What Do You Hear?
People around the nation, in our community and in our church family are facing job losses, financial hardship, sickness and many other issues. Many of our lives have been completely turned upside down! We believe that much of what is happening is only temporary, but whether things get back to “normal” quickly or not, the real question is where and in whom do we place our trust? When everything is turned upside down in life where is our foundation? Who or what is our strength and our anchor? Who or what do we listen to?
Throughout the Bible God asks His people who they are listening to. In Revelation 2:29, right in the middle of His words to the seven Churches of Asia, Jesus said we need to “hear what the Spirit is saying.” In Matthew 7:24-29, as Jesus is ending His sermon on the mount, He says that whoever hears His words and then obeys His words would be like the wise man who built his house on a solid foundation of rock. When the storms of life came, his life didn’t fall apart because it was built on the solid foundation of hearing and doing God’s Word! I believe now, as never before in our lives, it is time to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to us!
What we “hear” from the Holy Spirit is the most important thing in our lives! What we hear will dictate the decisions and the actions that we take in life. Often, what the Holy Spirit is saying will not agree with what circumstances are saying and what things look like. Think about the Apostle Paul in a prison as he wrote a letter to the church at Philippi. He hadn’t done anything to deserve prison. He had simply preached the Gospel. He was writing to the Philippian church, who were dealing with some extreme persecution and problems themselves. Paul told the Philippian Christians 16 times to be joyful and rejoice! What? Didn’t he know their situation? Didn’t he know what the churches in Macedonia were going through when he congratulated them for rejoicing in the middle of a great trial of affliction? (2 Corinthians 8:2) The world says to focus on the fear and trouble, but the Holy Spirit will tell you to “hear and obey!” The Holy Spirit will tell you to have faith and rejoice! The Holy Spirit will say to speak to the mountain! (Mark 11:23)
Paul the Apostle wrote to the church in Ephesus and said that he was praying for them to be filled with wisdom, revelation and understanding (Ephesians 1:17-18). What you and I need right now more than anything as Christians is to “hear” what the Holy Spirit is saying to us! The Word of God in our lives will bring faith (Romans 10:17). It is in that place of trust, faith, knowledge, wisdom, light and understanding, that we will make right decisions!
A spirit of fear will drive you and intimidate you,
but a spirit of faith will lead you and guide you.
A spirit of fear will talk you into making decisions that are based on worry and pressure rather than faith and wisdom. Never make life-altering decisions in a place of pressure, fear and stress. Hear what the Spirit is saying, not what the devil is saying. A spirit of faith will lead and guide you. Even in the midst of trying circumstances, the Holy Spirit will bring supernatural peace with guidance and strength! (Romans 8:14)
What are we hearing? Who are we hearing? If you are filled with worry, anxiety, fear, torment or darkness, you know that it didn’t come from God! God is a faith God. My wife and I have faced many mountains in our lives, as I’m sure you have as well. I have noticed time and again that the Lord will bring hope and faith, speaking of a bright tomorrow, right in the midst of a very dark today!
Glad Tidings Church, it’s time to face any adversity with faith over fear and wisdom over worry! This is not the time to back up or give up! Now is the time to draw close to the Lord. Now is the time to read and study His Word as never before. Now is the time to “hear” the voice of the Lord in our lives!
The world wants you to hear fear and worry. The devil wants to whisper lies, deceptions, and bring torment to your heart. Don’t listen to him - listen and hear the Holy Spirit. The media, the neighbor, the movie star, the co-worker, the boss, and even family sometimes, may not be “hearing” what you hear when you listen to the Holy Spirit!
From the Apostles to the Reformers of 500 years ago, to the missionary in China today and the born-again Christian checking out your groceries -- as Christians, we are to “hear” what the world cannot hear and “see” what the world cannot see!
We want to encourage everyone at Glad Tidings Church to continue reading Psalm 91 every day out loud, especially in the Passion Translation that I mailed to you last week. I also want to encourage you to begin each day with praying and reading out loud the prayers of the Apostle Paul for the church specifically found in these passages of your Bible: Ephesians 1:17-23 / Ephesians 3:14-21 / Colossians 1:9-14.
