Hear With Your Heart
Jerry N Watts
Revelation 1:4-8
• In their book ‘‘Seven Desires’’, Mark and Debbie Lassar outline 7 basic needs that they believe God hard-wired into the human heart. They are; ‘‘to be included, to be chosen, to be touched, to be safe, to be blessed, to be affirmed, and to be understood and HEARD.’’ Every person desires to be heard. God gave us the capacity to hear, listen, understand and be understood. The well-known Prayer of St. Assisi expresses this way: ‘‘O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek, to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand.’’ To understand we must listen to the point that we HEAR. Scripture offers us many examples.
• In Acts 28, Paul’s ministry and life were coming to a close; he was still proclaiming the hard truths of God. In verse 17, he called the ‘‘leaders of the Jews in Rome’’ to come for one more day and hear. (Read vs 23-29)
• There is a correlation between seeing and ‘‘hearing with UNDERSTANDING’’. We will never understand if we refuse to hear. (Ilus finger in ears, closed eyes) This is true in life as well as in our relationship with God. IN other words, ‘‘we must hear with our hearts.’’ We hear, we see, and we understand. Hearing is essential for the Christ-follower.
• In fact, our Lord dramatically points this out in Revelation 2 and 3. Writing to these 7 churches (I.E. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea) He ends every letter with these words, ‘‘He who has an ear SHOULD HEAR what the spirit says to the churches.’’
• What the Spirit said back then He is still saying today. So the question for the day is this: Do I have ears to hear what the Lord is saying to me? Know what? When you are in love or engaged with someone or something, you listen intently, with understanding, and clearly discern the message that is offered. (Illus) You listen with more than your ears. This morning, please listen intently and ‘hear with your heart.’ ...
Jerry N Watts
Revelation 1:4-8
• In their book ‘‘Seven Desires’’, Mark and Debbie Lassar outline 7 basic needs that they believe God hard-wired into the human heart. They are; ‘‘to be included, to be chosen, to be touched, to be safe, to be blessed, to be affirmed, and to be understood and HEARD.’’ Every person desires to be heard. God gave us the capacity to hear, listen, understand and be understood. The well-known Prayer of St. Assisi expresses this way: ‘‘O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek, to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand.’’ To understand we must listen to the point that we HEAR. Scripture offers us many examples.
• In Acts 28, Paul’s ministry and life were coming to a close; he was still proclaiming the hard truths of God. In verse 17, he called the ‘‘leaders of the Jews in Rome’’ to come for one more day and hear. (Read vs 23-29)
• There is a correlation between seeing and ‘‘hearing with UNDERSTANDING’’. We will never understand if we refuse to hear. (Ilus finger in ears, closed eyes) This is true in life as well as in our relationship with God. IN other words, ‘‘we must hear with our hearts.’’ We hear, we see, and we understand. Hearing is essential for the Christ-follower.
• In fact, our Lord dramatically points this out in Revelation 2 and 3. Writing to these 7 churches (I.E. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea) He ends every letter with these words, ‘‘He who has an ear SHOULD HEAR what the spirit says to the churches.’’
• What the Spirit said back then He is still saying today. So the question for the day is this: Do I have ears to hear what the Lord is saying to me? Know what? When you are in love or engaged with someone or something, you listen intently, with understanding, and clearly discern the message that is offered. (Illus) You listen with more than your ears. This morning, please listen intently and ‘hear with your heart.’ ...
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