"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17
This verse essentially describes in reverse order the way that God progressively and tangibly guides us. So, we read the Word, which is the bible, God's written word. That's the first step--the step mentioned last in Romans 10:17, from which the other ones flow from. God's word is an open door, and we need to read it to know Him better. Then we hear from Him. Usually hearing is a three part process--and these parts usually come in the following order:
1) The Word, the Bible, comes alive to us in a new way that relates more specifically to us. A certain verse may jump out. For example, I may pray for my family and right after read Luke 1:50. The Word first begins to come alive in this way.
2) We receive from the Lord a vision that comes from, or by, the Word of God. The Word of the Lord is often characterized in a vision. This can be seen in Jeremiah 1:11 and Samuel 3:1.
3) The most evident form of hearing is just that--hearing the audible voice of God. His audible voice differs from that still, small one. It comes externally, from heaven itself. It is like the sounds of roaring thunder or many rushing waters (Revelation 14:2)--majestic!! This is a rarity, or at least it has been for me. But that doesn't mean that it will be for you! Whoever asks with purity receives...
So, these are three ways that God speaks to us--three ways that we hear. They all flow from the words that are in the Bible, the Word of God. The Holy Spirit makes that book so real! And He wants to speak to us in all the ways above, and more. Why does He speak to us? And consequently, why do we hear His voice?
Because we are sheep that need to stay in touch with our Shepherd. Because we need to know Him more. Because we need the faith, the knowing, that cometh by hearing.
How can we listen to God on a moment by moment basis if we don't hear Him accordingly? We need a revelation from the Word. We need a vision. We need a voice. We need to have the Word made real and dynamic to us--made alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).
After we have faith from the hearing, that's when we can act. That's when we can really live abiding in God. That's when we can have success--our joy--guaranteed. If God tells me to pray for someone who is sick, then I know He will do the work--which is usually a total healing. If God tells me to smile at someone, then I know that it blessed someone, regardless if I see any results or not. If I see in a vision while praying that someone I am not with is being healed, then I need to believe that!
I need faith because I heard God, and I need to hear God, in whatever way works, because I read His Word first. Wigglesworth said, "consume the Word of God until it consumes you". This is a place where you have heard and believed.
We need to see God's Word for what it is. We need to see just what He's telling this. He has given us so many gifts, and we need to step into the fullness of them all.
This verse essentially describes in reverse order the way that God progressively and tangibly guides us. So, we read the Word, which is the bible, God's written word. That's the first step--the step mentioned last in Romans 10:17, from which the other ones flow from. God's word is an open door, and we need to read it to know Him better. Then we hear from Him. Usually hearing is a three part process--and these parts usually come in the following order:
1) The Word, the Bible, comes alive to us in a new way that relates more specifically to us. A certain verse may jump out. For example, I may pray for my family and right after read Luke 1:50. The Word first begins to come alive in this way.
2) We receive from the Lord a vision that comes from, or by, the Word of God. The Word of the Lord is often characterized in a vision. This can be seen in Jeremiah 1:11 and Samuel 3:1.
3) The most evident form of hearing is just that--hearing the audible voice of God. His audible voice differs from that still, small one. It comes externally, from heaven itself. It is like the sounds of roaring thunder or many rushing waters (Revelation 14:2)--majestic!! This is a rarity, or at least it has been for me. But that doesn't mean that it will be for you! Whoever asks with purity receives...
So, these are three ways that God speaks to us--three ways that we hear. They all flow from the words that are in the Bible, the Word of God. The Holy Spirit makes that book so real! And He wants to speak to us in all the ways above, and more. Why does He speak to us? And consequently, why do we hear His voice?
Because we are sheep that need to stay in touch with our Shepherd. Because we need to know Him more. Because we need the faith, the knowing, that cometh by hearing.
How can we listen to God on a moment by moment basis if we don't hear Him accordingly? We need a revelation from the Word. We need a vision. We need a voice. We need to have the Word made real and dynamic to us--made alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).
After we have faith from the hearing, that's when we can act. That's when we can really live abiding in God. That's when we can have success--our joy--guaranteed. If God tells me to pray for someone who is sick, then I know He will do the work--which is usually a total healing. If God tells me to smile at someone, then I know that it blessed someone, regardless if I see any results or not. If I see in a vision while praying that someone I am not with is being healed, then I need to believe that!
I need faith because I heard God, and I need to hear God, in whatever way works, because I read His Word first. Wigglesworth said, "consume the Word of God until it consumes you". This is a place where you have heard and believed.
We need to see God's Word for what it is. We need to see just what He's telling this. He has given us so many gifts, and we need to step into the fullness of them all.
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