How You Hear

Oh, these passages!  From these chapters, 1000 sermons could be ministered, and probably have been. There was one passage that stood out to me in this reading, and that is Luke 8:18 ESV, which reads: “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”  The Amplified version of verse 18 reads, “Be careful how you listen; for whoever has a teachable heart, to him more understanding will be given…”

This verse follows a very important parable in the same chapter—the parable of the sower.  This parable is arguably one of the most important stories Jesus taught.  It is all about how people receive the Word of God, and every one of them indicates how people hear.

The 4 types of hearers listed in Matthew 8:12-15 are:

1.     Verse 12—Those who have heard, but the Word is stolen from them by the enemy.

2.     Verse 13—Those who hear with joy, but they don’t outlast the tests in their life.

3.     Verse 14—Those who hear, but yield to worry and cares, and don’t mature.

4.     Verse 15—Those who hear, hold fast, and bear fruit.

As Christians and as ministers of the gospel, this passage is vital in two important ways—first, how we can mature in our walk with Christ ourselves, and secondly, how the people we minister to will be challenged to hear the Word of God for themselves.

How we hear determines everything.  Everything in my life is a result of what I have heard and how I have listened and responded to what I have heard.  What we say matters, what we preach matters, and getting more people to hear it matters.  Not for the numbers, the statistics, or the bragging rights. But because:

“How can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?…” Romans 10:14 MSG

Because of souls.

But how can they hear, if we don’t tell them?

The most wonderful passage of Luke 8:43-48 of the woman with the issue of blood—she had faith to receive!  So exciting!  But some time before this passage, she had heard.  She had heard about Jesus and His miracles, or she would never have had faith to go so boldly and receive her own miracle.

In Luke 9:35, God Himself declares in the most powerful way—audibly for the ears of man—“This is my Son, my Chosen One; LISTEN TO HIM!”

In Luke 9:44, Jesus admonishes His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears”…

And in Luke 10, as Jesus appoints the 72, he tells them in powerful red letters that “the one who hears you HEARS ME.” (verse 16).

What we hear is not always under our control.  But HOW we hear—that is more a matter of the heart.  Words land on our hearts like planes on a runway—we are to guide them to their destination.  With teachable hearts, we can lead words to our minds and spirits, or we can reject them.  God gives us wisdom to know the difference between the words we are to meditate on and receive and the words we are to steer away from our thoughts.

In our passage in Proverbs 8 this week, we have a chapter about wisdom.  Wisdom is the “sifter” in our lives; she will help us know the words we are to keep and reject.  Here in Proverbs, wisdom is outlined as one of the most important things we are to seek in life—and how does she pass on wisdom?

“Hear, for I will speak…” Proverbs 8:6

“Blessed is the one who listens to me…” Proverbs 8:34

The source wisdom uses to transfer all she has is in what can be heard.  That’s why those who hear correctly will reign (Proverbs 8:15), and will have enduring wealth and righteousness (Proverbs 8:18).  They find LIFE and obtain FAVOUR from the Lord! (Proverbs 8:35)  They will bear fruit (Proverbs 8:19), which ties us back to Luke 8:15—the type of hearer we are to be.

Proverbs 8:1 says that wisdom CALLS.  When I call for my kids when they are playing outside or doing something they shouldn’t, it is so they will hear me.  It is for their ears.

What are you listening to today?  HOW are you listening?  Take care with what and how you are hearing today, because therein can be seen all the fruit that will be coming out of your heart, mouth and life in the days to come.

What you hear is life!  It determines the course of your life!  Today, I encourage you to “hear and be wise (Proverbs 8:33).  Pray that the Holy Spirit will also mould and shape the ears of those who hear you to also hear and be wise!