Jesus said to Thomas, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed.” John 20:29

Why was it so important for Jesus to make this statement?

A question that was posed to me the other day was, “Why don’t people hear the voice of God, why don’t they hear His words and the present truth that is being spoken?”

This was a very good question and one the Holy Spirit was decisive to answer. Jesus stated in all counts to the seven churches in Revelations this, “He who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” The first comment here is that those who have an ear are to hear, secondly what the Spirit is saying. Our assumption to this can quite easily be that as the Spirit speaks to the church we are to hear. Well yes but more so, or more specifically those who have an ear. So we can see the suggestion that not all will hear just those who have an ear to hear. What does this mean that only some will? Yes. Does this mean that those who hear have then the great responsibility of bringing this to the church as some apostle or prophet? No. This ear is the ear of revelation and it does not matter how often it is preached, proclaimed or hammered, it can only come by way of the Holy Spirit. Paul prays for us Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom of revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that you my know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

What Paul is praying for is for us to have these spiritual ears that hear, to receive the revelation of Messiah and His great plan and purpose and to know who we are in Him. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, we have been given the Spirit of God to know the deep things from God, 1 Corinthians 2:10.

Peter also asks us to be established in present truth, 2 Peter 1:12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. The church had been evolving for many centuries now and it has been men of faith with these ears to hear and be established in the present truth of their time that has played a vital role in this restoration. This why is it so important to have this ear.

But shouldn’t we be seeing what God is doing? Well yes, but we must put this in context with Scriptural pattern, and that is hearing first, then seeing.

John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

What does this say about hearing and seeing, well if we go back one verse to verse 23 we read, Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feasts, many believed in His name when they saw the signs and wonders which He did.

Well what does this show us, they believed on His name didn’t they? Yes they did, but we also see how they came to believe in His name. It was by the signs and wonders that he did. This is exactly what he said to Thomas in regards to him believing because he saw. A lot of people have commented to me and asked me to pray for some one to be healed and through this miracle they would become saved. Is this really true, because of the ten lepers Jesus healed only one came back to worship Him. People can receive miracle after miracle, but unless their ears are open to hear “the knock” will they ever truly come to salvation and continue in it. Even with Phillip at Samaria he first preached the name of Jesus and the kingdom with signs and wonders then following. We are called to walk by faith and not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7, and how does faith come, from hearing the word of God, Romans 10:17. This word of God is the rhema, or quickened/spoken word that is spoken to us, by our Father to build faith and this, according to Scripture, is the only way it comes. So it is the hearing of the word of God that gives faith, not the seeing of evidence. We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things “NOT” seen, Hebrews 11:1.

Lets see this in action –

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD has said to Abram: Get out of your country, From your family and your father’s house, To a land I will show you.

Abram was told, or heard the Lord’s command to get out, and then he would be shown a land. If we look in verse 4 we see that Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him then in verse 7 we see this, Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Firstly because Abram heard, then was obedient he then saw, more so he saw the Lord who spoke to him. First he heard, became obedient through faith then saw. This has been God’s desire for us all, that we be a people to hear Him, to have an ear to hear.

Jeremiah 7:22-23 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them saying, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.”

As the Lord prophesied to Jeremiah He explains that the children of promise were not led out for the purpose of having a law, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But in fact were led out to hear the voice of God.

I might divert a little to look at why God brought in the law; after all He makes it quite clear that was not His intention for them being led out.

Galatians 3:19a What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions…

The law was given because of transgressions, or because of violations or the violations of a command, in other words disobedience. And furthermore it leads us to Christ. What was this disobedience? Well we know that whilst Moses was on the mountain the children of Israel built a golden calf, Exodus 32, but if we go back a little to chapter 19 we see Moses and the children come to Mount Sanai. This is where the Lord made His presence known by thick clouds and thundering and lightening.

In Exodus 19:21 Moses was commanded to go down and make sure the children were not coming through into the presence of God and by chapter 20 we see Moses dictating the ten commandments, so lets pick up from verse 18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it they trembled and stood far off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’ So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

After some time of persistent rumblings and doubt on their travels thus far, they refused to draw near and hear the spoken word of God, then we find by Exodus 32 they were doing exactly what they were commanded not to do, building an image of gold. The children of Israel had an eye that saw but did not have an ear to hear. So I ask this, was their transgression the doubt in God to this point or the refusal to hear the Lord’s own voice on this day, the spoken word that gives faith?

