Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre
Hearing the Word of God.
Mark 4:9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Luke 8:18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.
What a strange expression is this: “He who has ears to hear!” Don’t we all have ears? Yes, but apparently, we do not all hear.
To hear, in both the Old and New Testaments, means to obey. In Hebrew, the word for ‘hear’ and ‘to obey’ are the same word. When we say in Hebrew ‘he obeyed,’ we say ‘he heard his (or her) voice.’That is also what it means to keep the word of God.
Ex. 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
The Word of God is only good if you do it; otherwise, it is of no benefit to you.
Although the parable of the sower presents four responses to the Word, there is only one viable choice; only one response that leads to Life, blessing, and fruitfulness.
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
It’s either that or nothing; all the other responses lead to loss.
As man’s physical life is sustained by bread, man’s spiritual life is sustained by God’s bread— the Word of God. There are no other choices, no other alternatives given. Eating that “bread” is accomplished by doing, keeping the Word of God, and obeying it.
Matt. 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”
And all this comes down to Yeshua Himself.
He says in John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the Life of the world.”
In Yeshua, there is all we need; in Him, we can find our total and utter satisfaction for now and for eternity. There is no other ‘bread’ like Yeshua!
Our eating is found in our obeying His Will and Word; it becomes Life for us and leads to [eternal] Life. The eating-obeying is but a response to the Grace that has come down upon us from heaven; He is God’s manna to us, given-broken for us at the cross.
“Therefore take heed how (in what way) you hear.” Apply the little you have “gathered” and understood, and more will be given to you. Ignore and disregard what you do understand of the Word, and tomorrow it will be all “moldy” to you; you will lose the little understanding and benefit you did have.
But why would anyone, who has tasted the goodness of God in Messiah, choose to hear and not do? Or choose to disregard His word? After all, only He has the words of eternal Life. John 6:68 “Therefore take heed how you hear” is not a threat but an invitation, and wisdom, from the lips of your Savior; he bids you come into LIFE.
Blessings in Yeshua,
Ofer
Title: Hearing the Word of God
Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre
Date: 19th January 2021
