Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

In Lystra sat a man who could not use his feet, lame from birth, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul stared intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:68-9 (emphasis added)

Jesus said “The one who has ears had better listen!” (Matthew 11:15). He said that more than once while here in this earth ministering. In Jesus’ last communication to the Churches (and by extension THE Church as a whole) He said it at the end of EVERY LETTER. “The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’” (Revelation 2:7, as an example). It was an exhortation to listen and heed carefully. The KJV Dictionary defines HEED as to mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe; care; attention; caution; care; watch for danger; notice; circumspection; and is usually preceded by take or give. Merriam-Webster says it means to mind or to pay attention. In other words, whenever you see this phrase it means that something important was just said or is about to be said. It is important to listen.

We miss so much when we don’t listen. In the Fast Facts one-sheet on Active Listening posted by USC.edu it says ‘Most us assume we are good listeners, but recent research shows that poor listening habits and skills effect more than 70% of all employees, resulting in misunderstandings, errors, missed opportunities, arguments, stalled projects and damaged relationships.’ If we don’t listen, how can we empathise? We won’t have all the information or we will have gaps in our communication. We’ll be forming an opinion on A while the other person is discussing B. Listening to others – preferably ACTIVE listening – shows others that you care. It shows that you respect them enough to listen to them (remembering it does NOT mean you have to agree). So much of the identity issues today are rooted in a lack of being SEEN. A lack of feeling valued. People are looking toward a new identity because they feel their current identity has no value.

We need to LISTEN. And we need to do it without falling asleep. I’m not talking about boring people and boring material (I can think of a few lecturers that fit that bill though). I’m talking about Ruach HaKodesh. He speaks to us 24/7/365.25. There is not a MOMENT that He is not communicating with us. Yes, there are definite times when we aren’t getting NEW revelation from Adonai. Usually because we have missed it somewhere. In those times of ‘plateau’ what is Ruach HaKodesh saying? He’s saying go back. He’s saying do the last thing Jesus told you to. He’s saying pay attention. He’s saying look to the Word. There are dozens of things He could be saying. He’s not giving new instructions, new revelation, or new direction. He’s not condemning. He’s not angry. He’s not judging. He’s trying to correct your course. If we don’t listen, He won’t stop talking. He also won’t start shouting or trying to get your attention in a thousand different ways. An eagle isn’t going to land on your car and talk. Owls won’t perch on your fence every time you leave your house. You won’t get relatives being given special dispensation to visit you and make sure you’re getting the message (Luke 16:27-28). He will speak as He as always spoken. In a still, quiet voice that sounds remarkably like yours because He is speaking to YOUR spirit and YOUR spirit is repeating to your mind verbatim in agreement with Adonai.

We NEED to listen. If we do, there is NO LIMIT to what you can hear. You need to investigate it. You have to examine it. You don’t just act on every little thing you hear. “But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). It doesn’t take long to look it up in the Word. Revelation will NEVER contradict the Word. Adonai doesn’t contradict Himself. Don’t know where to look? Ask Him. “But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind” (James 1:5-6). When we listen, we open the door of OUR HEART to receive what is coming from the ALREADY open doors of Heaven.

This is why we preach the Word. This is why we teach the Word. This is why we talk about the Word amongst ourselves. This is why we read it as often as we can. We NEED to hear it. NOT just because it helps to strengthen and deepen our trust in Adonai (Romans 10:17). It is also because we can’t LISTEN if nothing is being SPOKEN. “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”” (Romans 10:14-15). We MUST speak the TRUTH for people to LISTEN to it. They might not. But we MUST speak in order for anyone TO listen. What good is a testimony if you don’t TELL anyone? Look at Lazarus. How much glory would the Father have gotten if only the friends, disciples of Jesus, family members, and the local community heard about Lazarus? Some, but not all. Lazarus got so talked about and people glorified Adonai so much that the religious leaders were looking to kill Lazarus again (John 12:9-11).

When people HEAR the Word, it makes trust in Adonai rise up in themselves. The man from today’s verse may never have been healed if he hadn’t HEARD the WORD from Paul. It ignited his faith, Paul recognised it, and acted on it. “he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man leaped up and began walking” (Acts 14:10). The man got healed. He got released from his bondage. Through the WORD. It can transform you. It can shift your thinking. It can make the unseen visible. It can make your world come alive. It can deepen your love of the Father. It can help you understand the fullness of the depth of the love that Jesus has for you. We can UNDERSTAND these things if we get the Word in us and stir it up. In our thinking day by day. In our meditating and listening during prayer time. In the words we pray and stand on every day. It is a process that will never end NOT because it’s impossible or unable to be achieved. It is a process that will never end because there is NO END to Adonai. He is a God of GROWTH and He wants you to grow alongside Himself. He wants to show you all the mysteries He has hidden for you. LISTEN. Every day. It is one of the keys to receiving the true things of Adonai. Cultivate listening. The harvest is ALWAYS worth it.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Isaiah 9:6

“For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The Messiah would be Wondrous. A wonderful miracle. A wonderful advisor (Pehleh). The embodiment of wonder. The name of Elohim is wonderful (Judges 13:18). The heavens themselves praise Adonai for His wonderfulness (Psalms 89:6). The Messiah too would be a WONDER. “All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”” (Luke 4:22). Jesus’ words created WONDER and AMAZEMENT in those hearing Him. He spoke with authority as if it rested on Himself, not on the teachings of others that He was passing along (Matthew 7:29). Jesus was – and is – a WONDER. Jesus IS the Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b