Tag: hearing

Heaven’s Sound

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“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” (Acts 2:1-6 NLT)

Heaven has a sound to be heard, not only by believers, but by the whole world.

Generally, however, the world doesn’t understand heaven’s message; or won’t tolerate it.

“Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” (John 12:28-31 NLT)

People heard the voice, but needed someone “with ears to hear” to interpret its meaning. Jesus did so; Peter did as well. “This is that,” Peter declared.

In these last days, The Lord has MUCH to say to earth’s inhabitants. His Church MUST hear God’s voice like never before. It needs to recognize the lateness of the hour, and the word for the moment.

On the day of Pentecost, the SOUND meant God and man were, once again, in union. God and man, working together. God clothing man once again; only this time man was clothed with power from on high instead of the skin of an animal.

The SOUND on the day of Pentecost was a message for the world – the tabernacle of God is among men. The pillar of fire and pillar of cloud seen from center of the tabernacle in the Old Testament can now be seen in the heart of each believer.

And the God on the inside will be seen on the outside, as people respond to the SOUND.

God speaks, we hear. We respond. God confirms his word with accompanying signs.

Are you hearing God’s sound?

Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.

You want to be heard?

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So, you want to be heard!! Well…

You don’t need to shout! Your voice is heard quite well.

You needn’t use profane language; your point is well taken.

Your attempt to talk over other’s responses does not give credence to your viewpoint.

Your use of five dollar words will not cause others to believe your opinion.

Quoting others who believe like you only reveals who you’re listening to. Throwing statistics at someone, even if they’re true, distracts and detracts from the issue.

Do you really want to be heard?

Here are a few thoughts which may help.

– Try listening more. Can you repeat back to someone what they just said to you?

– Let others have an opinion; an honest to goodness opinion. Value their right to have one. Even if they are dead wrong; they are entitled to believe what they want.

– A soft answer goes a lot farther than a smart-aleck retort. And, it could keep you from having a bloody nose.

– The intrinsic value of each human being does not depend upon what they believe. In fact, those who chose hell over Heaven were as valuable as the heavenly saints. They just weren’t as wise.

– Treat each person you meet as the most important person you’ll meet all day.

– Ask others about their hopes, dreams, family, tattoos, even beliefs. And don’t roll your eyes at them when they tell you they believe the moon is made of Swiss cheese!

– Love the one you’re with. Not in the Stephen Stills kind of way; but in the Jesus Christ kind of way. People can tell if they are only a bother, or a stop-gap conversation until someone more important comes along.

With seven billion people on this planet, all wanting to be heard, sometimes one can’t fit a word in edgewise. But a little love, a little genuine interest, will go a long way.

You want to be heard? Try hearing others, first.

Judah and Simeon

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20131124-214104.jpg“Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. “Judges 1:1-4 NKJV

In the above passage of scripture, Judah was told to lead the battle against the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Most people understand the name, “Judah”, means “praise”. That’s one reason the idea of “praise” marching against the enemy is taught. But some people read this passage and believe God always sends His worship team into battle first. God has done such things a few times, but few doesn’t equal always.

The words Canaanite and Perizzite have meaning as well. Canaanite is “to humiliate” or “vanquish”. Perizzite means “open” or “unwalled”. In other words, “praise” was to go up against a formidable foe that had the reputation of humiliating and vanquishing all of their enemies. And if that wasn’t enough, the other half of the enemy combatants were so powerful they needed no walls of protection for their cities. They could defend their territory without anything but their ability to fight.

Judah had an idea. I believe it was an idea we as worshippers should adopt. Judah (praise) said to brother Simeon, “will you please help me?” Simeon means “hearing”. The picture behind the word isn’t just the physical act of hearing. It means “to hear with the intent of obeying”.

So “praise” said to “hearing, with the intent of obeying”, “please help me defeat these enemies who have the ability and the reputation of defeating all who rise against them.” “Hearing” agreed, and TOGETHER they cleared their land of the enemy.

