Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Hearing Not Access is The Problem

“For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.” – Matthew 13:15.  

God still communicates with His people, in special ways, on an individual level. God’s voice can be heard all the time, everywhere. He speaks externally to our eyes and ears, and internally to our hearts, minds, and spirits. The question is whether we are listening? The need to hear His voice and feel His presence is desperate, and we all feel it, so then, what’s stopping us? 

It isn’t resources. We live in a time that is literally called the “information age”. We have access to more Bibles, commentaries, preachers, teachers, schools, retreats, Christian book stores, internet sites, blogs, songs, radio stations, than any culture in history. Often, the problem isn’t hearing from God…but our willingness to trust what He is saying and actually do it.Remember, God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). When we hear Him speak, it may not always make make sense…in fact, it may seem a little crazy. If it was always easy and understandable, it wouldn’t require faith.

The Bible story on the four soils found in Mark 4:3-9 sheds some light on the subject: “A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 

I hope that today, you are able to say that you are fertile ground, accepting the seeds that God is saying casting onto your heart. I hope you’re tuned into His signal. It is my deep prayer that you are receptive, listening, not distracted, and embrace what He is saying and do what He is asking you to do.

There will be times in our lives where we have chosen not to listen, been too distracted to let it take root, or allowed negative thinking or our own desires to become more important than God’s voice. There will also be times where we do not listen carefully or long enough. It isn’t that we didn’t have access, we just weren’t listening because during these times I really want to hear from God, He is always there to tell me something, show me something, or let me experience something that tells me more about who He is, explains something I’m going through, or where He simply allows me to know that He is near and draws me closer to Him.

God will speak if we will listen.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe you can hear God’s voice? What is required to hear God’s voice? 
  2. What can you do this week to be a better listener?  

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