A Hearing Heart
Put simply, a hearing heart is a heart that hears God. Hearing God has been made to seem like this difficult, often times impossible task that ended with the book of Revelation. But, if we are to believe Scripture ( and from 2 Timothy 3:16 we know and believe that the Scripture is God breathed and therefore trustworthy) hearing God is quite simple. In fact, the only condition God places for us to hear Him is that we must belong to Him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 1:12-13 (NIV)
He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.
John 8:47 (NIV)
How do we Belong to God?
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:9 (KJV)
Jesus answered, ” I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 (NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
You know you belong to God based on your relationship with Jesus. Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour?
If He is, then you hear God. How do I know this?
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10: 11,14,27 (KJV)
But, But…
You are probably saying, ‘That is all well and good, but I am a born again Christian and I still don’t hear God! Is something wrong with me?’
In His omniscience, Jesus foresaw your question and answered it just for you:
But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26 (NIV)
Part of the role of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life is to remind you the words of Christ. This therefore leads to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit works hand in hand with the Word.
And who is the Word?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2(NIV)
And from the Scriptures we know that the Word is not merely a theory, but that He is a living, breathing Spirit Being.
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:63 (NIV)
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God.
Revelation19:11-13 (NIV)
You hear the voice of God through His Word. Jesus is the way, the good shepherd and the Word. You cannot know Him or follow Him outside of the Word of God.
Your Turn
We are a privileged generation. The Scripture is more accessible now than it has ever been in history. We now have bible apps on our phones and laptops. We can access teachings on the internet without having to leave the comfort of our beds.
But I have come to learn that merely reading or listening to Scripture and hearing the Person of the Scripture are two different things. Remember, the Word is a Spirit and as per 2 Corinthians 2:14:
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
As you open the Scriptures, invite the Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you. Ask Him to reveal to you the Person of the Word. Believe that He will do just that and with time you will realize that your heart is hearing the Word. This is your right as a child of God.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:14 (KJV)