public lives. But did you ever give any consideration to your connection with Christ our Lord Savior and God? Specifically, how well do you listen to Him? According to the word of God, God calls us to listen to him.
Deuteronomy 12:8 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
As we considered the skills and characteristics that suggest a good listener, how would you measure or evaluate your ability and willingness to listen to the Lord? Do you have ears that listen to God?
I submit to you that two different actions must occur to hear the voice of God. First, God has got to be speaking. We serve a living God who is incessant in his engagement with His children and His creation. He is always speaking to us, by way of creation, the word of God (scriptures) and His Spirit.
John 10:26-27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds
Second, when God speaks, we should put our E.F Hutton hat on and listen or hear what our Father in Heaven has to say. There are several scripture references that reflect the truth about hearing God speak that consequently inspire us to not be concerned about Him (God) communicating with His children.
Again, John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, stated that hearing the voice of God will be a laudable litmus test for legitimate sheep that listen to God. (John 10:26-27) Being able to listen to the Lord is not only a blessed benefit, but bonafide evidence that you belong to Him.
Because we can hear, we don’t have to fear when He appears!
Not a Sermon But a Thought.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR