Ears to Hear

Having ears to hear: Jesus, so many times as He was ministering to those around Him, would say ..."He who has ears to hear, let him hear!". Jesus demonstrated that those that have ears to hear will hear and the ones that didn't, He left alone. Clearly, there is a serious warning for those that did not take to heart His words. Consider, who were some of those that did not hear and would not listen to what Jesus had to say? Was not some of them, the most Scripturally educated and considered Godly men of that day? And weren't some of them also trusting in those that was looked upon as Godly, and neither had ears to hear the words of Jesus? Even though, they physically heard Him, they did not hear Him with their heart. And take notice that Jesus did not chase after them, it was their choice to listen, or not to listen, with their heart as to what He was saying. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Here's my point! Today we have the Holy Spirit and if we place our trust in those that are thought of, as Godly, are we any different than those of that day, I don't think so! Christ is not going to force divine truths, through the indwelling Holy Spirit to those that are not listening, including those that are credentialed and looked upon as men of God. I truly believe the following verse is so very applicable to today as it was then.

Acts 3:22. For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

God has given us His Spirit through Christ Jesus (Matthew 3:11) and it is through this Holy Spirit that we have communication with our Lord. I think this verse is especially for today. Think about it! God has given us His Spirit as a guarantee and has anointed us in Christ! Therefore we have no excuse not to hear unless one's heart is not right before God.

2 Corinthians 1:21. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22. who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Jesus Christ is our foundation concerning the "Promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4), He is the core of our salvation! He is our mediator to God and the fulfillment of God's promise of "pouring out His Spirit on all flesh", and yet, today I fear many have little interest of seeking this divine relationship. I think these words of Jesus have even a greater impact today for I believe they were spoken, especially to include today. One of Jesus' disciples, John, understood this closed heart vs. the open heart to God, as he was inspired to write the following Scripture.

1 John 4:4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

When Jesus would say ..."He who has ears to hear, let him hear!", He knew this was a condition of the heart thing. Those that did not have an open heart for truth would not hear the messages that Jesus was giving and Jesus knew better than to try to explain the message for it would only fall on deaf ears, leading to strife and argument, which can destroy any chance of fellowship, forever. For a moment, I would like to focus on repentance. Repentance can be an illusion if it's not focused upon God and His indwelling Holy Spirit. Some may believe they've repented, turning to a doctrine, or to a local church or a variety of differing beliefs but the repentance this verse is talking about is simply turning to the Lord our God.

Acts 3:19. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

The word repent has had several meanings over time which includes feeling remorse and the action of "turning back". So repentance is not something we ask for, this is an action to be taken. The verse above is talking about turning to this divine fellowship. One can place their trust in a religion and following the guidelines of that religion, appearing Godly, and never experience the fellowship of the presence of the Lord because their heart is in their "faith" rather than being dependent upon God for their divine relationship and fellowship. I think this is the main message behind those words of Jesus, He who has ears to hear, let him hear!, because He knew what He was going to do for mankind and yet many today, just as the days of His earthly ministry, will not have ears to hear the quiet voice of God through His Holy Spirit. The main point I'm trying to communicate is that in similarity, as Jesus did not force His ministry on those with deaf ears, is the same today, He will not force God's word or His will on those that are not interested. Even though we have all been given the Promise of the Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit, if we seek it, there are many that are not listening to the word of God in their heart, and will never experience this divine presence.

