Over the last few studies, we’ve examined the power of our words, and speech.

Today, we’re looking at the other side of the coin, which is hearing what’s being said, whether that’s in spoken words or written, words.

The scripture gives equal important to hearing, as well as speaking, and just as with our words, you might be surprised how powerful hearing is.

Let’s get started.

Hearing Is Not Passive

As we delve into the topic of hearing, we should understand what hearing is from a biblical perspective. You might be tempted to think of hearing as a passive activity; that we hear by default, simply by being within perceptual range of words.

However, the scriptures use the term hearing in a different sense… one not based on passive perception, but one of active engagement.  In Luke 8:15, Jesus says that the good ground is someone who in an honest and good heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

So, Jesus gives us a fundamental secret here for those who are paying attention… that not only is hearing active (we must keep or guard what we hear) but also that hearing has an effect, of causing us to bring forth fruit with patience. Now That’s fascinating!

You see, hearing is not a “one and done” thing, but it’s something that should happen continuously. We humans, get distracted, we forget, and often need reminding of God’s truth, His promises.

Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Again, this is a continual hearing… not just having heard once, but repeatedly.

The word, or the message of Christ, is literally, the Gospel. The message of Christ, the Messiah. Who Jesus is, and what He has accomplished on the cross (including your rebirth as a new creation in Him).

This is something that can and should be continually meditated on— heard and heard again— just as with the principle of the Manna in Exodus chapter 16, it had to be gathered fresh daily, not kept over, because it would spoil.

Now, I’m not saying the scriptures, spoil— but just like the Manna, when “the sun gets hot” and the pressures of life get to us, what we remember of the scriptures can sometimes seem stale, and we need fresh food.

Hear, What?

But what exactly is good spiritual food? What should we be hearing and guarding and meditating on?  In Mark 4:24-29, Jesus gives us the following advice and warning:

“And he said to them, Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear shall more be given.

For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how.

For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

Notice, in verse 24, that Jesus says Take heed what you hear— so, hearing, by itself, isn’t enough. We should pay good attention to what we are hearing.. I have spoken with many people inside the walls of church buildings, who think that as long as a sermon contains the words Jesus, Bible, and God, that everything is okay and it’s a good Christian message. However that is simply not the case. It is entirely possible to hear a message containing the words “Jesus”, “Gospel”, “Grace”, “God” etc. but still have it not be the genuine Gospel message of Jesus Christ. It happens all the time, in church buildings all across the world. 

This is why Jesus here says “Take heed”, listen, pay attention to precisely what you are hearing. 

Now, why does He say this? Why is this so important? Well, He continues that the measure (or the standard) that you use, will be the standard that you receive, and more will be added to it. In other words, if you receive bad seed from bad teaching into your soul (mind), that bad seed will produce bad results – sometimes quickly, and sometimes more slowly, but it will happen, Jesus said so.

Likewise though, as you receive good seed from good teaching, that seed will produce good results. This is why Jesus goes on to explain this idea of seed and harvest in the next verses. I’m aware that some pastors have turned the whole seed and harvest principle into a doctrine of money – but Jesus is not talking about money here, but something far more valuable and vital… a spiritual foundation and truth that can totally transform every part of our life!

I have actually watched people physically die, because they received bad teaching into their lives telling them that God doesn’t heal today, and so they outright refused to receive healing in their body, all because of a bad seed that was planted in their soul and it produced a harvest of doubt.

I have watched people live their lives in guilt, shame, depression and despair, because they received a bad teaching that God (for one reason or another) was angry with them and that He would not forgive them. Again, one small seed, produced a deadly harvest that ruined entire lives. That’s the awesome power, and crucial principle of what we’ve studied today.

Join Me Next Time…

There’s much more for us to study regarding what we hear, and how it’s connected with receiving miracles. I don’t want to rush this because it’s necessary for us to take our time and give these truths the attention they deserve. So Join me again as we continue with how to hear your way to miracles— and I look forward to thriving with you again.

Be blessed.