Is this the same for us today, is it a fear in us that prevents us from hearing the voice of God, and is that fear a fear of finding out the truth, that what we are or what we are doing is not exactly what He wants. Are we frightened that this voice will melt away some of our deepest insecurities that we have held dear, or expose our darkest sin, or are we just simply afraid of being free? I know that our Father has a sovereign plan, but I can’t help but wonder what would have been if the children of Israel embraced His voice, ran near instead of drawing away in fear. Really at the end of the day what did they have to lose, they were stuck in the middle of a wilderness, they were tired and possibly confused being brought out of something they had depended heavily upon for over four hundred years, and now stuck before a mountain that had a lot of scary stuff happening. But I can’t help but have compassion for them, as I know that I have been in this same place, standing before the reality of God, thunderings and the like, turmoil and great fear and I too have drawn away instead of pressing closer, and yes, even went off to build my own golden calf.

Even earlier than Moses and Abraham, we see Noah in the same example, hearing then obeying. It was not until the flood came that he saw. He was not held back by fear or confusion but hearkened to the voice of God as He gave command.

Even before Noah, Enoch walked in glory by this word of faith, this is all documented in Hebrews 11.

Many are still looking for the signs and wonders, and I do not dispute their existence, I myself long to see them more regularly, but again many are seeking to walk by sight and not by faith. Do we come together in His name to see what He will do or do we come together to hear what He is telling us, then by faith acting in obedience. Moses and Paul had something in common, their desire to see God’s people prophecy, to speak forth the oracles of God true and majestic, to hear the voice of God coming forth to the congregation, Numbers 11:29 & 1 Corinthians 14:1.

But beyond all this are we prepared to draw near and hear His voice, do we put ourselves in that place to hear that small still voice, 1 Kings 19:12-13 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

When Adam fell God’s concern was not, “Adam, what have you done?” But rather, “Adam, where are you?” Genesis 3:9. Samuel slept in the temple and was able to hear the Lord’s call, 1 Samuel 3:7-11. Samuel drew near to the voice, for the word that was promised was going to do something that would make ears tingle. Jesus even stated Himself, “As I hear I judge” John 5:30.

With Father it is not about what we do, yes we are called for righteousness, but whose. Yes we are called for many things but at the end of the day what counts most to Father is where you are. I know that you have probably heard this a trillion times but it is the Martha verses Mary scenario. Are we off busy serving or sitting adoringly at His feet willing to cling to every word?

So let us all be encouraged and pray that we have these ears to hear. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. It is by being led by His Spirit, hearing what He has to say, then receiving this by faith. It is a time that the church is coming back into relationship with Messiah in such a way that our Bridegroom leads and we the bride will instinctively follow. He is surely leading her up out of the wilderness. This is what He is doing in these days, breaking away fetters that have bound us for years, many in the form of doctrines that have come by way of personal or private interpretation. Many are still looking up at the clouds and waiting for Jesus to return from some geographical place instead of, listening to the question in Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken from among you will come again in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Jesus claims in Luke 17:20-21 that the kingdom of God is not in observation, but rather in our midst. So why the gazing up, looking for some sign, instead of knowing that He is here among us, hearing Him as He reigns in His spiritual kingdom, and that He will come again in like manner, manifested and lifted up from among His people.

The word of faith that is spoken to us is not just for obedience as God being placed as some hierarchical figure, as even obedience can only come from grace. He supplies the obedience; it is the obedience of Christ in us.

2 Corinthians 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

The obedience Paul talks of here is from another source, which comes to a point of completion. The Greek translation pleroo (fulfilled) implies a being made full, perfect or a supply. Even obedience is one of hearing - being that of submission through attentive hearing or to listen with compliant submission.

A vast majority of the church is hoping to be accepted “one day”, you know the sayings, “I hope I make it in the rapture” etc, etc. But with the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, listening to His voice we begin to receive grace and truth. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. I was one to believe that His grace was His enabling power to enable me to do what He wanted me to do, but this not the case, His grace is His enabling power for Him to do through me and to me what He chooses.

