039 ~ Are We Listening To The Holy Spirit?

ARE WE LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?

By Rodney W. Francis.

The New Testament Jesus is very clear on teaching us of the need to be listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, as He is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17; John 16:12-15). 16 times the words “He that has an ear, let him hear” is stated in the New Testament (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Mark 7:16; Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35; Revelation 13:9, plus the 7 times in Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation where it adds: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.

For a statement to be repeated 16 times in Scripture means that it is extremely important.
Yet so many Christians doubt the voice of God the Holy Spirit!
Our Christian life stands or falls on our ability to recognize how and when God is speaking to us.
He is alive today and speaks to those who are listening.
God’s true sons and daughters are those who are “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14).
Jesus gave clear teaching to His followers that they needed to make sure they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit.
When He left this earth He sent the Holy Spirit Who came mightily on the Day of Pentecost and filled those waiting believers with a power they had never known before (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4).

Christianity without the Holy Spirit is a powerless religion!

“HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES I WILL GIVE . . .” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22).

Every one of the Seven Churches in Revelation 2 and 3 were given the same instruction as to how to OVERCOME the various “problems” they were facing.

All of the seven churches problems were caused by their getting away from the simple truth of “hearing what the Holy Spirit was saying to them”!

The problems could only be solved by their again listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and heeding whatever He said!

It is exactly the same for us today.

He, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Truth! He cannot tell a lie, and He does not lead us wrong. He only leads us in the will of God. We ignore Him to our peril! Let us look at those “problems” very briefly from the messages to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation:

1. EPHESUS (Revelation 2:1-7):

Contended with False Apostles ~ found them liars.
Persevered, had patience, and laboured ~ not become weary.
But they had left their first love!
They had fallen.
Called to repent and do the first works.

2. SMYRNA (Revelation 2:8-11):

Had tribulation.
Had to contend with blasphemy and Satanists who were disguised as Jews (Christians).
Had persecution and even prison.

3. PERGAMOS (Revelation 2:12-17):

Were dwelling where Satan’s seat/throne is.
Had experienced martyrdom in their midst.
Had allowed some false doctrines (teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans), idolatry and sexual immorality to be tolerated by some.
Called to repentance.

4. THYATIRA (Revelation 2:18-29):

Suffered the spirit of Jezebel to teach.
Could not discern between a true and false prophetess.
This caused seduction and sexual immorality.
Lack of discipline in that they ate foods sacrificed to idols (knowingly).
Some were caught-up in the “depths of Satan” (Satanic deception).
Called to repent of their deeds ~ but failed to repent after being given time.

5. SARDIS (Revelation 3:1-6):

Had false personal beliefs (they thought they were alive, but were dead).
Pride through a false reputation.
Their works were imperfect.
They were told to repent and watch!
They were ignorant of God’s visitation.
Their garments had been defiled.

6. PHILADELPHIA (Revelation 3:7-13):

Had a mixture of Satanists influencing them wrongly.
This caused liars and lying to be in their midst.
Some persevered and held fast (others had little strength).

7. LAODICEA (Revelation 3:14-22):

Suffered from luke-warmness – they were neither hot nor cold for Jesus.
That creates mixture!
It made God sick!
Deception ~ thought they were rich and all-sufficient, but were wretched, miserable, blind and naked.
Their spiritual eyes were blinded.
Shame.

Called to repent.

The one simple word of advice given to overcome all these problems was:

“HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES”(“that which is called out” – Young’s)!!!

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard” (Revelation 3:3).

The word “hear” comes from the Greek word “akouo” and means: “to hear, to have the faculty of hearing; to hear, perceive with the ears; to give ear, listen; to learn by hearing, be informed” (Bullinger’s);
“To give ear, hearken, hear” (Young’s);

“hear (in various senses): give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), [shall] hear, hearken, be noised, be reported, understand” (Strong’s).

Christianity has to be kept to the simple instructions of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3; Galatians 1:6-12). And Jesus instructed His followers that they must be filled with the Holy Spirit of Truth. He has been sent to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). This is why the Prophetic Ministry is so important for Christians to be committed to. Prophetic Ministry is all about listening to, hearing and obeying what the Holy Spirit says to us.

How different Christianity would be today if all Christian Leaders pursued the Prophetic Ministry!

Exercising the Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians Chapters 12 to 14) is all a part of Prophetic Ministry; for those wonderful gifts operate as a direct result of our hearing the voice and prompting of the Holy Spirit; then doing what He says and shows to us to say and do.

Every problem in those seven churches was the direct result of their not hearing ~ or not heeding ~ what the Holy Spirit was saying to them!
Every one of those problems can be avoided in our lives and churches today if we will listen to, and obey, the voice of the Holy Spirit of Truth!
He (the Holy Spirit) does not lead us into sin and neglect.
He (the Holy Spirit) ~ when listened to ~ leads us away from sin and neglect.

How important it is that we know the voice of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives and churches today!

People often ask, “How do you know when the Holy Spirit is speaking to you?” That comes out of personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is alive and still speaks today by the Holy Spirit. Knowing the principles of the Scriptures is vitally important, because the Holy Spirit does not contradict the Scriptures. It is also important that we develop a sensitive heart and ear to listening, by taking time to “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10).

Jesus’ sheep hear and know His voice (John 10).

When He speaks our responsibility is to obey; to step out and do what He has spoken to us.

That is what faith is: obedience to the voice of the Lord Jesus through the Wonderful Holy Spirit of Truth! (Romans 10:17 – this verse is about hearing the “present tense, now word/voice of God”). It is our practical obedience to what the Holy Spirit says to us that confirms the truth of the voice of the Holy Spirit. When we obey what He says, then things always turn out right, and we have testimonies and fruit that will abound to the glory of God. Hallelujah!

“HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR . . .!”
Are you listening?
Are you hearing?

Are you obeying the Holy Spirit today?

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the acceptable way of the Lord.

"The Gospel Faith Messenger" Ministry. New Zealand. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.