When we as worship team members and leaders stand in front of a congregation, singing songs should be one of the last things we’re concerned with. Singing praises alone doesn’t automatically open windows for victory. We must keep our heart and mind sensitive to God’s voice, and to the leader’s heart (and the pastor’s).

When we unite praise and obedience to God’s voice we will see God’s Kingdom come and His will done in our world.

He Hears You

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20130815-213535.jpgDo you hear the voice of God calling you?

He hears you…

While driving your car in rush hour traffic, from out of nowhere someone cuts you off. You slam on your brakes and scream, “Oh God, HELP!”

He hears you…

Tossing and turning on your bed at night, worried about children, parents, job, church, and things you can’t remember to worry about. You eventually fall asleep, exhausted, knowing you’ll have to face your heavy load tomorrow. But God doesn’t slumber or sleep.

He hears you…

The doctor’s office calls, explaining their need to see you in the office immediately. You didn’t catch all they said, but the urgency in their voice has you almost paralyzed with fear. With tears streaming down your face, you bow your head and whisper one name; the Name above all names.

He hears you…

The deep needs of man cry out to the depth of God’s compassion. The tears of the rejected, the heartbroken, the tormented call to the streams of the Lord’s tender mercies. Though you may be hiding from the One calling your name, the deep need in your life is crying out for help, for covering, for restoration.

And He hears you…

The greater the need, the more magnificent the promise:

“This is what the Lord says – the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord : Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” (Jeremiah 33:2-3 NLT)

“As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.” (Micah 7:7 NLT)

Like the nation of Israel, slaves in a foreign land, seeing no way back to the land of promise, you have given up on life, settling for a mere existence.

But He hears the cry of your heart…

“I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land.” (Exodus 3:7-8 NLT)

If you will quiet your soul, lay to rest your reasoning and scheming, you will hear God speak. Great shall be your peace when you hear Him say, “Fear not.” You will know beyond the shadow of a doubt God is interested in your well being as He whispers to your soul the words of Jesus, “come unto Me all who are weary and loaded down with the cares of this world, and I will give you rest.”

And when you finally bow your heart in total surrender and allegiance to Jesus, and say these words, “Jesus, I need Your help. I receive You as my Lord and Savior…”

He will hear you…

My, how He’ll hear you!

You Are Not Alone

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20130812-051251.jpgYou are not alone! Though you may be inundated with feelings of despair and loneliness, you are not alone.

It matters not if you are unable to speak “God’s language”; He hears your cry.

He sees your need, feels your pain, knows your heart, and remembers what He accomplished on the cross those many years ago.

And it’s not the first time God ever had to rescue someone from life’s stranglehold.

“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel – and God knew.” (Exodus 2:23-25 ESV)

“Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.” (Exodus 3:7-9 ESV)

It’s hard to see and think straight when you are full of despair. Faith doesn’t come easy when hope has been trampled.

Moses, being sent by God to Pharaoh’s courts, demanded freedom for His people. As a result, the chains of slavery became tighter. The hope that had been built in the children of Israel’s hearts turned to bitterness and hopelessness. Moses tried to encourage his brethren, but to no avail.

“Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.” (Exodus 6:9 ESV)

“They did not listen to Moses”, the man sent from God. Yet, that didn’t stop God from hearing them!

The heart of God is like none other. It is drawn to the needs, the brokenness and bitterness, and the emptiness of all mankind. It can’t ignore the cries of despair and will make every effort to bring encouragement and hope into the situation.

It’s as though the very need itself has a voice that cries out to God.

That, in essence, is the Gospel. God was in Christ, reaching out to mankind’s emptiness, their slavery to the lordship of satan, and answering the age-old cry for help that began in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Answering the cry with the Eternal Remedy – Jesus. God initiating, God sending, God delivering; for people too broken to speak.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:6-9 ESV)

You may be fed up with “life”, filled with despair, and ready to give up completely; but please wait before you do. YOU are a candidate for God’s love and power. He already knows your situation, hears the cry of your heart, and remembers what He accomplished on the cross. For you!

“Deep calls to deep…”

“Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid…”

You are not alone.

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