"And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." (Acts 8:6)
I. A HEARING EAR
A. Hearing from God is not dependent on time and natural ability, but on God speaking to us and us having an ear that is sharp and focused upon God's voice.
B. This was the case with Simeon in Luke 2:35;
"And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:25-26)
C. Simeon received a word from God that he would see the Christ. He may have received this word years before, nevertheless, Simeon was still listening and waiting. He was waiting to hear the manifestation of the word to come to pass.
D. Then, on a certain day, Simeon was "moved" by the Spirit and was in the temple, where he worked, when Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus. Simeon recognized Jesus by revelation knowledge and spoke the Word of the LORD over Him. Simeon had an ear to hear revelation knowledge.
"And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." (Luke 2:27-32)
E. In Ephesians Paul prayed,
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," (Ephesians 1:17-18) This speaks of a knowing that transcends human efforts and abilities, and which must be given from above.
F. Thus, an openness and sensitivity to the Spiritual realm is essential. Paul also, encourages us,
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." (1 Corinthians 12:1) The word "gift" in this verse in italics. Since it is not in the original text should be read without the word "gift."
G. In the Book of Isaiah we read,
"The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50:5-6)
H. After we give our heart to the Lord, which is more than a salvation experience, and we receive the Holy Spirit the Lord opens our ears to be able to hear revelation knowledge. The previous verse tells us how He does this.
"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isaiah 50:4)
I. Our being awakened "morning by morning" (day by day) speaks of our spiritual ear being progressively opened, that we might hear the word of the Lord. And one who hears seek to apply what he hears.
J. Second, is our response. "I was not rebellious, not did I turn away." These two things are essential to our having a hearing ear. The Lord will open our spiritual ear, but we must listen and obey what we hear.
K. Hearing is based upon what we do after we receive the word. Jesus shares these thoughts from Matthew;
"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." (Matthew 13:19) This happen when we do not understand what the word of the Lord is for us and we move off-track (our choice) into presumption. The wicked one (Satan) then is able (either God's permission or our disobedience) to move us further and further away from the word of God for our life.
L. Verses 20-21 concern those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but since they have no roots, there is no outworking.
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." (Matthew 13:20-21) The word offended in the Greek says, "he is inconsistent." Inconsistency keeps us from having a hearing ear. Ever learning, but never learning. We hear, we rejoice, but we make no lasting commitment.
M. In Verse 22, Jesus gives us number three.
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." (Matthew 12:22) When we are deceived by worries or by riches, we are demonstrating a lack of faith and trust in what the Lord has said. We need to stand firm.
N. In Verse 23, Jesus tells us that the see sown on good soil (our heart) represents the man who hears. He produces a crop yielding 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown, based not on the sowing but, on the measure of hearing.
"But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:23) At the same measure one hears the word they will be fruitful.
II. PARTING THOUGHTS
A. A word from the Lord produces revelation knowledge. We hear and do not draw back. As the Lord wakens our ears morning by morning, we become doers of the word. Our lives are changed, and His Body is built.
B. May each one of us be spiritually awaken, morning by morning that we might hear the Word of the Lord in a way that will change our lives, renew our minds, and give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we might better know and serve out Lord.
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