Also as we are led back to the purity in which He speaks we begin to see we are purposed for something more recent than rapture, the establishment of His kingdom here and now, for us to abide in Him and He in us now, not one day in the mystical future. He has promised that we will be his sons and daughters and He will dwell in us and walk among us 2 Corinthians 6:16. Much fear has been brought to the forefront as these doctrines of interpretation continue to reign as golden calves in our midst, For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7. Any doctrines spoken that causes confusion, fear or conformity to any other but Christ, we must ask ourselves is this from God. This is what it is to test all things, using our pure relationship with the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, as many of these doctrines have sound scriptural support. We are also called to study to show ourselves approved that we, as people of God need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.

The word of faith clearly tells us that we have been made accepted in the Beloved, Ephesians 1:6. That we are spiritual if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in us, Romans 8:9. We have been raised up and are already seated together in Heavenly places with Him, Ephesians 2:6, and so much more.

As I quoted much earlier from 1 Corinthians 2:10 we know that we have been given the Spirit to know the deep things of God; part of these deep things are those things that have been freely given to us, 1 Corinthians 2: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us.

So again the word that God desires us to hear is not all about us bowing down and doing what is right in subservient slavery so we can receive the reward or wages, but knowing that through grace the reward is already given and it is received through loving and willing submission to His love for us. This is not like a carrot being dangled in front of a stubborn donkey, but rather one that exhorts us, encourages and yes, even disciplines and chastises, but something that will always bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Of course this hearing only comes from Him, this is why Paul prays in Ephesians 1:17 that He will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Jesus explains this to Peter in Matthew 16:17 after he had had the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the appointed King. Jesus answered and said to Him, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Johah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. These ears can only come through the Holy Spirit as we build our relationship with Him. This is explained deeper by Peter’s answer in John 6:68-69 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the son of the Living God.”

Yes they were drawn to something special when Jesus first called them together, but after some time their relationship had grown and they had come to believe and know. It is as we build our relationship with Him He is revealed or made known us and we are transformed, 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. How often do we focus on seeing the end product of what Father is doing rather than hearing from Him today and realizing that what we will become will be made evident to us eventually. John is not talking of end times when Jesus returns but explaining that as we build our relationship with Jesus we will begin to see who He is just as Peter did. And as we see him we are transformed through His amazing grace to become the image of His Son, Romans 8:29. We quite often focus on the end result and do whatever we can to get there, rather than hearing from Him to draw us closer.

In our relationship with Him He longs for us to hear His voice. Much of our prayer, even, can be become regimented and ritual like, rather than a relational conversation. We shout at the ceiling, proclaiming the scriptures and letting God know His promises in a way we think that He has forgotten them. We shout at the devil and pick fights that aren’t really ours to pick, declaring our rights as children of God forgetting that we are now slaves and that the only rights are His. As this study is a study on hearing the voice of God we can safely say that a lot of our prayer should be listening to Him, after all He is the one with all the answers. He wants us to have confidence in our walk with Him and grow in faith through the implanted word He speak into us, this is why He desires for us to know His will in regards to what we pray for. 1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, Hears us. And we know that if He hears us, what ever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Jesus tells us the same thing in John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Yippee!!! I can learn the bible off by heart and ask for whatever I want and I’ll get it. Not quite, remembering in verse 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

It is by answered pray that Father is glorified, yes, but other points to the exercise are that we bear much fruit and become His disciples. What is this fruit, well many believe it is the things accumulated from our prayer, a new car, a bigger house and I don’t dispute that this can happen. Many focus on this fruit as being the labours of their hands, such as missionary work or outreach and evangelism, larger churches and larger congregations. But what is the main focus of fruit in the bible, Galatians 5:22-23 For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law.

It is the nature of Christ in us for His glory to be revealed in us Romans 8:18. This is how the world will know that we are His disciples.

This will all happen as we hear what He is saying and having that word abide in us, this is how the Father is glorified and people will know who we are, it is truly Christ in us our hope of glory, Colossians 1:27.

These ears are open to all that will ask for them as our Father is no respecter of persons, all we need to do is ask and let Him begin His work.

Ask, and will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

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