Hear, Listen, and Believe March 26, 2017
Hebrews 4:1-2 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
It’s clear they heard it but they did not listen with the heart and believe. We are not them, we are believers; by the grace of God we have faith. We have God’s very rest. It’s been given to us.
But even though we are not of them, we can act like them when we don’t believe.
Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The labor is to rest. This is the opposite of what man thinks. Cease from our own works. The rest is the good fight of faith. To lay a hold of the grace of God and believe the word of God. The Word is true.
See His immense love for you. If in doubt we can say, “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world” (1John 4:4).
Galatians 2:20 . . . the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
You have it all. God motivates you with love. Sure we must hear, but listening treasures the message; it lets the word work effectually in you. Engage in heart to hear the instruction. God help us to be still.
We must listen to our Father’s voice, to know His heart. Grow up into Him in all things. Without Him I can do nothing. He lives in me, He becomes all together lovely in me. We are not to be hearers only, but doers – that’s listening. He begins to will and to do His good pleasure in my life. Be bold in the life that lives in me.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
That’s from the inside out. Believe the Lord and the effectual power of the word of God takes hold. When we listen, the word begins to live in our lives. Our fellowship is in the gospel of Christ. God wants you to be in love with the word of the Lord. The Lord looks on the heart, and He wants a heart perfect and complete, on fire for the word of His grace. God wants faith, and that will take care of our walk. Just feed on His word and then there will be transforming power. Listening to others can lead us astray, but listening to ourselves is a path of destruction and death (for example, Jonah and Lot). His word is life. Fall in love with His voice. If you listen to yourself you will become proud and separate yourself from the things of God. You will become fearful, bitter, and angry. It’s time to be ready. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13); to be ready for our Bridegroom. The Shulamite in the Song of Solomon would have never won the bridegroom if she listened to her friends. But it wasn’t just her friends that interfered, it was her thoughts too. We can think we are not good enough, too sinful, or that we have to do something to be ready. Know that we are found in His righteousness (Phil. 3:9), not anything of us. All instruction for life is only found in the word. His word never deceives, it only gives power, love, a sound mind, the peace that passes understanding, and the very rest of God. Put your confidence in God, in the word of His grace. Be patient, wait and believe and it will come to pass!
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