Faith. Part 3
“So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
In Matthew’s Gospel three times the Lord says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (11:15, 13:9. 13:43)
In the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation the Lord speaks to Seven Churches, and His final word to each Church is this – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (2:29, 3:6, etc)
The writer to the Hebrews complains that his readers’ ears have “become dull of hearing”. (5:11)
And so we have an indisputable link between FAITH and HEARING. Our EARS have become the first focus in our enquiry about FAITH.
But what must we hear? We are told “and hearing by the word of God”. But this immediately presents a major problem to many Christians. They say, “I’m not a prophet. I cannot hear God speak. Are you telling me that if I can’t hear God speak to me, there’s no way in which I can please Him?”
Well, on the surface it certainly looks that way, doesn’t it? . . . . . Let’s investigate further. There are two Greek words for “word”. LOGOS and RHEMA. LOGOS is the written word, and RHEMA is the spoken word. Paul said that Faith is derived by hearing the word (RHEMA, the SPOKEN WORD) of God. This surely emphasises the necessity of actually hearing God speak. There is no way of getting round it. Unless we can hear God speak to us, we cannot begin a walk of Faith.
This may come as a devastating truth, one that appears to disqualify the majority of God’s children. Some, reading this may not wish to read further, feeling they have been scandalised. Others may be drooping into a state of melancholy. But hold fast !! There is more to learn. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet. (Heb.12:13)
If you have just been knocked for six, but are now ready to believe what the “rule book” says, know this – YOU HAVE JUST TAKEN A STEP OF FAITH. Your ears have been opened to receive God’s truth. More to come.
