Sunday, October 5, 2008

Do You Have Ears to Hear?

A few weeks ago a good friend was going through a very difficult family crisis. Beyond tears, he needed to hear from God. But how could he be sure he had the ears to hear? My only suggestion to him was to worship. But was he ready?

Jesus tells us in John 4:23-24 that we are to worship God in spirit and in truth. Furthermore, God tells us in Psalm 24:4 that only those with a pure heart can approach God's throne. Only there can we hear God's voice, His commands, His calling, His personal words for us.

No sinner can go there. No Christian with sin in his/her life can go there. God will have no sin in His holy presence. This confused my friend. Perhaps you see things now like he did at that time. Hasn't the blood of Jesus cleansed us from all sin, saved us, and brought us forever into the presence of God?

From an eternal and positional perspective the answer is yes. However, during this mortal life on earth, we must still experientially deal with sin. Jesus' work is done. But our work, our responsibility, is to maintain a right standing, our fellowship, with Him. While we do not lose our salvation when we sin, we do lose our fellowship and right standing with God. How is this amended?

God tells us the way in I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Then, transact with God according to Romans 6:11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Finally, lock it in by putting on your armor according to Ephesians 6:10-20 finishing with this command, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

Those effectual and fervent prayers will be heard and none other. Why? Because you are righteous both positionally and experientally.

Well this gave my friend great pause. He said he had to go home and study the Scriptures and pray on this. He did.

The next morning he came to me rejoicing. "For the first time in my twenty-five plus years of Christian life I HEARD God speak to me personally", he said. He now has ears to hear. Do you?

Don't wait for the crisis of sin to get you to this place that all Christians have before them since day one of their salvation. Know this truth and be free indeed!

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