Consider these words of Jesus as He quotes Isaiah, Matthew 15:8. 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

Would those that He was speaking to that day, if they were with us today, would they be taking advantage, hearing the Holy Spirit? I'd say no! Would they be listening to the convictions of the Holy Spirit? I think not! Would they have ears to hear any of the divine things of God that was revealed to those that are of God. And again, I'd say no, unless they had a change of heart! Because it is all about the condition of one's heart. To hear from God, man must show a sincere heart in wanting to hear from God. Reconsider Acts 3:19, the very first word of that verse is an action of repentance. Repentance is the action of turning to God, not a religion, nor a doctrinal faith, but simple turn to God. Please consider: Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Scriptures tell us that God first loved us by making a Way for our reconciliation, now it's man's turn to first take action. This same message of man's decision to first focus on God is found in this Scripture. James 4:7. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Again, take notice that it's up to us to make the choice to submit to God, It's our choice to first draw near to God as it's our choice to have "ears to hear". Those that have truly repented to God and drawn near with their heart will experience the following verses and those that haven't, the following verse will have little significance for they've not had "ears to hear, let him hear!" what the anointing is teaching.

1 John 2:26. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

John 4:6. ...By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. If one's heart is of that spirit of error, will this divine anointing spoken of in 1 John 2:27, be manifested in their life? I'd say no! Not at all because they've not truly repented and drawn close to God, taking full advantage of His Holy Spirit. Today, we have an open invitation to truth through God's Holy Spirit. Those that are not interested in living in Christ Jesus through God's anointing are not going to hear truth. They are not going to understand this divine anointing or how it works. Same with the following verses. The convictions of God are not going to be experienced either, if they do not have ears to hear!

1 John 3:18. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

For those that do not have ears to hear, they will not understand the will of God for them. They will not understand the anointing of truth, to know what is pleasing in His sight. Having success in Christ is totally dependent upon one's openness of heart, having ears to hear, the messages that are given through the Holy Spirit of God. As Jesus walked passed the ones that did not hear, so will Christ pass by those today that also do not have ears to hear the words of God that are divinely given through His Spirit. The following Scripture assures us that as long as one's repentance is directed only to a church, or pastor, or any belief other than the true repentance experiencing the refreshing presence of the Lord, their heart is far from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5. Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. True repentance is being totally dependent upon God's divine direction given through His Holy Spirit and being obedient to His will. The fullness of God "101" is found in the King James bible and the genuine divine understanding is given through His Spirit. Do not depend upon the teaching of man nor the books they write, for they will become a curse to your soul. Instead chose God and have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit teaches!

1 Corinthians 2:13. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 14:16. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17. "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Where did Jesus say for His followers to focus and place their trust? John 16:13. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;...

Just as the Apostle wrote: 2 Timothy 2:7. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Take a moment and listen to the following verses: Isaiah 50:4. "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as the learned. 5. The Lord God has opened my ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.

Jeremiah 25:4. "And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.

Ezekiel 12:1. Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2. "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

The very words of Jesus! Mark 4:21. And He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22. "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.'' 24. And He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25. "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Please notice! With the same measure you listen to the Lord, He will speak to your heart and if you believe Him, more will be given. But my friend, if you listen to man, even me, rather than the Lord, what you have will be taken away. Scriptures tell us in 1 Corinthians 1:29. that no flesh should glory in His presence. I do not think I'm using this verse out of text, begin reading from verse 26 and you decide. If one listens to man rather than God, he will not experience the glory of God. It's that simple. Our ears are to be opened only to our Lord God. We can share what we learn, we are with the use of the Holy Spirit to recognize error and truth, but the beliefs we lock in our heart had better come from God and not man!

Matthew 13:7. "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8. "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'' 10. And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?''

Matthew 13:41. "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42. "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Mark 7:14. And when He had called all the multitude to Him, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15. "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!''

Luke 14:33. "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34. "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35. "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!''

2 Timothy 4:2. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Why, because they will not have ears to hear the Holy Spirit of God!

Those that did not have ears to hear: 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10. and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12. that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Pay close attention to these words found in the above verse, ... "love of the truth" How does those in Christ find truth, is it not through God's Holy Spirit, so in other words, those that will perish, did not find a love for the presence and fellowship of God's divine "truth revealing" Holy Spirit!

To live in Christ is a spiritually growing process but you must have "Ears to Hear" the Anointing of Christ!

1 Corinthians 3:1. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3. for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Ephesians 3:14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Anointing presence of Christ in those that believe unto salvation!