We are praying with you and for you. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit, believe what God says, be obedient to follow Him and be led by His Spirit! (Romans 8:14)
Throughout the Bible God asks His people who they are listening to. In Revelation 2:29, right in the middle of His words to the seven Churches of Asia, Jesus said we need to “hear what the Spirit is saying.” In Matthew 7:24-29, as Jesus is ending His sermon on the mount, He says that whoever hears His words and then obeys His words would be like the wise man who built his house on a solid foundation of rock. When the storms of life came, his life didn’t fall apart because it was built on the solid foundation of hearing and doing God’s Word! I believe now, as never before in our lives, it is time to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to us!
What we “hear” from the Holy Spirit is the most important thing in our lives! What we hear will dictate the decisions and the actions that we take in life. Often, what the Holy Spirit is saying will not agree with what circumstances are saying and what things look like. Think about the Apostle Paul in a prison as he wrote a letter to the church at Philippi. He hadn’t done anything to deserve prison. He had simply preached the Gospel. He was writing to the Philippian church, who were dealing with some extreme persecution and problems themselves. Paul told the Philippian Christians 16 times to be joyful and rejoice! What? Didn’t he know their situation? Didn’t he know what the churches in Macedonia were going through when he congratulated them for rejoicing in the middle of a great trial of affliction? (2 Corinthians 8:2) The world says to focus on the fear and trouble, but the Holy Spirit will tell you to “hear and obey!” The Holy Spirit will tell you to have faith and rejoice! The Holy Spirit will say to speak to the mountain! (Mark 11:23)
Paul the Apostle wrote to the church in Ephesus and said that he was praying for them to be filled with wisdom, revelation and understanding (Ephesians 1:17-18). What you and I need right now more than anything as Christians is to “hear” what the Holy Spirit is saying to us! The Word of God in our lives will bring faith (Romans 10:17). It is in that place of trust, faith, knowledge, wisdom, light and understanding, that we will make right decisions!
A spirit of fear will drive you and intimidate you,
but a spirit of faith will lead you and guide you.
A spirit of fear will talk you into making decisions that are based on worry and pressure rather than faith and wisdom. Never make life-altering decisions in a place of pressure, fear and stress. Hear what the Spirit is saying, not what the devil is saying. A spirit of faith will lead and guide you. Even in the midst of trying circumstances, the Holy Spirit will bring supernatural peace with guidance and strength! (Romans 8:14)
What are we hearing? Who are we hearing? If you are filled with worry, anxiety, fear, torment or darkness, you know that it didn’t come from God! God is a faith God. My wife and I have faced many mountains in our lives, as I’m sure you have as well. I have noticed time and again that the Lord will bring hope and faith, speaking of a bright tomorrow, right in the midst of a very dark today!
Glad Tidings Church, it’s time to face any adversity with faith over fear and wisdom over worry! This is not the time to back up or give up! Now is the time to draw close to the Lord. Now is the time to read and study His Word as never before. Now is the time to “hear” the voice of the Lord in our lives!
The world wants you to hear fear and worry. The devil wants to whisper lies, deceptions, and bring torment to your heart. Don’t listen to him - listen and hear the Holy Spirit. The media, the neighbor, the movie star, the co-worker, the boss, and even family sometimes, may not be “hearing” what you hear when you listen to the Holy Spirit!
From the Apostles to the Reformers of 500 years ago, to the missionary in China today and the born-again Christian checking out your groceries -- as Christians, we are to “hear” what the world cannot hear and “see” what the world cannot see!
We want to encourage everyone at Glad Tidings Church to continue reading Psalm 91 every day out loud, especially in the Passion Translation that I mailed to you last week. I also want to encourage you to begin each day with praying and reading out loud the prayers of the Apostle Paul for the church specifically found in these passages of your Bible: Ephesians 1:17-23 / Ephesians 3:14-21 / Colossians 1:9-14.
We are praying with you and for you. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit, believe what God says, be obedient to follow Him and be led by His Spirit! (Romans 8:14)
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1 Comment
So good Pastor! %uD83D%uDE4C%uD83C%uDFFB