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HEARING TO HEAR
When Faith is the Most Alive
"So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God."
- Romans 10:17
There are many wonderful truths surrounding the message of faith. One in particular is the fact that faith is a living substance. The very idea that "the just shall live by faith" implies that it is alive. After all, how could something that is inert give life, and how could the living be sustained by that which is lifeless? According to Second Corinthians four, Paul used the phrase, "the spirit of faith" (2 Cor. 4:13). If faith is a spirit, then it would certainly qualify as being alive since spirits do express some form of life as being a living entity. It just happens that faith, as a spirit, is a sustainable energy. It pulsates with the life of God.
What is so important about a living faith is not just that it exists, but that it can thrive in a place where its life can be the most responsive: For instance, when Paul wrote to the Romans and said, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:17). This is a very interesting statement. The Greek word for "hearing" should actually read "hearing to hear." Faith actually arrives and thrives in the moment of hearing. In other words, it is not just in having heard and then goes away remembering what was said. It is more than that. It is a living force that responds in the moment of listening. There is a reaction that comes the moment the heart hears the quickening Word of God.
Faith is the result of a hearing ear that is responsive to the quickened Word of God, and it has the power to spring into action at the moment of listening.
If you remember correctly, Jesus exhorted all seven churches in the book of Revelation that: "He that hath ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). I think it is clearly understood that He was talking about hearing beyond just our natural ears to hear. He was talking about hearing with the heart. That is where our spiritual life resides, and it is really where faith lives. When the heart hears what the Spirit is saying then living faith immediately is present to act. I think the problem with so many folks who struggle with the faith message is that they somehow think faith is inanimate, and that you can make it work without the quickening power of the Word. In other words, "if I believe for something then it is just a matter of me saying my faith." That kind of thinking makes it seem as if faith is almost mechanical. But faith is not mechanical. It's not like getting in your car, turning over the engine, and then everything is supposed to be revved and ready to go. Faith is the result of a hearing ear that is responsive to the quickened Word of God, and it has the power to spring into action at the moment of listening. That is where faith is the most alive. Another way of saying it is faith thrives on a listening heart. It is in that moment of truly hearing, listening with the heart that the power of faith takes hold, and out of the abundance of the heart there are faith-filled words released.
"Hearing to hear" indicates that the heart is fixed on hearing. It is engaged with something that is alive, and when the living Word touches that part of the heart that is listening then it produces a living faith! If a person hesitates or is dubious about stepping out, hoping to use their faith for something they need or want, then that is a sure indication they really haven't stepped into the moment of listening. When you are operating in a living faith your actions are immediate. There isn't a question "should I do this or that." It's an absolute "know so" response that propels a person into action! To think that faith works just because you heard a promise, when in all reality that Word has not been quickened and made alive in you, will never cause you to be able to hold fast will an unshakable resolve when everything that can oppose you is staring you in the face.
When Paul said, "Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18), what he meant was make sure you are responding to things you see inwardly and not outwardly. And the only way that can happen is when that which is within you is more real than that which opposes you from without.
So if you want your faith to thrive then maintain a seeing eye and a hearing ear. Live in the moment of expectancy. Draw your strength from the quickened Word of God. Base your faith on what your heart hears in the moment of listening, and it will empower you to hold fast your confession when everything around you in speaking otherwise.
PRAYER
Father, I thank you for giving me a heart of expectation that is growing in me because I have my ear bent toward heaven to hear what "saith the Lord." I choose today to give myself to a hearing ear. I perk up my spiritual antennas to catch the sayings of God so that my faith comes alive with an immediate response. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
CONFESSION
Father, I choose today to be a person of the Word. I will seek with my whole heart to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. I purpose to look deeper, to search more earnestly to hear within what will give more life, more energy, and more vitality to my faith.
DEFINING MOMENTS...
It is so important that we realize that faith springs into action in the moment of listening. When the connection is made, and things within come alive, that is when faith is the most potent. Faith lives and breathes and embraces the unseen realm, but it feeds on a hearing ear. And the moment the Word of God comes alive within the heart, that is when faith is the most alive, the most active, and the most ignitable. If you will learn to listen and hear what the Spirit is saying through the Word, and take it all in, you will never be at a loss for faith.
In His Grace,
Pastor David
Faith Harvest Church
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