November 2012 Issue

                                DISENGAGE LISTENING DISABILITY

Jesus once said to the Jews, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do these things that please Him.” (John 8:29) It is not enough to read and pass on in the word of God, but we must read and gain the full understanding. Until understanding is in place, having a hedge against all confronting situations or challenges remains elusive to every confessing believers. Also, spiritual status is determined by reception and application of the word and not by church title. What you receive and understand will determine the level of result that you will be producing as you journey in the face of earth. Interest and commitment are what will always provoke the zeal for understanding that is gained in the word of God that builds up a believer for inheritance among the sanctified. The Word of God is indeed true to the fact when it stated in Proverbs 4:7, “…In all your getting, get understanding.” It is a demonstration of need for understanding to want to know what it is that pleases the Father. Pleasing the Father is evidently crucial and important to continue in the journey of life because it keeps a believer in constant and continuous touch with the Father. Hebrew 11:5-6 points out what it takes to please the Father: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” If having faith is what pleases the Father, not having faith will be what displeases the Father. When faith is not in place in the life of a believer, the Father will not be in place in the life of such a believer. Jesus specified that doing what pleases the Father is what makes the Father to be in Him and not leave Him. What is the source of this faith that makes the Father’s presence to always be in Jesus? Romans 10: 17, “…Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”The importance of hearing so as to understand is vital and that is emphatically emphasized throughout the Bible. The apostle Paul knew the importance of hearing as vital to understanding the Word. What you do not understand will not work for you. Understanding is the key to the word operating in the life that it enters. Listen to the Word; allow it to have a place in you and the Father will reign over you.
Jesus was speaking, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Evidently, listening is the key to understanding. With understanding, the heart will retain the word. Also, it is the heart that retains the word of God that will be able to keep the commands of God and live constantly with the Father’s presence. The importance of getting understanding cannot be emphasized enough as it was in the book of Proverbs. “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.” (Proverbs 4:5-6) The purpose of understanding the word of faith is to be obedient to God. Where there is word, there will be light and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit cannot be denied. Once the word is truly in the life of a believer, it becomes impossible for a believer to engage in ways of life that does not glorify God. Saul was king when the presence of God departed from him because he continuously disobeyed the word of God. As a result, he became occupied by a troubling spirit, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.” (1 Samuel 16:14)
Obeying the word of God is rooted in having the heart retain the word of His command. When there is disobedient, it is evident the word has been turned away in the heart as a result of listening disability. One that does not listen lacks understanding. The word of God should not only be for quotation; that is, it should not only lie in the mouth, but should also have center place in the heart. Many are conversant quoting the word but few lives and abide in the word. It is written in Deuteronomy 30:14, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Just as it is stated in Deuteronomy, Romans 10:8-10 records, “…the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Having the word in the mouth and not having it through to the heart is like receiving but not believing in Him. Many are conversant and fluent with quoting the word of God, but are far from living the word. Receive and believe and you will please the Father. Pleasing the Father will keep one to be constant in His presence.

FAITH CAPSULE:
Pleasing the Father will keep one to be constant in His presence.
If having faith is what pleases the Father, not having faith will be what displeases the Father.